-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


William Henry Giles

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Date of birth: 19th July 1906.
Place of birth: Parkstone, Dorset, England
Previous occupation: Labourer
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service Number: J104686 (later M39861)
Joined Hood: 12th May 1931
Left Hood: 30th August 1933







Biographical Information: William Henry Giles was the brother of Cecil Robert Giles (qv). Both brothers served in Hood simultaneously, joining on the same day - 12th May 1931.

William joined the RN at HMS Ganges on 25th October 1921 as a Boy Second Class. By the time he joined Hood he was a Leading Seaman.

He went on to have a very successful career in the Service, transferring to the Regulating (RN police) branch in 1934 as a Petty Officer. He later earned promotion to the rate of Master at Arms (Chief Petty Officer rate.) During WWII he achieved further recognition when promoted to the rank of Temporary Acting Warrant Master of Arms. During his RN career, he was also awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM.)


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)
Documentation and information from Richard Heseltine, great-nephew, 2020.