-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the sinking

In Remembrance of
Edward Hilleary Gelson Gregson

E.H.G. Gregson was born in Peshawar, India (now Pakistan) on 22th December 1905. He was the only son of LtCol E.G. Gregson, C.M.G., C.I.E. and Mrs Gregson (nee Hilleary) of Rake, Hants. He married Mabel MacGregor, daughter of Major and Mrs A.C.H. MacGregor in October 1931. His naval career began in 1917 when he entered Royal Naval College, Osborne. He completed his Midshipman's training in 1925 and may have been briefly assigned to the battle cruiser H.M.S. Hood. He was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1927. By April 1929, he was assigned to the battleship H.M.S. Iron Duke. He served aboard the ship until August 1929.

Gregson attended the Royal Navy Gunnery Course at H.M.S. Excellent from September 1930 to February 1931. He returned to Excellent to attend gunnery school from October 1931 to September 1932. Following his promotion to Lieutenant-Commander in February 1935, he attended the Gunnery School in Devonport, H.M.S. Drake (May to July 1935).

Gregson was assigned to the destroyer H.M.S. Douglas from October 1936 to February 1937. He joined the battle cruiser H.M.S. Hood in July 1939 as Gunnery Officer. Sometime during this assignment he was promoted to Commander. He was serving as the Staff Gunnery Officer and Staff Operations Officer for the Battle Cruiser Squadron at the time of Hood's sinking on 24th May 1941.

Commander Gregson was a very large man (6 feet 5½ inches tall) and was affectionately known as "Tiny" to his friends. He was the Royal Navy and Royal Marine Heavyweight Champion 1925-1931 and ISBA Champion in 1930 & 1931. He even fought an exhibition match with then World Champion, Primo "The Ambling Alp" Carnera. He later served as as a referee.

He was remembered fondly in the Portsmouth Evening News, May 1941 as "not only as a very fine heavy-weight boxer but as a charming friend and a gifted linguist."

He was 35 years old at the time of his loss.

H.M.S. Excellent Roll of Honour, Whale Island, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

No photographs are available of this memorial

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Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial

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Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial



The part of the memorial in which the Hood casualty names can be found.
(Panels 45 to 61)





Edward's name is in Column 1 of Panel 45.





Detail of Edward's name.

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