-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.

Chainbar divider


Langmead Casey Pillar

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Date of birth: 27th January 1886
Place of birth: Dartmouth, Devon, England
Previous occupation: Engine Fitter Turner
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Chief Electrical Artificer
Service Number: 347832
Joined Hood: Before 27th November 1923 (Empire Cruise)
Left Hood: After 28th September 1924 (Empire Cruise)







Biographical Information: Langmead Casey Pillar joined the Royal Navy on 12 August 1907, at the age of 21. He had already been an engineer - an engine fitter turner - in civilian life, so he was rated Acting Electrician 4th Class. As a skilled tradesman, his advancement and promotion were rapid: he achieved Chief Petty officer rate within a decade.

Langmead was on board Hood in 1922 when she travelled to Brazil to help mark the centenary of that country - see his 'Crossing the Line' certificate below.

Langmead was a career sailor who had signed on to complete 22 years' adult service. That would have expired on 11th August 1929, but sadly he did not manage to complete it: he died of the lung disease bronchiectasis on 8th March 1926, at the age of 40. His service record concludes with the ominous initials 'DD' - discharged dead.



Additional Photos



Langmead C Pillar's 'Crossing the Line' certificate.



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