WWII Casualty. Commander Valentine Searles Wood. Royal Navy. Kingsbridge, Devon

WW2 British War Medal of Commander Valentine Searles-Wood Royal Navy, the medal is un-named as issued. Complete with the OHMS forwarding box addressed to his wife in Devon and the Admiralty casualty slip inked to “COMMANDER VALENTINE SEARLES-WOOD R.N”. Commander Valentine Searles-Wood was born 23rd June 1892. He served as an officer in the Royal Navy during WW1, being the commander of HMS Harpy on 5th November 1918. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 15th April 1923, placed on the retired list with rank of commander on 20th August 1935. When WW2 broke out, he was called back into service and commanded 25 group of anti-submarine trawlers from 12th to 23rd October 1939, after this he was placed in command of the armed yacht St Modwen. He reverted to the retired list on 13th February 1940. His death was recorded at Blandford Forum in April 1943.