-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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Cecil Robert Giles

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Date of birth: 1st August 1907
Place of birth: Poole, Dorset, England
Previous occupation: Labourer
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service Number: J108494
Joined Hood First time: 12th May 1931
Left Hood First time: 5th January 1933
Joined Hood Second time: 31st August 1933
Left Hood Second time: 4th May 1934





Biographical Information: Cecil Robert Giles was the younger brother (by a year) of William (Billy) Henry Giles (qv). Unusually, the brothers served in Hood simultaneously, both joining on the same day: 12 May 1931. William remained in Hood longer, and left on 30 August 1933 - the day before Cecil returned for his second draft in Hood.

Whilst on board, Cecil was advanced from Acting Leading Seaman to the substantive rate of Leading Seaman. A capable athlete, he was a member of HMS Hood's athletics team.

Cecil went on to build a successful, long career in the Royal Navy, serving right through the Second World War and achieving promotion to Chief Petty Officer.



Additional Photos



Cecil Giles (back row, centre) with the HMS Hood athletics team.



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 documentation and photos from grandson Richard Heseltine, 2020.