Violet Wood, ARP warden
Both Violet and Bob were from relatively well-off families. In 1911, they can be found living at the Hall, Morston, Norfolk, employing two servants. In 1921, their two sons, Peter (born 1912) and Bob (born 1913) were boarders at Lynfield Prep School in Hunstanton.
Alongside 'unpaid domestic duties' Violet is listed as an ARP Warden and Member of the Women's Voluntary Service at Gressenhall on the 1939 register. Her husband was listed as a horse trainer. They lived at Mill House, close to Gressenhall Public Assistance Institution (former workhouse) and employed a domestic servant, Gladys M Edge who was 19 years old.
As an ARP Warden, Violet's responsibilities may have included finding accommodations for evacuated children and families, organising the knitting of garments to be sent in parcels to the armed forces, distributing gas masks, and overseeing a first aid station.
Their sons Peter and Bob were not living at home at the time of the 1939 register. Peter was at 6 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire and his occupation a Steeple Chase Jockey. He had Joined the RAF at Cambridge, waiting to be called. Previously, Peter had spent time in America. On 10 May 1930 on the ship Minnetonka bound for New York when he was 18, listed as a servant. He returned to Southampton on the 31 December 1930 via Cherbourg on the ship Albert Ballin.
Peter appeared in the London Gazette on 9 November 1943:
'Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve General Duties Branch Appointment to Commission as Plt. Offs. On prob. (Emergency):- Wt. Offs. 977275 Peter Wrench Wood (158039) 27th Sept. 1943.' His part in WWII is not known, but he did return.
Bob could not be found on the 1939 register but appears in The London Gazette on 13 June 1939:
'5th Bn. R. Norfolk R. Bob John Holt Wood (late Cadet Serjt., Worksop Coll. Contgt., Jun. Div., O.T.C.) to be 2nd Lt. 14th June 1939.'
In July 1940, Robert and Violet received devastating news that Bob was reported as missing. It was 7 Aug 1940 before they knew he was alive and listed as a Prisoner of War in France. It would have been a terrible time for them.
In May 1945, after he had been liberated, Bob filled in a General Questionnaire for Prisoners of War. It revealed that he was captured on 12 June 1940 in St Valery, France and remained a Prisoner of War until April 1945, being held at six different locations. He was uninjured and his 'trade' before the library was listed as Life Insurance.
It is quite probable when Bob came home, he never spoke about his time in these camps, they wanted to forget the horrors of War. He did get married in 1949, however, to Violet Olga Jex (formerly Donaldson) in 1949 Marylebone, Middlesex.
Peter was married in Wensleydale Yorkshire in 1950 to Patricia L N Baly.
By the time the boys married their father Robert had passed away at Mill House Gressenhall at the age of 72 in April 1949. Violet died at The Manor House, North Pickenham, Norfolk in 1972, She was 83.
