-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.

Chainbar divider


Charles William Wilson

Photo of
Date of birth: 6th November 1919
Place of birth: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Previous occupation: Trainee Stockbroker
Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Rank: Sub-Lieutenant (Acting)
Service Number: MD/X.3067
Joined Hood: 21st May 1940
Left Hood: 15th May 1941







Biographical Information: Following completion of his education at Liverpool College, and a brief interlude as a trainee stockbroker, Charles William Wilson enlisted in the RNVR in October 1939 as an Able Seaman. He served in HMS King Alfred and HMS Drake, during which time he was selected for promotion to commissioned rank. He joined Hood as an Acting Sub Lt in May 1940. He was landed for a medical operation in May 1941, a matter of days before Hood sailed on her final voyage. He served in Portsmouth establishments HMS Excellent and HMS Victory before joining HMS Ferret, in Londonderry, as an Acting Lt RNVR.At the end of World War II, following the end of his naval time, Charles embarked on a business career which culminated in ownership of his own company. He married Brenda Hartley in 1953, and they had two children: Simon (born 1957) and Joanne (born 1960). Charles William Wilson died on 19 September 1973, at the early age of 53.


Additional Photos



A youthful Charles Wilson.




In Iceland.




Under Hood's 15 inch gun barrels.




At Rosyth.




Two Naval Form S450s, known as 'flimsies', signed by two successive Captains of HMS Hood. The signatory of the second one is Captain Ralph Kerr, who was to lose his life less than a fortnight after this flimsy was written. Flimsies are not part of the formal naval officer reporting system, but are given to the officer concerned, to act as a testimonial from the captain to an officer who has been under his command.



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)
Mr Simon Wilson, son, photos and information 2018 and 2021.