-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.

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James John Harry Softley

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Date of birth: 16th April 1904
Place of birth: Buckland, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Previous occupation: Brewers Drayman
Service: Royal Marines
Rank: Marine
Service Number: 216524
Joined Hood: 3rd February 1937
Left Hood: 3rd January 1939







Biographical Information: James joined the Royal Marines as a Private in 1918 when he was 17 years old. He served in a number of establishments and ships to include (but not limited to) Benbow, Emperor of India, Malaya, Portsmouth, Resource, Barham and of course Hood. His primary vocation was as a Gunner. He served on HMS Hood from 3rd February 1937 to 3rd January 1939. He finished his served as a Gunner in October 1945. He died on 24 November 1988.


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)
Gordon McCulloch, e-mail 22 Sep 2003
Sylvia Maddock, James' grandaughter, April 2009.