The Kings Regiment Maj W. G. Wood

The Kings Regiment

"Nec Espera Terrent"

Maj.(Rtd) WG Wood (DWR)
The King’s Regiment 1944-48

July 1923 - April 2009 in Menorca, William Geoffrey Wood,

‘Geoff’, as he was known, joined the Duke of Wellington Regiment serving with them in Normandy and the Low Countries.
After a spell in hospital following a wounding, he was posted to the 5th King’s Regiment (Liverpool) TA as Signal Officer.

The 5th King’s were then beginning to train for their ‘T Force’ role, which was securing top flight personnel, research establishments and secret weapons of all kinds. Thus discovering what the Germans had sent their Japanese allies.

The lot of a Signal Officer in a ‘T Force’ Unit was very much different to that of a battalion Signal Officer, as the working area could extend to Corps level.
With the cessation of hostilities the T Force work increased in importance, with reparations and the tracking down of key scientists and personnel.

1946 saw the return to UK of the 5th Bn for disbandment and the setting up of Control Commission Germany ‘T- Force’, which for its majority was composed of former Kingsmen.
Geoff took over the key role of Adjutant and steered a skilful course between military and civilian interests.

He was a great sports enthusiast, sailing, tennis and football, for which he was the Unit Football Officer. The King’s team was on a par with many of the BAOR units, which still had their wartime ‘stars’ serving with them.

On promotion to Major, he took over A Coy,or 21 Detachment as it was known in CCG speak, in Goslar.
Here he proved his caring for the men by summarily dealing with a RMP charge that one of his corporals was improperly dressed, i.e. in shirtsleeve order after 21.00 hrs. He was fair and firm, for which his men trusted and appreciated him.

Following demobilisation he entered the ‘bakery world’ at Great Yarmouth. However, after a few years his first love of Civil Engineering came to the fore.
He took part in the Middle-East’s ‘first building boom’ before retirement beckoned and he settled in Menorca, where he enjoyed his sailing and had an interest in the ‘turf world’.
When Berlin was re-born as the German Capital, he temporarily returned to Civil Engineering to play a part in the creation of the new parts of the city, before retiring for the second time.

In 1990 he was approached by the 5 Kings / 2 T Force OCA to become its President, a role for which he always found time. He was, both as an officer and in civilian life, an example to us all and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife Della and son David.

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