-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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John (Jack) Vaters

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Date of birth: 9th December 1907
Place of birth: Birkenhead, Cheshire
Previous occupation: Labourer
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Stoker Petty Officer
Service Number: KX 75833
Joined Hood: Unknown
Left Hood: May 1941 (before loss of ship)







Biographical Information: John Vaters, although baptised under that name, was known by everybody throughout his life as Jack. Jack joined the Royal Navy at HMS Victory II barracks on 5 March 1926, at the age of 19. A career sailor, he served in a number of drafts ashore and afloat, and by the time he joined Hood he had been advanced to the senior rate of Stoker Petty Officer. He was on special leave in May 1941 as his wife Elsie was seriously ill. Family members recollect that he learned of the sinking of Hood from his morning newspaper and was devastated at losing "his boys". Jack had four daughters and thirteen grandchildren. He died on 13th March 1991 in Wallasey, Merseyside.

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)
Online service ledger page. Family recollections 2019.