-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
Vernon George Miles

Photo of
Date of birth: 5th May 1906
Place of birth: Hambledon, Hampshire, England
Parents: George and Etty Miles
Wife: Annie May Miles
Previous occupation: Boy Labourer
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Chief Petty Officer
Service Number: P/J 103886
Joined Hood First time: 10th March 1931 (Able Seaman)
Left Hood First time: 30th August 1933 (Leading Seaman)
Joined Hood Second time: 12th May 1941 (Chief Petty Officer)
Left Hood Second time: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Chief Petty Officer)
Click here to print memorial poster

Biographical Information: Vernon Miles was born on 5th May 1906 in Hambledon, Hampshire, one of five children of coachman George Miles and his wife Etty (Harriet.) George was coachman to a wealthy family, and he, Etty and the children lived in a cottage that went with the coachman job, in the grounds of Nyewood House, Dumpford Lane, Nyewood, West Sussex.

Vernon Miles was a career sailor who joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in 1921, at the age of fifteen, and earned advancement through successive rates. He first served in Hood from 1931 to 1933, leaving as a Leading Seaman. He was selected for promotion to Chief Petty Officer in October 1940. Vernon's parents are known to have taken pride in his success in his chosen profession. Tragically, he rejoined Hood, as Cox'n to Vice Admiral Holland, less than two weeks before Hood's loss. On hearing of her son's fate, Etty had a heart attack. She subsequently recovered, helped by the care of Vernon's sister, Phyllis.

Vernon Miles' awards include the 1939-45 Star Atlantic Star, 1939-45 War Medal and the KGvi Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.

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




History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
1st September 19212nd November 1921ImpregnableBoy 2nd ClassADM188/854
3rd November 192123rd February 1922ColossusBoy 2nd ClassADM188/854
24th February 192223rd June 1922ImpregnableBoy 2nd ClassADM188/854
24th June 192224th August 1922ImpregnableBoy 1st ClassADM188/854
25th August 19226th October 1922CourageousBoy 1st ClassADM188/854
7th October 192219th January 1923Victory IBoy 1st ClassADM188/854
20th January 19235th May 1923CourageousBoy 1st ClassADM188/854
6th May 19231st October 1923BarhamBoy 1st ClassADM188/854
2nd October 19234th May 1924CalcuttaBoy 1st ClassADM188/854
5th May 192426th December 1924CalcuttaOrdinary SeamanADM188/854
27th December 192430th January 1925MadrasOrdinary SeamanADM188/854
31st January 192518th June 1925CalcuttaOrdinary SeamanADM188/854
19th June 192510th May 1926CalcuttaAble SeamanADM188/854
11th May 192615th October 1926Victory IAble SeamanADM188/854
16th October 192626th May 1927ExcellentAble SeamanADM188/854
27th May 192716th October 1929Egmont II (Winchelsea)Able SeamanADM188/854
17th October 19292nd December 1929Victory II - IV (Winchelsea)Able SeamanADM363/339
3rd December 19299th January 1930Victory I - IIIAble SeamanADM363/339
10th January 19309th March 1931ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/339
10th March 19314th January 1932HoodAble SeamanADM363/339
5th January 19324th January 1933HoodActing Leading SeamanADM363/339
5th January 193330th August 1933HoodLeading SeamanADM363/339
31st August 193331st March 1934Dolphin (Hornet)Leading SeamanADM363/339
1st April 193425th July 1934Victory ILeading SeamanADM363/339
26th July 193419th September 1934RevengeLeading SeamanADM363/339
20th September 193419th September 1935RevengeActing Petty OfficerADM363/339
20th September 193531st December 1935RevengePetty OfficerADM363/339
1st January 193613th February 1936RenownPetty OfficerADM363/339
14th February 19368th October 1937Victory IPetty OfficerADM363/339
9th October 19379th September 1938BeePetty OfficerADM363/339
10th September 19384th January 1940ScorpionPetty OfficerADM363/339
5th January 19409th June 1940Victory IPetty OfficerADM363/339
10th June 194024th July 1940RodneyPetty OfficerADM363/339
25th July 19406th October 1940NelsonPetty OfficerADM363/339
7th October 194011th November 1940NelsonChief Petty OfficerADM363/339
12th November 19406th January 1941ManchesterChief Petty OfficerADM363/339
7th January 194111th May 1941EdinburghChief Petty OfficerADM363/339
12th May 194124th May 1941HoodChief Petty OfficerADM363/339


Additional Photos



Vernon Miles as a Petty Officer. The chevrons on his left arm are Good Conduct Badges.




Notice of Vernon Miles' loss in the local newspaper.





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

Photos of the memorial










South Harting War Memorial, South Harting, Sussex, England

No photographs are available of this 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)





Vernon's name is in Column 1 of Panel 46.





Detail of Vernon'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)
Grant Healey OMRS (information, July 2004)
David N. Goble (information, May 2005)
The National Archives (ADM 188/854)
Peter Coulson, Vernon's nephew, photos and information February 2021