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Brian Wood

Brian Wood
Ian (Pony) Moore | Don Cleavin
Having left school at 15, Brian Wood joined the Royal Navy with visions of jumping on a ship and travelling the World. He
admits that being sent to training school at HMS Ganges was a real eye opener and very quickly brought him back down to earth.

Starting out as a Junior Marine Engineer and Mechanic, Brian was soon drafted to Dolphin after forgetting that he’d volunteered to join the Submarine Service. His fears were short-lived and he found that after completing his Part 3 training he really enjoyed life in the Submarine Service.

24 years after being sent to Ganges, Brian was asked if he wanted to join SETT, which he did as a mechanic, but later took up the offer of becoming an instructor, where he became the longest serving member and served 49 years and 10 months with the Navy.

Brian shared many great stories with us about his time in the Submarine Service.

Family life

Born: 1946
Barry, South Wales
Mother: Lilias May Wood nee Sears
Father: Albert Joseph
Wife: Carolyn

Working life

Joined the Royal Navy 1962
Ganges 1962
HMS Lowestoft 1(963-1965)
HMS Otus (1965-1971)
HMS Narwhal (1971-1973)
HMS Onslaught (1973- 1976)
AFD26 (1976-1977)
First joined the SETT (1977-1981)
HMS Odin (1981-1982)
SETT (1982-1995) on extended service
1995 became a Civilian Instructional Officer at the SETT until retirement on the last day of 2011

Full interview

Conducted: Simon Perry, Stubbington, Fareham on 3rd & 24th February 2023
http://submarinersstories.uk/wp-content/uploads/big_audio/Brian%20Wood%20Submariners%27%20Stories%20interviews%20-%20Part%201%203%20Feb%202023%20and%20Part%202%2024%20Feb%202023.mp3

Read the interview transcript

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Brian Wood: 24 Feb 2023 interview transcription
Brian Wood: 3 Feb 2023 interview transcription
Brian Wood portrait by Julian Winslow for Submariners' Stories Oral History project

Brian Wood's audio clips​

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HMS Lowestoft crew canteen Malta 1964
Brian Wood – 11 months away at sea immediately after getting married
HMS Odin - Engine room crew (after a long patrol) 1981 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – A mixed crew of submariners from around the World
HMS Ganges (the annex) Bulwork Mess March 1962 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – Forgot that I’d volunteered for the Submarine Service
HMSM on patrol 1971 - Colin Hamilton
Brian Wood – Going out on patrol
General submarine composite #46
Brian Wood – Going ‘ultra quiet’
HMS Ganges (the annex) Bulwork Mess March 1962 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – HMS Ganges was an eye opener for a young lad
Escape training & SETT composite #6
Brian Wood – How to increase your lung capacity
HMS Otus (Welsh contingent) on a visit to Barry 1967 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – I started to enjoy it after Part 3
SETT Staff - 1984 - includes D Hubbard and Roy Taylor
Brian Wood – Joining SETT
Brian Wood received the first set of Dolphins at HMS Dolphin 1971
Brian Wood – Joining the Royal Navy
DSRV-2 Avalon attached to UK submarine HMS Repulse May 1979 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – Judging where you are by the temperature of the sea water
HMS Lowestoft crew canteen Malta 1964 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – Love of engineering came from making and fixing bikes
HMS Odin - Engine room crew (after a long patrol) 1981 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – Much more relaxed than a surface ship
General submarine composite #40
Brian Wood – ‘Sausage on a stick’ rather than Dolphins
HMS Otus 1965 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – Social time on board
FOSM requalifying SETT top of the tank early 1990s - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – The diver’s reflex
HMS Ganges - Opening of Leading Junior's canteen 1962 - Brian Wood
Brian Wood – Turning up for first patrol with a full kit bag and case

Brian Wood's photos

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