-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
Ernest Andrew James Pedder

Photo of
Date of birth: 11th September 1907
Place of birth: Wandsworth, London, England
Parents: Andrew and Emily Pedder
Wife: Vera Pedder
Previous occupation: Fitter's Mate
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: P/SSX 12108
Joined Hood: 14th October 1940 (Able Seaman)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Able Seaman)
Click here to print memorial poster



Biographical Information:

Ernest was born on the 11th August 1907 in Wandsworth London to Andrew James and Emily Louisa Pedder. He had a brother Edward Herbert who was born on 14th October 1908. Edward never married or served in any of the services as he developed a building company which Ernest was keen to join when he came out of the Navy, sadly this never happened. Ernest was the husband to Vera May Pedder of Wickford Essex, they had three children, one son known as Billy (No other details available at this time) and two daughters, Margaret Rose born on 18th September 1936 and Valerie May born on 27th March 1939. Both went on to marry, Margaret married Peter Wheate and they had one son Paul who sadly died at the age of 14 years old and missed by us all. Valerie married Anthony Robert Murrell and they went on to have four children, two girls and two boys.

Ernest was Baptized on the 1st Sept 1907 at St Mary le Park, Battersea S.W, he went to St Pauls Knightsbridge School, he was awarded a certificate for good conduct & Meritorious Work during the education year 1916-1917 as the award prizes had been suspended during the great war. (Certificate attached) Ernest was a keen swimmer along with his brother, we have several certificates including his 25 yard certificate he received on 18th October 1920.

Ernest was keen on sports and enjoyed darts, one of the additional phots was of the 1936-1937 darts team at the Quart Pot Pub in Runwell Road which was about half a mile outside Wickford, the original publication talks about the Pedder Brothers but it was in fact Ernest and his father. Andrew James Pedder and his son Ernest are directly to the left of centre in the first and second row(his father is in the front row sitting down with his son behind him with the flat cap).

Ernest Joined the Navy in 1929 at the age of 21 when he served on H.M.S. Tiger followed by H.M.S. Effingham on 1st April 1930, during his time in Effingham he sent a letter home to his mother and father telling them about his time away and his plans to invest in the family business on his return. However he then finally joined the Mighty Hood on 14th October 1940 as Able Seaman and was lost at sea on 24 May 1941. Ernest was 33 at the time of the loss. RIP.






History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
27th April 19265th November 1926Victory IOrdinary SeamanADM362/2
6th November 192626th October 1927TigerOrdinary SeamanADM362/2
27th October 192716th May 1929TigerAble SeamanADM362/2
17th May 192928th October 1929Victory I - IIIAble SeamanADM363/181
29th October 192931st March 1930Excellent (Restless)Able SeamanADM363/181
1st April 193030th September 1932EffinghamAble SeamanADM363/181
1st October 193225th April 1933Victory IAble SeamanADM363/181
26th April 193326th April 1933Shore engagement expiredAble SeamanADM363/181
27th April 193327th September 1938Joined R.F.R.Able SeamanADM363/181
28th September 19385th October 1938Victory I - I (Mobilised)Able SeamanADM363/181
6th October 193822nd August 1939DemobilisedAble SeamanADM363/181
23rd August 193931st October 1939Victory II (Whitley)Able SeamanADM363/181
1st November 193919th May 1940Cochrane II (Whitley)Able SeamanADM363/181
20th May 19402nd July 1940Victory IIIAble SeamanADM363/181
3rd July 194019th August 1940Victory III (XDOE)Able SeamanADM363/181
20th August 194013th October 1940Victory IAble SeamanADM363/181
14th October 194024th May 1941HoodAble SeamanADM363/181



Additional Photos



the 1936/1937 darts team near the Quart Pot pub in Runwell Road, which is about 1/2 mile outside of Wickford. The Pedder brothers are directly to the left of centre in the first and second row (one is seated and one, believed to be Ernest, is standing directly behind him).






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)





Ernest's name is in Column 1 of Panel 49.





Detail of Ernest's name.







Wickford War Memorial, Wickford, Essex, England

No photographs are available of this 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)
Michael Murrell (photo & information, Oct 2018)
Stephen Newman & Barrie Adcock (Photo & information, February 2007)