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

We will remember them
Chainbar divider

In Remembrance of
James Johnston

Photo of
Date of birth: 17th April 1916
Place of birth: Marnock, Banffshire, Scotland
Parents: Henry and Mary Johnston
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: P/SSX 21864
Joined Hood: 2nd June 1939
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship)
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Biographical Information:

James was born on 17th April 1916 in Marnock, Banff, Banffshire, Scotland to Henry and Mary Johnston. The family later lived in Whitehouse, Aberdeenshire. He was the eldest of seven children. He was educated at Forgue School and Huntly Gordon Schools, where he was specially trained in commercial subjects.

He joined the Navy in 1937. He is known to have served in H.M.S. Excellent before joining Hood. Whilst in Hood, he served as a writer for the ship's commanding officer. He also manned one of the anti-aircraft guns.

James was 25 at the time of his loss. Poignantly, his Service documents record that at the end of 1949, James's father, Henry, was awarded 4 pounds 4 shillings prize money which James had earned nearly a decade before.




Additional Photographs
None at this time.






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

Photos of the memorial











Huntly War Memorial, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Photos of the memorial











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)





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





Detail of James's name.






Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
Gary Johnston (photo, 2001)
Jennifer Johnstone (photo & information, April 2018)
Norma Eaton (clipping from "Huntly Express", late May 1941)