-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
John Lee Machin

Photo of
Date of birth: 18th November 1902
Place of birth: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Lieutenant-Commander
Joined Hood: 9th July 1940
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Lieutenant-Commander)
Click here to print memorial poster







Biographical Information:

John was born on 18th November 1902, the son of George and Grace Machin. He entered the Navy on 15th May 1916.

He was a Midshipman with Seniority on 15th May 1920. He was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant in September 1922. From January to August of the following year, he trained at the RN College in Greenwich. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant with seniority on 15th June 1923. From March 1924 through January 1925 he served aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Montrose. His next promotion, to Lieutenant, came on 15th June 1925.

He served aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Centaur from August 1926 to July 1927. He served aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Velox from January 1928 to August 1929. That October, he was transferred to the destroyer H.M.S. Walpole. He served as her First Lieutenant until February 1931.

From January 1932 to January 1934, he served as First Lieutenant aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Cygnet. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander during this assignment (15 June 1933). His next assignment was as Commanding Officer of the destroyer H.M.S. Rowena from October 1934 to July 1935.

From August 1936 to February 1937, he served as the Commanding Officer of the destroyer H.M.S. Diana in the China Station. He was assigned to H.M.S. Victory, RN Barracks, Portsmouth from February-August 1939. He was then assigned as the Commanding Officer of the destroyer H.M.S. Kelvin from October 1939 to June 1940. His final assignment was to the battle cruiser H.M.S. Hood in late July 1940. He was killed in action aboard Hood on the morning of 24th May 1941.

He was 38 years old at the time of his loss.





Additional Photos










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

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)





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





Detail of John's name.







St. Margaret's Church, Usselby, Lincolnshire, England

Photos of the memorial










Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
Navy Lists (courtesy of J.N. Houterman)
Linda McAllister (Photo, August 2013)
Christina Belton (photo, July 2014)
JV Machin (photo and information, February 2018)
The National Archives (ADM 196/149)