-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
Edward Arthur Herbert Watts

Photo of
Date of birth: 26th April 1905
Place of birth: Wimbledon, Surrey, England
Parents: Ernest and Emily Watts
Wife: Elsie Watts
Previous occupation: Nurseryman
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Chief Petty Officer
Service Number: P/J 98316
Joined Hood: 2nd June 1939 (Petty Officer)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Chief Petty Officer)
Click here to print memorial poster



Biographical Information:

Edward was born on 26th April 1905 in Wimbledon, Surrey to Ernest and Emily Watts. He was the husband of Elsie Watts, of Fareham, Hampshire. Together they had three children, Derek, Michael and Hazel. He was 36 years old at the time of his loss.





History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
12th August 19202nd April 1921GangesBoy 2nd ClassADM188/843
3rd April 192121st June 1921GangesBoy 1st ClassADM188/843
22nd June 192125th April 1923MalayaBoy 1st ClassADM188/843
26th April 19233rd September 1923MalayaOrdinary SeamanADM188/843
4th September 192325th October 1923CourageousOrdinary SeamanADM188/843
26th October 19232nd November 1923CourageousAble SeamanADM188/843
3rd November 192318th January 1924Courageous (Canterbury)Able SeamanADM188/843
19th January 192427th May 1924ThundererAble SeamanADM188/843
28th May 192412th September 1924Victory IAble SeamanADM188/843
13th September 192412th November 1925ExcellentAble SeamanADM188/843
13th November 192530th November 1927BarhamAble SeamanADM188/843
1st December 19277th November 1928WarspiteAble SeamanADM188/843
8th November 192815th July 1929ExcellentAble SeamanADM188/843
16th July 19295th January 1931NelsonAble SeamanADM363/348
6th January 193115th June 1931ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/348
16th June 193127th August 1931Vernon (Stokes Bay)Able SeamanADM363/348
28th August 193115th October 1931VindictiveAble SeamanADM363/348
16th October 193121st March 1933CornflowerAble SeamanADM363/348
22nd March 193321st March 1934CornflowerActing Leading SeamanADM363/348
22nd March 193431st March 1934CornflowerLeading SeamanADM363/348
1st April 193418th June 1934Victory ILeading SeamanADM363/348
19th June 193424th August 1934ExcellentLeading SeamanADM363/348
25th August 193416th November 1934Vernon (Ambuscade)Leading SeamanADM363/348
17th November 19344th January 1935ExcellentLeading SeamanADM363/348
5th January 193527th November 1935ExcellentActing Petty OfficerADM363/348
28th November 19354th January 1936Victory IActing Petty OfficerADM363/348
5th January 193630th January 1936Victory IPetty OfficerADM363/348
31st January 193630th April 1936Victory II (Greyhound)Petty OfficerADM363/348
1st May 193615th May 1938St. Angelo II (Greyhound)Petty OfficerADM363/348
16th May 193824th July 1938Victory II (Greyhound)Petty OfficerADM363/348
25th July 193825th July 1938ExcellentPetty OfficerADM363/348
26th July 19381st June 1939Victory IPetty OfficerADM363/348
2nd June 19396th January 1940HoodPetty OfficerADM363/348
7th January 194024th May 1941HoodChief Petty OfficerADM363/348


Additional Photos



Photo of Edward holding Hazel during his last visit home in February 1941





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)





Edward's name is in Column 1 of Panel 46.





Detail of Edward'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 Watts family (photo, November 2011)