-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
Joseph Ward

Photo of
Date of birth: 26th February 1922
Place of birth: Cramlington, Northumberland, England
Parents: Thomas and Margaret Ward
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Ordinary Telegraphist
Service Number: P/SSX 31782
Joined Hood: 28th September 1940
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Ordinary Telegraphist)
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Biographical Information:

Joe, as he was known, was born on 26th February 1922 in Cramlington, Northumberland to Thomas and Margaret Ward. The family came from a coal mining background and were originally from New Hartley. They later moved to 44 Bristol Street, Seaton Delavel (which is where Joe was raised).

He had five brothers and three sisters (including his sister Edna who helped him join the Navy, and his older brother Stanley who also served in the Navy). Joe is known to have loved playing football. He also worked as a coal miner before joining the Navy in November 1939. He was trained at H.M.S. Victory 1 and joined Hood in September 1940. He was 19 years old at the time of his loss.





Additional Photos










Holy Trinity Church, Seghill, Northumberland, England

No photographs are available of this memorial





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

Photos of the memorial











Memorial Park, Seaton Delavel, Northumberland, 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)





Joseph's name is in Column 1 of Panel 53.





Detail of Joseph'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)
David Anderson (information, May & June 2017)
Sylvia Forster (photos, Sept 2011)