-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


Edward Frank Sandford

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Date of birth: 13th September 1921
Place of birth: Newhaven, Sussex, England
Previous occupation: Shop Assistant
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: JX 157885
Joined Hood: 19th January 1940
Left Hood: 6th December 1940







Biographical Information: Edward 'Sandy' Sandford joined the navy in 1938. He served the early months of World War Two aboard HMS Belfast but was transferred to HMS Hood in January 1940. As he was blessed with good eyesight he served as a site-finder on the top front 15' gun. Edward was present at Mers el Kebir for the attack on the French fleet. He forgot to wear his ear defenders and was rendered deaf for two days by sound of the guns and hard of hearing for the rest of his life. On the 6th December 1940 he was sent on an oerlikon gunnery course in Portsmouth (HMS Excellent) and thereby missed the destruction of the Hood.Edward served on eleven further ships and left the navy in 1953. He was married with three children. In later life he was a member of the HMS Hood Association. He passed away at the age of 77 on the 13th August 1999.

Additional Photographs
None at this time.


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)