-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
Donald Guille Benoist

Photo of
Date of birth: 15th November 1921
Place of birth: Hull, Yorkshire, England
Parents: Henry and Maud Benoist
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: P/SSX 28581
Joined Hood: Unknown
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship)
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Biographical Information:

Donald was born on 15th November 1921. He was the third son out of the six children born to Henry and Maud Benoist of Guernsey, Channel Islands. His older siblings were Reginald and Robert. His younger siblings were Doris, Leonard and Edna.

Donald was educated at the St. Andrew Parish school and joined the Navy when he was 17 years old. He is known to have served in H.M.S. Wildfire and aboard H.M.S. Belfast. He was aboard the Belfast when she was damaged by a German mine in November 1939. He was subsequently transferred to H.M.S. Hood. While serving in Hood, he volunteered to participate in Operation Primrose- a ground mission in Norway to counter the German invasion, He survived an estimated 280 air attacks durng this mission.

All of Donald's siblings saw military service during the war except Edna who saw service in the WRAF after the war. The family was evacuated during the war due to the occupation of Guernsey by German forces. Only Henry remained behind, acting as a special constable during the occupation. Donald was the only family member lost during the war. He was 19 years old at the time of his loss.




Additional Photographs
None at this time.






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)





Donald's name is in Column 2 of Panel 47.





Detail of Donald'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)
His sister, Edna Sweet (photo & information, May 2009)