-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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John Harry Hull

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Date of birth: 6th June 1898
Place of birth: Leicester, Leicestershire, England
Previous occupation: Baker
Service: Royal Marines
Rank: Marine
Service Number: Ply 18808
Joined Hood: 21st August 1923
Left Hood: 29th August 1925







Biographical Information: John Harry Hull enlisted in the Royal Marines Light Infantry (RMLI) at the age of seventeen, in March 1916 at the height of World War I. He saw sea service during that war in the obsolescent armoured cruiser HMS Suffolk, on the China Station. During that trip, Suffolk visited Vladivostok to render assistance to White Russians against the Bolsheviks.

On the amalgamation of the RMLI and the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) on 22 June 1923 John's rank designation was changed from 'Private' to 'Marine'.

John served in HMS Hood for just over two years, from 21 August 1923 to 29 August 1925. He therefore participated in the Empire Cruise. in which Hood led the 'Special Service Squadron' on a circumnavigation of the globe', 'showing the flag'.

John continued in service until discharged to pension on 5th June 1937. He was recalled to service on the eve of World War II, however, and served throughout that conflict, albeit in shore-based roles in his home port of Plymouth. He finally left the Corps on 14th September 1945 and passed away in his native Leicester little more than five years later, early in 1951.



Additional Photos



A studio photo of a young John Hull in a sailor uniform.



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)
Photos courtesy of Sarah Culblaith, John Hull's granddaughter, October 2020.