LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Rupert Richard WOOD
Service No: 411570
Born: Sydney NSW, 14 December 1911
Enlisted in the RAAF: 24 May 1941
Unit: No. 4 Air Observers School (RCAF)
Died: Injuries (from Vehicle Accident on 4 September 1942), Ontario, 6 September 1942, Aged 30 Years
Buried: London (Mount Pleasant) Cemetery, Ontario
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Rupert Edgar James Wood and Celsia Wood, of Griffith, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Coffs Harbour NSW
Remembered: Panel 133, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the 6 September 1942, Sergeant Wood died of his injuries resulting from a head-on collision between a car he was driving and a truck. The accident occurred between Chatham and Tilbury, Ontario, at night on the 4 September. Sergeant Wood was a Wireless Operator Instructor following his graduation as a Wireless Air Gunner. He was on 48 hours leave and the car contained two civilians and two other Air force personnel who were stationed at St Thomas, Ontario. One civilian was killed and the other badly injured. Both the airmen survived the crash.
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/179/205