Leonard Barrett

Date of birth: 23 January 1894
Place of birth: Steeple Aston, Woodstock District, Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, England
Previous occupation: Mason's labourer
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist
Service Number: J.6322
Joined Hood: 13th May 1932
Left Hood: 30th August 1933







Biographical Information: Leonard Barrett first joined the Royal Navy on 27 November 1909 as a boy wireless operator. During much of World War I he served in HMS Cormorant, a hulk moored at Gibraltar, and he was advanced to the rate of PO Telegraphist while serving there. After the war he served ashore and afloat, with his seagoing service - with the exception of time in the Far East in HMS Effingham and at Colombo - being largely in home waters. Leonard was promoted to CPO Tel in 1925, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1927 while serving in HMS Effingham. Not long after his service in HMS Hood in 1932-1933, he was discharged to pension: as was customary, Leonard was discharged from active service on the day before his 40th birthday: 22 January 1934. During World War II he appears to have used his communications expertise out of uniform, working for the civilian shore wireless service DSD9 CSWS, based in HMS Flowerdown, Hampshire but with service in Demerara, in the West Indies, between 1940 and 1943. He died in Basingstoke, Hampshire in early November 1981, at the age of 86. From probate/will records it appears that, sadly, he died alone, since his body was "found" two days after he was last seen alive.

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