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

In Remembrance of
Alexander Innes

Alex was born in Portsoy, Banffshire, Scotland on 5th November 1916, the only son of Alexander Innes and Alexina Innes, nee Benzies (born Strichen 1892). His father died in France on 22nd December 1916, less than two months after Alex was born. His mother remarried two years later to William Stott (a widower with children). Together the Stotts had three more children, Thomas, Frances and Elizabeth. Alex . William would serve in the Royal Navy during the First World War and the Merchant Navy in World War Two. William would serve in the Royal Navy during the First World War and the Merchant Navy in World War Two.

Having previously been employed as a road worker. Alex joined the Navy on 17th July 1934 as an Ordinary Seaman. Following his initial training, his first draft was to the Light Cruiser, H.M.S. Despatch in July 1935. Despatch was re-commissioning as the Flagship of Rear-Admiral Andrew Cunningham, C.B., D.S.O., who was, at that time Rear-Admiral (D) of the Mediterranean Fleet. Cunningham, who would go on to be Britain's foremost wartime admiral and First Sea Lord from October 1943, must have been a familiar sight to Alexander on the decks of Despatch.

Returning home after two years in the Mediterranean, Alexander spent five months at H.M.S. Vernon, the torpedo school at Portsmouth where he qualified as a Seaman Torpedoman. In May 1938 he retutrned even closer to home being drafted first to H.M.S. Greenwich and then to H.M.S. Cochrane- both part of the Coast of Scotland Command. Leaving his native Scotland in June 1939 he was drafted to H.M.S. Hood.

At some point, Alex married Jean Duff Spence and together they had one son, Brian. Alex was 24 years old at the time of his loss.

Additional Photos

Alex during his time in Hood.

In Malta, probably H.M.S. Despatch.

Alex with an unknown mate.

Christmas 1935 - H.M.S Despatch.

Gun crew - possibly H.M.S Despatch

30 Chapel Street, Portsoy, where Alex, Jean and their son Brian lived.

Alex's stepfather Bill Stott (at right).

The grave of Alex's father, Etaples, France.

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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)





Alexander's name is in Column 2 of Panel 48.





Detail of Alexander's name.

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