Sailor/Deck Hand Victor James Woodhead, Merchant Navy, SS Emerald, was born 1925 in London, the son of Joseph Woodhead and Rosina, nee Savage, of 11, Hartham Road, Tottenham. 

Victor died on the 31st of January 1944 when his ship was sunk off Beachy Head and he is buried at Newhaven Cemetery, Sussex.

The SS Emerald was to be part of convoy CW243 from Southend to St Helens Road. The convoy was formed of ten merchant ships and seven escorts - HMS Haslemere, HMS Albrighton, HMT Rehearo; HMT Lorraine, HMT Blackthorn; HMT Walnut and HMT Pine. The merchant ships included Caleb, Sprague. Balduin, Ara, Emerald and Jernland.

The convoy departed on the 30th, and proceeded at 7 knots. Later in the day a Sunderland spotted a surfaced U-boat which submerged before it could be attacked. At 01.45 the following morning, (the 31st) ten E-boats were detected on radar heading for the convoy at forty knots, south of Beachy Head.

In spite of the imminent danger to the convoy, the radar operator went to find a senior officer to ask permission to warn the convoy in plain language. By the time permission was given, it was too late and the enemy attack developed. The attacking force was made by the 5th and 9th flotillas based at Cherbourg.

Splitting into two groups, Caleb, Sprague and the Emerald were quickly sunk. The trawler Pine was then engaged by E-Boat S-142 which fired a torpedo which blew the bow of the trawler clean off, killing ten of the crew. The trawler remained afloat for some time before sinking. No damage or casualties were inflicted on the E-boats which quickly left the scene.