-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
Douglas Read

Photo of
Date of birth: 31st October 1923
Place of birth: Alverstoke, Hampshire, England
Parents: Albert and Alice Read
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Boy 1st Class
Service Number: P/JX 161480
Joined Hood: Unknown
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship)
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Biographical Information:

Douglas was born on 31st October 1923 at Mayfield Road, Alverstoke. His parents were Albert and Alice Read. He had two older brothers, Albert (the eldest) and Ronald. Douglas grew up in Alverstoke, Gosport, until he moved to Portchester in Fareham, where he was living when he joined the Royal Navy.

He was trained at H.M.S. St. Vincent before joining H.M.S. Hood. It is believed to have been his first trip out on H.M.S. Hood, when it was sunk. Douglas may have been influenced into joining the Royal Navy because he lived in a naval town or because his father spend his career in the R.N. serving on ships such as H.M.S. Iron Duke, H.M.S. Cardiff and H.M.S. Despatch, then as a civilian on Whale Island until his retirement. Although Douglas and his father served in the Royal Navy, both his brothers served in the R.A.F..

Douglas was 17 years old at the time of his loss.





Additional Photos



A 1934 photo of Douglas, age 11, at Fort Gilkicker Point






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)





Douglas's name is in Column 3 of Panel 51.





Detail of Douglas'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)
Douglas' niece, Janet Read-Smith (photo & information, October 2002 & December 2008)