William Charles Titcombe

Date of birth: 16th April 1910
Place of birth: Goring, Berkshire, England
Previous occupation: Labourer
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: J114356
Joined Hood: 12th May 1931
Left Hood: 30th August 1933







Biographical Information: William Titcombe entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd class on 1st June 1925, and on 2 July 1925 he signed on for 12 years. He held the rate of Able Seaman while in Hood, and on his Gunnery History Sheet in August 1933 he is recorded as a S.G on HAGSI gun on board. On 29th August as a S.G he qualified as a Diver 2nd class and in June 1933 as a G.L 2nd (1) again both in HMS Hood. While in Hood on 15th Mar 1932 he passed his professional exam for Leading Seaman. Later, after his Hood time, he was advanced substantively to Petty Officer in 1938, and, serving as a PO Gunner in the cruiser HMS Sirius in June 1944, would have had an important role in the D Day landings as that ship bombarded German positions in Normandy. William was selected for promotion to Chief Petty Officer in 1946. He left the Navy on the 15th April 1950 as a CPO, after serving 25 years. He joined the Post office and stayed there until retirement. He died on the 10th October 1985.

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