-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the sinking

In Remembrance of
Herbert William Wells

"Billy", as he was known, was born on Thursday, 2nd November 1922 at 51 Kirkby Street, The Meadows, Nottingham. His parents were Herbert and Elizabeth Wells. He had a brother named Derek, a sister named Barbara and two step sisters, Beatrice and Edna. The family relocated to 67 Woolmer Rd, The Meadows, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire when Billy was a young boy.

Billy is believed to have attended junior school at Trent Bridge Junior School from 1927 to 1933. He is believed to have attended senior school at Trent Bridge Elementary School on Green Street from 1933 - 1937. Following school, Billy worked as an errand boy. He held this position until he enlisted as a Boy 2nd Class in the Navy in August 1938.

Billy was posted to H.M.S. Ganges for training from 29th August 1938 through June 1939. He was promoted to Boy 1st Class during this timeframe (on 26th March 1939). He joined his only ship, H.M.S. Hood at Portsmouth on Friday, 2nd June 1939. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman on 2nd November 1940. Billy would have been aboard during Hood's entire wartime service, to include the action at Mers el-Kebir and of course, the action with Bismarck.

He was 18 years old at the time of his loss. He was posthumously awarded the 1939 - 1945 Star, Atlantic Star and 1939 - 1945 War Medal.

Additional Photos

Arctic Star (left) and Africa Star Medals.

Billy at four years old

Billy aboard Hood in 1940/41

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

Photos of the memorial

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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)





Herbert's name is in Column 2 of Panel 51.





Detail of Herbert's name.

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