April 1942
to
December 1942

John, a railwayman by trade, is spotted helping others understand railway timetables. The conversation that follows results in John being asked if he would like to transfer to the Royal Engineers. This he does in April 1942, and so Gunner Wood becomes Sapper Wood.

He trains with the 6^th Training Battalion of the Royal Engineers in Elgin before  joining the 158^th Railway Construction Company in Cardross, Scotland.