-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
Hugh Deane Wyldbore-Smith

Photo of
Date of birth: 15th February 1907
Place of birth: Southsea, Hampshire, England
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Lieutenant-Commander
Joined Hood: 1941 (Lieutenant-Commander)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Lieutenant-Commander)
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Biographical Information:

Hugh was born on 15th February 1907 and entered the Royal Navy on 15th September 1920. He served aboard H.M.S. Barham from May 1924 to May 1926. He was promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant during a promotion course at H.M.S. President, Greenwich in May 1927.

He attended another promotion course (this time in Portsmouth) during the first half of 1928. From August 1928 to August 1929, he served in the destroyer H.M.S. Viscount. He was promoted to Lieutenant during this appointment (December 1928). Between December 1930 and February 1931, he attended the Signals Course, HM Signal School, H.M.S. Victory, Portsmouth.

From December 1931 to September 1932, he served as the Signals Officer for the submarine depot ship H.M.S. Medway. He returned to Signals School to participate in experimental endeavours from April 1934 to February 1936. March 1936 saw him appointed to the cruiser H.M.S. Norfolk. He also served as the Fleet Signals and W/T Officer, East Indies. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander in December 1936.

On 5th May 1937 he married Caroline Orlebar. Together they would have two sons, Piers and Nicholas.

Hugh left the Norfolk in June 1938. Between December 1938 and August 1939, he served as the Commanding Officer of the fishery protection trawler H.M.S. Doon. In August 1938 he was reappointed as the Flag-Lieutenant Commander and Squadron Signals & WT Officer to the RADM/VADM Commanding Aircraft Carriers aboard H.M.S. Ark Royal. He remained in this position until the summer of 1940 when he carried out the same duties aboard H.M.S. Illustrious.

He was reappointed to H.M.S. Hood in Spring 1941 as Hood's Signal Officer. He was 34 years old at the time of his loss.




Additional Photographs
None at this time.






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)





Hugh's name is in Column 1 of Panel 45.





Detail of Hugh'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)
Navy Lists (courtesy of J.N. Houterman)
His son, Nicholas Wyldbore-Smith (photo, 2001)