-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the sinking

In Remembrance of
Donovan Connor Roe

Donovan was born on 4th October 1892 in Bideford, Devon. He was the only son of Richard George Tennant Roe and Bertha Nugent (nee Nixon) of Yelverton, Devon. in 1911 the family were living in Plymouth where Donovan's father was working as an Engineer's draftsman at the dockyard.

Donovan joined the Royal Navy in July 1910. He was made an Assistant Clerk after passing the Accountant Officers Technical course at H.M.S. Mars. He was subsequently made an Assistant Paymaster on 15th October 1913. From 1914 to 1918 he served in the Africa Station as a clerk to the secretary on the staffs of Admirals H.G. King-Hall and E.F.B. Charlton. During this timeframe, he was promoted to Paymaster Lieutenant (15th October 1915).

He received a medal for war service. Following the war he was on the staff of Rear-Admiral M.R. Hill at Simonstown. He served aboard the depot ship H.M.S. Gibraltar in 1920 then in the battleship H.M.S. Resolution from January to August 1923. In October of that year, he was promoted to Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander.

He served at the Royal Navy Barracks at H.M.S. Vivid, Devonport from January 1924 to January 1925. His next major assignment was as the Accounting Officer aboard the surveying ship H.M.S. Herald, Australia station, from April 1926 to July 1927. After departing Herald, he returned to H.M.S. Vivid, where he served as the Assistant Drafting Officer from November 1929 to January 1932. He was promoted to Paymaster Commander during this assignment (October 1931).

Next, he saw service at H.M.S. President (the Admiralty). He was assigned there until September 1932. His next notable assignment was as Accounting Officer aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Berwick (China Station) from September 1932 until September 1934. His next significant posting was as Accounting Officer aboard the depot ship H.M.S. Cyclops (Mediterranean) from January 1935 until February 1937. During this time, he also served as the 1st Submarine Flotilla's Accounting Officer.

He was assigned to the torpedo school ship H.M.S. Defiance at Devonport from October 1937 until February 1939. His final assignment was as the Battle Cruiser Squadron Accounting Officer aboard H.M.S. Hood from March 1939 until his death in the sinking of Hood on 24th May 1941.

Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial

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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)





Donovan's name is in Column 3 of Panel 45.





Detail of Donovan's name.

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Yelverton Village Hall, Yelverton, Devon, England

Photos of the memorial

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