-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
Frederick William Jenkins Palmer

Photo of
Date of birth: 18th June 1907
Place of birth: Eynsham, Oxfordshire, England
Parents: Alice Palmer
Wife: Ellen Palmer
Previous occupation: News vendor
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Regulating Petty Officer
Service Number: P/M 40064
Joined Hood First time: 11th November 1923 (Boy 1st Class)
Left Hood First time: 27th March 1925 (Boy 1st Class)
Joined Hood Second time: 7th January 1933 (Able Seaman)
Left Hood Second time: 8th August 1933 (Acting Leading Seaman)
Joined Hood Third time: 15th April 1939 (Regulating Petty Officer)
Left Hood Third time: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Regulating Petty Officer)
Click here to print memorial poster
Biographical Information:

"Fred" as he was known was born in Eynsham, Oxfordshire on 18th June 1907 to parents Albert Jenkins and Elizabeth Alice Palmer. He entered the Navy as a Boy Seaman and was trained at H.M.S. Ganges. He served in Hood on three separate occasions joining her for the first time on 11th November 1923. Just over two weeks later the ship set off on the Empire Cruise - a 10 month circumnavigation of the world. Quite an adventure for a boy of 16!

Fred rejoined Hood in January 1933. In July came the opportunity to progress to Acting Leading Seaman. Two and a half years in H.M.S. Cornwall from late 1933 to July 1936 saw further progression to Petty Officer and it seems to have been around this time that he decided to swap to the Regulating Branch. He passed his test for Regulating Petty Officer on 2nd December 1936 and was drafted to H.M.S Curacoa later that month. He was drafted to Hood in April 1939 - four months after he had passed his examination for Master at Arms.

Fred and his wife Ellen (nee Burrows) were married on 6th June 1934. The couple ultimately had four children, two boys and two girls. Fred was 33 years old at the time of his loss.





History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
27th November 192214th July 1923GangesBoy 2nd ClassADM188/859
15th July 192310th November 1923GangesBoy 1st ClassADM188/859
11th November 192327th March 1925HoodBoy 1st ClassADM188/859
28th March 192517th June 1925RevengeBoy 1st ClassADM188/859
18th June 192520th February 1926RevengeOrdinary SeamanADM188/859
21st February 192610th January 1928RevengeAble SeamanADM188/859
11th January 19282nd March 1928Victory IAble SeamanADM188/859
3rd March 192822nd January 1929ExcellentAble SeamanADM188/859
23rd January 19298th June 1930LondonAble SeamanADM363/246
9th June 193021st September 1930Egmont II - I (Vendetta)Able SeamanADM363/246
22nd September 193028th August 1931Egmont (II - I (Voyager)Able SeamanADM363/246
29th August 193122nd October 1931Victory I - IIIAble SeamanADM363/246
23rd October 193129th January 1932ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/246
30th January 19326th January 1933VernonAble SeamanADM363/246
7th January 19335th July 1933HoodAble SeamanADM363/246
6th July 19338th August 1933HoodActing Leading SeamanADM363/246
9th August 19335th September 1933Victory IActing Leading SeamanADM363/246
6th September 19337th November 1938WarspiteActing Leading SeamanADM363/246
8th November 193318th December 1933Victory IActing Leading SeamanADM363/246
19th December 19335th July 1934CornwallActing Leading SeamanADM363/246
6th July 193416th March 1935CornwallActing Leading SeamanADM363/246
17th March 193524th July 1936CornwallActing Petty OfficerADM363/246
25th July 19361st December 1936Victory IActing Petty OfficerADM363/246
2nd December 193622nd December 1936Victory IIActing Regulating Petty OfficerADM363/246
23rd December 19361st December 1937CuracoaActing Regulating Petty OfficerADM363/246
1st February 193714th April 1939VernonRegulating Petty OfficerADM363/246
2nd December 193731st January 1937CuracoaRegulating Petty OfficerADM363/246
15th April 193924th May 1941HoodRegulating Petty OfficerADM363/246


Additional Photos



Photos of Frederick and unknown shipmates




Frederick and Ellen




Frederick & a four legged friend in Spain, 1930





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)





Frederick's name is in Column 1 of Panel 58.





Detail of Frederick'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)
The National Archives (ADM 188/859)
Connie Bjorkquist (photos & information, March 2004)