-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
Herbert William Powley

Photo of
Date of birth: 2nd December 1900
Place of birth: Eastleigh, Hampshire, England
Parents: William and Bessie Powley
Wife: Marion Powley
Previous occupation: Student
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Chief Engine Room Artificer
Service Number: P/M 22541
Joined Hood: 17th December 1937 (Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Chief Engine Room Artificer)
Click here to print memorial poster



Biographical Information:

Herbert was born on 2nd December 1900 in Eastleigh, Hampshire to parents William and Bessie Powley. He had two older sisters, Ethel May and Winifred Alice. He attended Heles Grammar School, Exeter before joining the Navy in December 1918.

He was the husband of Marion Powley (nee Broadhead). They were married in 1925 in Australia, when he was on secondment to the Royal Australian Navy. They were living in Southsea at the start of the war, but Marion relocated to Hevitree, Exeter.

In addition to serving in Australia, Herbert is also known to have served at Malta starting in 1934. Whilst there, he served as the President of the E.R.A.s Club Malta from 1936 to 1938. From 1939 he was assigned to Devonport. He was later assigned to Hood.

Herbert was 40 years old at the time of his loss.





History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
14th August 19164th August 1920IndusBoy ArtificerADM188/1063
30th January 191817th June 1928MargueriteEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/1063
5th August 192031st December 1920IndusEngine Room Artificer ApprenticeADM188/1063
1st January 19215th January 1921IndusEngine Room Artificer 5th ClassADM188/1063
6th January 192114th June 1921Vivid IIEngine Room Artificer 5th ClassADM188/1063
15th June 192131st December 1921WarspiteEngine Room Artificer 5th ClassADM188/1063
1st January 19224th January 1922WarspiteActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
5th January 192217th January 1922Victory IIActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
18th January 192231st March 1922FisgardActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
1st April 192216th May 1922Victory IIActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
17th May 192230th August 1922FisgardActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
31st August 192231st December 1922CenturionActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
1st January 192323rd April 1924CenturionEngine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
24th April 19242nd September 1924Victory IIEngine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
3rd September 19249th October 1924FisgardEngine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
10th October 192431st December 1924Vernon (Sable)Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/1063
1st January 192517th November 1925Vernon (Sable)Engine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/1063
18th November 19256th December 1925Victory IIEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/1063
7th December 192517th December 1925H.M.A. London DepotEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/1063
18th December 192510th March 1926CerberusEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/1063
11th March 19269th March 1927GeraniumEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/1063
10th March 192729th January 1918PenguinEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/1063
18th June 192831st December 1928CerberusEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/1063
1st January 192916th September 1929CerberusEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
17th September 19295th December 1929H.M.A. London DepotEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
6th December 192910th January 1930Victory II - VEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
11th January 193021st July 1930FisgardEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
22nd July 193010th November 1930DolphinEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
11th November 193011th January 1933Victory II - IV (Vortigern)Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
12th January 193324th January 1933Victory IIEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
25th January 19339th January 1934Vernon (Wrestler)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
10th January 19349th January 1935St. Angelo (Minesweepers in Reserve)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
10th January 193531st March 1935St. Angelo II (Achates)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
1st April 193516th April 1935Drake II (Achates)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
17th April 193514th July 1936St. Angelo II (Keppel)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
15th July 193630th September 1936St. Angelo II (Wolsey)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
1st October 193621st February 1937St. Angelo II (Reserve Destroyers)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
22nd February 193726th March 1938St. Angelo II (Wolsey)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
15th June 193716th December 1937St. Angelo II (Reserve Destroyers)Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
17th December 193714th June 1938HoodActing Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
27th March 193814th June 1937St. Angelo II (Reserve Destroyers)Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM363/166
15th June 193810th April 1940HoodChief Engine room Artificer 2nd ClassADM363/166
11th April 194024th May 1941HoodChief Engine Room ArtificerADM363/166

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)





Herbert's name is in Column 1 of Panel 53.





Detail of Herbert'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 188/1063)
His grandson, Nick Powley (photo & information, August 2008)