-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
John William Whiteman

Photo of
Date of birth: 24th June 1910
Place of birth: Dundee, Angus, Scotland
Parents: Richard and Annie Whiteman
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Stoker Petty Officer
Service Number: P/KX 79382
Joined Hood: 2nd June 1939 (Leading Stoker)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Acting Stoker Petty Officer)
Click here to print memorial poster





Biographical Information:

'Jack' as he was known, was born on 24th June 1910 in Dundee, Angus, Scotland to Richard and Annie Whiteman. He was the twin brother of Helen Susan Whiteman. The family later lived in Coreley, Shropshire, where they ran a farm. He was known to have a brother named Tom who also served in the Navy and brother named Richard who served in the Army.

Having begun his working life as a hand on the farm, Jack joined the Royal Navy on 16th July 1928, signing up for an initial period of 12 years. In doing so he was following in his father's footsteps - his father having served as a Chief Petty Officer during World War 1 including surviving the sinking of H.M.S. Cressy.

Following his initial training, Jack's first draft was to the battleship Revenge which he joined on 2nd January 1929 - the photograph above of him is from this period. Jack's naval career was spent entirely in big ships. His time in Revenge was followed by drafts to her sister ship Royal Sovereign (1932 to 1934), the aircraft carrier Courageous (1936) and the cruiser London (1937 to 1938). By the time he was drafted to Hood in June 1939 he had progressed to the rating of Leading Stoker and was further advanced to Acting Stoker Petty Officer in February 1941.

Jack was 30 years old at the time of his loss.





History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
16th July 19281st January 1929Victory IIStoker 2nd ClassADM362/55
2nd January 192915th January 1929RevengeStoker 2nd ClassADM363/590
16th January 192924th November 1931RevengeStoker 1st ClassADM363/590
25th November 193128th February 1932Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM363/590
29th February 19324th November 1932Vernon (Kate Lewis)Stoker 1st ClassADM363/590
5th November 193223rd August 1935Royal SovereignStoker 1st ClassADM363/590
24th August 19354th May 1936Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM363/590
5th May 19368th June 1936CourageousStoker 1st ClassADM363/590
9th June 193619th January 1937Victory IIStoker 1st ClassADM363/590
20th January 19377th October 1937LondonStoker 1st ClassADM363/590
8th October 19377th October 1938LondonActing Leading StokerADM363/590
8th October 19381st March 1939LondonLeading StokerADM363/590
2nd March 19391st June 1939Victory IILeading StokerADM363/590
2nd June 19396th February 1941HoodLeading StokerADM363/590
7th February 194124th May 1941HoodActing Stoker Petty OfficerADM363/590


Additional Photos



A studio photo of Jack taken during his brief period serving in H.M.S. Courageous (May to June 1936).





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)





John's name is in Column 1 of Panel 54.





Detail of John'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)
Sonia Cave, e-mail 27 Oct 2002
Tim Robinson, Jack's great nephew (photograph and service record, June 2020)