-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
William George Smith

Photo of
Date of birth: 24th April 1901
Place of birth: Banbury, Oxfordshire, England
Parents: William and Harriet Smith
Previous occupation: Errand Boy
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: P/J 59388
Joined Hood First time: 12th May 1931 (Able Seaman)
Left Hood First time: 5th May 1933 (Able Seaman)
Joined Hood Second time: 8th September 1936 (Able Seaman)
Left Hood Second time: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Able Seaman)
Click here to print memorial poster


Biographical Information:

William was born on 24th April 1901 in Banbury, Oxfordshire to William and Harriet Smith. The family later relocated to Willesden, Middlesex. He was 40 years old at the time of his loss.





History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
7th September 191621st November 1916Vivid IBoy 2nd ClassADM188/765
22nd November 191623rd March 1919ImpregnableBoy 2nd ClassADM188/765
31st May 191710th March 1919St. VincentBoy 1st ClassADM188/765
11th March 191927th March 1919Vivid IBoy 1st ClassADM188/765
24th March 191930th May 1917ImpregnableBoy 1st ClassADM188/765
28th March 191923rd April 1919RamillesBoy 1st ClassADM188/765
24th April 191924th March 1920RamillesOrdinary SeamanADM188/765
25th March 19201st September 1921RamillesAble SeamanADM188/765
2nd September 19219th September 1921Victory IAble SeamanADM188/765
10th September 192116th October 1922ExcellentAble SeamanADM188/765
17th October 19226th December 1922VindictiveAble SeamanADM188/765
7th December 192231st March 1925CarlisleAble SeamanADM188/765
1st April 192510th July 1925Victory IAble SeamanADM188/765
11th July 192531st August 1926ExcellentAble SeamanADM188/765
1st September 192623rd October 1926FuriousAble SeamanADM188/765
24th October 19263rd January 1927ColumbineAble SeamanADM188/765
4th January 192722nd November 1927Columbine (Windsor)Able SeamanADM188/765
23rd November 192731st December 1927Victory IAble SeamanADM188/765
1st January 19284th March 1928CornflowerAble SeamanADM188/765
5th March 19281st June 1930IroquoisAble SeamanADM188/765
2nd June 19308th July 1930VindictiveAble SeamanADM363/312
9th July 19307th August 1930Victory I - IIIAble SeamanADM363/312
8th August 193027th November 1930ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/312
28th November 19305th February 1931Vernon (Wrestler)Able SeamanADM363/312
6th February 193126th March 1931ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/312
27th March 193111th May 1931Victory I - IIIAble SeamanADM363/312
12th May 19315th May 1933HoodAble SeamanADM363/312
6th May 193320th June 1933ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/312
21st June 193329th November 1935PenzanceAble SeamanADM363/312
30th November 193529th January 1936Victory IAble SeamanADM363/312
30th January 193617th February 1936ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/312
18th February 193618th August 1936Effingham (Hawkins)Able SeamanADM363/312
19th August 19367th September 1936HawkinsAble SeamanADM363/312
8th September 193624th May 1941HoodAble SeamanADM363/312

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)





William's name is in Column 2 of Panel 49.





Detail of William'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 188/765)
His great grandson, Gary Wright (photo, March 2008)