Trafford

Born on the 21st March 1893, the birth registered during the March quarter
1894 in the Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/897, the son of George Edwin & Martha
Wood (nee Brunton).

1901 Census - 42, Owen Street, Hulme, Manchester.    Son - aged: 7 - born:
Manchester.   Head of household - George E. Wood - Married - aged: 35 -
occ: Engraver Calico Printers - born: Manchester.   Also - Martha Wood -
Wife - aged: 35 - born: Manchester.   Plus  4 siblings.

1911 Census - 8 Tatton Street, Hulme, Manchester.      Son - aged: 18 -
occ: Warehouseman - born: Manchester.   Head of household - George Edward
Wood - Married - aged: 46 - occ: Engraver - born: Manchester.     Also -
Martha Wood - Wife - aged: 46 - occ: Shirtmaker - born: Manchester.   Plus 
2 siblings.

Married Emily Marsh at St. Bride's Church, Old Trafford on the 23rd
February 1918 which was registered during the March quarter 1918 in the
Barton on Irwell R.D. - ref: 8c/996.

1939 National Registration - 29 Woodstock Road, Firswood, Stretford.  Edwin
Wood - Married - born: 21st March 1893 - occ: Warehouseman - Cotton.  
Emily Wood - Married - born: 27th October 1898 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.  There are two other entries - one is blocked under the 100 year
rule, the other is Vera Wood (overwritten Vera Richardson) - Single - born:
23rd September 1920 (overwritten 2nd September 1922) - occ: Clerk.

Edwin and his wife - Emily were in their Anderson air raid shelter when it
received a direct hit.   Three Spencer family members residing next door at
No. 27 and were in their own shelter, were also killed in this incident.

Edwin and his wife had instructed their two daughters (Olive b.1920 & Vera
b.1922)  to stay wherever they were in the event of an air raid - they were
not to try to get home.  Edwin and his wife had been at relatives and when
the raid began and Emily insisted that she and Edwin went home "in case the
girls came home."  The 'girls' (their two daughters), survived because they
did as they were told and stayed where they were.  What a shame Edwin and
Emily did not do the same as they had advised their daughters to do - they
would both have survived had they done so.

CWD Report No. 53.   Died as a result of blast at 29 Woodstock Road,
Firswood, Stretford, from where his body was recovered at 13.30 hrs on the
23rd December 1940 and taken to the City Road Mortuary, Old Trafford.  His
body was identified by his son - Edwin Wood, 26 Clarence Street, Brooks's
Bar, to whom it was released for burial.   Described as being 5 feet 5
inches in height.

Death registered in Stretford Borough.   Buried on 28/12/1940.

His wife - Emily Wood, was also killed in this incident.

CWGC - Husband of Emily Wood. Died at 29 Woodstock Road.

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I am grateful to Edwin's Grand daughter - Janice Wilson, who kindly sent
the following details about her grandparents and their eldset daughter (her
mother) - Olive Wood.

My mother, their only surviving daughter, is now 95 years old. She has told
me about her emotions and feelings about the following day when she walked
home from where she had been the previous night. Her parents had told her
that if an airaid started she was to stay put. A pity my grandparents did
not heed their own advice.  If they had they would not have died that
night.  They had been at relatives and when the raid began my grandmother
insisted that she and Edwin went home "in case the girls came home." The
'girls'....my mother and her sister survived because they did as they were
told and stayed where they were. Fate eh? The house is still standing, the
shelter was obliterated!

A few years ago I went to the house where they died - 29 Woodstock
Road..and saw where the shelter had been. The lady who lived there told me
that several years later, when she was digging foundations for a shed on
the same spot, she found part of a jawbone with a tooth that had a gold
filling.  There had to be a forensic investigation.  It was probably the
jawbone and tooth from my grandfather who did have a gold filling.

Janice has recently found a diary that was kept by her mother- Olive Wood,
during that period.  Unfortunately it was written in Pitman Shorthand and
is awaiting translation.