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Reginald Carlyle Woolnough Wood was married to my great aunt Ivy May Winter. Reg and Ivy married later in life. They married on 6th November 1943 at All Saints Church in St Kilda. Marriage register 1082/1943. Ivy May Winter was born in Queenscliff, Victoria. Ivy's father was a medical officer at the fort at Queenscliff. We have a photo of Reg and Ivy's wedding. We also have a framed illustration of the MBE medal signed by Reg's colleagues. We do not have any of Reg's medals. Ivy died in 1972. I remember my great aunt fondly. She would want her maiden name of Winter added to the article about Reg, so she could be acknowledged as his wife. Thank you.

Reginald Carlyle Woolnough WOOD was born on 17th March, 1895 in Caulfield, Victoria

His parents were Frederick George WOOD and Alice BLACKWELL

He had previous service for 2 years in the Senior Cadets & 3 years in the Field Artillery, 19th Battalion & was still serving when he enlisted for WW1 on 15th February, 1916 - he was with the Field Artillery Brigade 8, Battery 31 (Australian Army) - Unit embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT Medic on 20th May, 1916

He returned to Australia on 1st July, 1919

On 31st March, 1941 at North Fitzroy he enlisted  for WW2 in the Royal Australian Air Force - he was a Flight Lieutenant in the 7 Central Recovery Depot

Reginald married Ivy May (surname & place unknown).

He was to be invested with his MBE at Government House for long service & devotion to duty in two wars when he collapsed.  He died at 10pm Heidleberg Military Hospital on 7th September, 1945 aged 50 years & is buried in Springvale War Cemetery in Victoria - He is also commemorated at the Australian War Memorial and the Roll of Honour in Melbourne 

As well as his MBE he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory medal in WW1

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The Argus, Melbourne 10th September, 1945

Flight Lieutenant R C W WOOD

A few minutes before Flight Lieutenant Reginald C. W. WOOD was to be invested with the MBE at Government House on Friday for long service and devotion to duty in two wars, he collapsed.  He died at 10pm at Heidleberg Military Hospital.  He had had no previous illness.

Flight Lieut. Wood who was 50 was born at Caulfield.  He was the 4th son of Mrs. F.G. Wood of Elsternwick and the late Councillor Wood, a former member of Caulfield Council

Since 1915 when he enlisted in the first AIF he remained a member of the armed forces till his death.  He served in France and in 1919 he joined the permanent Air Force.  At the beginning of the Japanese war he was stationed at Darwin and later served in the Islands.  At the time of his death he wa stationed at Tocumwal.

He was a member of the Brighton Yacht Club and Patterson River Golf Club.

Following a service at B Matthews Funeral Parlours, South Yarra today, the funeral will leave at 1.30pm for Springvale War Memorial Cemetery.

From How We Served
 
The final resting place for;- 20018 & 4817 Flight Lieutenant Reginald Carlyle Woolnough Wood MBE of Caulfield East and Kew, Victoria was employed as a motor mechanic when he enlisted for War Service on the 15th of February 1916.

Allocated to the 8th Field Artillery Brigade 1st AIF, Reginald was embarked for England and further training on the 20th of May and was disembarked on his safe arrival on the 18th of July.

Reginald arrived in France on the 30th of December, and following further training he was officially taken on strength with his Unit in the field, and his service would be continuous for the duration of the War.

With the cessation of hostilities in November 1918, Reginald would enjoy a brief respite of leave in England before being returned to France for further duty. On the 6th of May 1919, Reginald would be shipped back to England and would begin his repatriation back to Australia.

Following his safe return to Australia, Reginald would receive his official discharge from the 1st AIF for his re-entry into civilian life on the 2nd of October 1919.
On the 31st of March 1921, Reginald enlisted with the newly created Royal Australian Air Force, with which he would serve with during the decades of Peace that followed.

With the outbreak of World War Two, Reginald was still serving with the Royal Australian Air Force, and he was Commissioned as a Flying Officer with the No 1 Engineering School on the 1st of March 1942.

Reginald’s service would be continuous within Australia, and for his long and distinguished engagement with the Royal Australian Air Force during both Peace and War, he was made a Member of the British Empire.

Following his being decorated Reginald would be promoted to Flight Lieutenant and was posted to 7th Aircraft Repair Depot at Tocumwal, New South Wales. At the start of September 1945, Reginald was evacuated due to illness, having served for the duration of the Second World War, and was admitted into the 6th Royal Australian Air Force Hospital (Heidelberg).

Whilst under medical care Reginald succumbed to sickness on the 7th of September 1945 at the premature age of 50.

Following his passing whilst again on War Service, Flight Lieutenant Reginald Wood MBE, a veteran of the ‘Great War’ and who had served with the Royal Australian Air Force during peacetime continuously, before again serving for the duration of a 2nd World War, was formally interred within Springvale War Cemetery, Victoria.