-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Crew List

It is estimated that as many as 18,000 men served aboard the 'Mighty Hood' during the operational portion of her 21 year career. Unfortunately, there is no surviving official single listing of ALL men who served in her. Here you will find our attempt at creating such a listing. We are using the few, fragmentary crew lists known to exist, Navy Lists, various official reports, public records, and most importantly of all, inputs from the families of former crew.

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Charles Richard Benstead MC

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Date of birth: 21 April 1896
Place of birth: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Previous occupation: University student
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Instructor Lieutenant
Joined Hood: Before 27th November 1923 (Empire Cruise)
Left Hood: After 28th September 1924 (Empire Cruise)








Biographical Information: Charles Richard Benstead MC, in addition to being an Army then a Royal Naval officer, was also an English first-class cricketer and author. His study at St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, was interrupted by Army service in the Royal Garrison Artillery during World War I, during which his gallantry earned him a Mention in Despatches at Passchendaele in 1916 and a Military Cross at the Battle of Amiens in 1918. Following that war he played first class cricket while completing his degree study at Cambridge.

Charles Benstead joined the Royal Navy as an Instructor Officer in 1922, and served in Hood during the Empire Cruise in 1923-4. He served in the Royal Navy until 1946, leaving in the rank of Instructor Commander. Following his retirement he wrote several books, including one about the Empire Cruise - 'Round the World with the Battle Cruisers'. He was also involved in the running of his old alma mater, St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.

Charles Benstead died on 3 July 1980.


Additional Photographs
None at this time.


Memorials
No known memorials


Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
The Empire Cruise by VC Scott O'Connor
Wikipedia.