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1930's

 

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Flying Officer Hood (O.R. 1930-1938)

 

Flying Officer Hood (O.R. 1930-1938)

THE HEART-RENDING STORY
WITH A
BIT OF A TWIST!

Recent research of Old Russellians has brought about the discovery of a rather amazing story.  When checking records of Old Russellians who died in the Second World War the poignant story of the death of Flying Officer Gerald Hood was revealed!

Gerald Hood was an orphan educated at Royal Russell School from the age of 8.  He joined the RAF and was shot down in August 1944, when he was picked up and sheltered by the Dutch Resistance in the Almelo area - Almelo is in the north east of Holland close to the German border.

He spent almost all of his time with one family in Nijvedal.  It was on the night of the 13/14 March 1945 that Gerald eventually gave himself up after repeated searches of the house and sadly on the 21 March Gerald was murdered by the Germans in a wood near Almelo.  The Dutch were extremely grateful that Gerald despite being held by the Gestapo for a  week, did not give any of the Resistance away.  Since the end of the Second World War he has been revered in the community of Zenderen in Holland for his bravery in the face of interrogation by the Gestapo.

The Dutch have subsequently erected a memorial to Gerald close to where he was shot.  Each May his memorial is the focus of a special service of commemoration and on the 4/5th May this year, a group of 30 Old Russellians and current pupils of the school will attend the service.

This year for the first time a reciprocal service will take place on the 19th May at Royal Russell School.  The day will hopefully be celebrated in style with a fly past to commemorate this truly moving story and a service attended by representatives of Gerald’s RAF Squadron, members of the Zenderen Liberation Committee, Old Russellians and current pupils of the school.  This very important occasion and service will include the dedication of a tree presented by the Zenderen Liberation Committee which came from the wood in which Gerald was shot. 

In conclusion this heart-rending story has an extra twist with Old Russellians making one extra discovery.  It would seem that the last photograph on record of Gerald was taken at the very same spot that was chosen this time to plant the tree presented by the Zenderen Liberation!  A simple coincidence or maybe not!

 

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