-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.

Chainbar divider


William Stanley Brewer

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Date of birth: 27 June 1880
Place of birth: Devonport, Devon
Previous occupation: Fitter/turner
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Chief Engine Room Artificer First Class
Service Number: 271674
Joined Hood: 15th May 1923 (Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class)
Left Hood: 30th August 1925 (Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class)







Biographical Information: William Stanley Brewer joined the Royal Navy in his native Devonport in June 1904, shortly before his 24th birthday. He was very old for a new entrant, but was already a time-served fitter-turner: this qualification and experience allowed him to join the RN's rating cadre of skilled engineers - the artificers - and enabled his promotion to be rapid, with promotion to Chief Petty Officer level normally guaranteed.

William enjoyed a full 22-year career in the Royal Navy. He joined HMS Hood as a Chief Engine Room Artificer First Class in 1923, at the pinnacle of a successful career, near the end of his service career and just in time for him to participate in the 'Empire Cruise' circumnavigation of 1923-4. William served in Hood until 1925, and retired from the RN the following year.

It is clear that he was very highly thought of: his service record lists a string of successive annual professional assessments of 'Exceptional' - the highest possible assessment and not at all common.

William Stanley Brewer died in his native Plymouth late in 1958, at the age of 78




History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
6th June 190425th November 1904Vivid IIActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/436
26th November 190430th November 1904DefianceActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/436
1st December 19046th October 1905Vivid IIActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/436
7th October 19055th March 1906Sapphire IIActing Engine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/436
6th March 19063rd September 1907Sapphire IIEngine Room Artificer 4th ClassADM188/436
4th September 190715th September 1907Sapphire IIEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/436
16th September 190723rd October 1907Vivid IIEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/436
24th October 190727th April 1908NiobeEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/436
28th April 19082nd May 1910SuffolkEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/436
3rd May 19103rd June 1910Vivid IIEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/436
4th June 19102nd August 1910LeanderEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/436
3rd August 191026th May 1911RamilliesEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/436
27th May 19113rd September 1911Royal OakEngine Room Artificer 3rd ClassADM188/436
4th September 191114th November 1911Royal OakEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
15th November 191128th November 1911Empress of IndiaEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
29th November 191129th December 1911Vivid IIEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
30th December 19112nd February 1914ActiveEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
3rd February 191413th November 1914Leander (TB3)Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
14th November 191418th February 1915St. GeorgeEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
19th February 191529th February 1916Victory IIEngine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
1st March 19161st September 1916Victory IIActing Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
2nd September 191613th August 1917TigerChief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
14th August 191731st December 1917TigerChief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
1st January 191815th October 1918Vivid IIChief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
16th October 191813th May 1921Tamar (Widgeon)Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
14th May 192123rd October 1921Vivid IIChief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
24th October 192128th February 1922PomoneChief Engine Room Artificer 2nd ClassADM188/436
1st March 192231st May 1922PomoneChief Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM188/436
1st June 19223rd October 1922BritanniaChief Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM188/436
4th October 192214th May 1923Vivid IIChief Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM188/436
15th May 192330th August 1925HoodChief Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM188/436
31st August 19254th September 1925Vivid IIChief Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM188/436
5th September 1925DefianceChief Engine Room Artificer 1st ClassADM188/436

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)
Ancestry.co.uk: ADM 188 record and Record of Deaths in England and Wales.
The Empire Cruise by VC Scott O'Connor