-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Crew List

It is estimated that as many as 18,000 men served aboard the 'Mighty Hood' during the operational portion of her 21 year career. Unfortunately, there is no surviving official single listing of ALL men who served in her. Here you will find our attempt at creating such a listing. We are using the few, fragmentary crew lists known to exist, Navy Lists, various official reports, public records, and most importantly of all, inputs from the families of former crew.

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John Willis Barnes

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Date of birth: 30th September 1920
Place of birth: Reigate, Surrey, England
Previous occupation: Carpenter
Service: Royal Navy (later, Royal New Zealand Navy)
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: P/SSX25163
Joined Hood: 30th September 1939
Left Hood: 21st May 1940







Biographical Information: John joined Hood on his 19th birthday (very shortly after the start of World War II), and served in her until the following May. From August 1940 until July 1942 he served in the Armed Merchant Cruiser RMS (then HMS) Ascania, which deployed to New Zealand, where, in Auckland, he met his wife Frances. John was released to the New Zealand Navy on 26th August 1950, having married in 1947 and then immigrated to New Zealand. He reached the rate of CPO (Gunnery Instructor) and was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM).

Additional Photographs
None at this time.


Memorials
No known memorials


Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
ADM 101/5652 John and Louise (no other details supplied) Oct 2016.
John Collins Barnes, son, from Service Papers, January 2010