-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.

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Ernest Horton

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Date of birth: 10th January 1907
Place of birth: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Previous occupation: Fitter's Mate
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Chief Stoker
Service Number: K66843
Joined Hood First time: 1928
Left Hood First time: 1929
Joined Hood Second time: 1940
Left Hood Second time: 1941 (Left before ship lost)





Biographical Information: Ernest Horton, known as Phil, was the brother of Eddie Horton (qv). 'Phil' joined the Royal Navy on 1 September 1925, at the age of 18. It is believed that he served in Hood at least twice. The first occasion was in 1928-9, as a Stoker First Class - information confirmed from his record of service. We have also been informed by family members that he served in Hood again around 1940, as a PO or Chief Stoker. After his Hood time, in 1942, Phil was awarded the DSM (award gazetted 10 November 1942.) He was also mentioned in despatches. After the war, Phil was reluctant to talk about his wartime experiences, but family members recall that he was upset that the man who replaced him in Hood, a family man with several children, lost his life in the sinking. After leaving the RN, Phil Horton settled in Plymouth, where he ran a pet shop. He died on 27 September 1993.


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)
Service record, family recollections.