-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


John Briody

Photo of
Date of birth: 31st January 1897
Place of birth: St. Helen's, Lancashire, England
Previous occupation: Wireman
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: J40604
Joined Hood: 5th January 1932 (Able Seaman)
Left Hood: 30th August 1933 (Able Seaman)







Biographical Information: John Briody joined the Royal Navy in 1915 at the age of 18. This was older than normal and, initially, it seems that he joined for patriotic reasons: he had already begun a career as a wireman (electrician) and joined up initially 'Hostilities Only'. Following his induction and basic training, John was drafted to his first ship: the super-dreadnought HMS Barham, of the mighty, ultra-modern 5th Battle Squadron. He was still on board in May 1916, and was in the thick of the action at the pivotal Battle of Jutland. It seems that he enjoyed his life in the Royal Navy, because he signed on to complete 12 years, then a full naval career.

John Briody joined HMS Hood at the beginning of 1932, and served onboard for around 20 months. He was discharged to pension in August 1939, immediately before the onset of the Second World War, but re-enlisted just three weeks later, after war had been declared. He was therefore one of the relatively small number of people to have served in the RN during both World Wars. It seems that, initially at least, his wartime drafts were ashore rather than afloat. His wartime service record is incomplete (as is sometimes the case) but it seems that he must have served at sea later because he was Mentioned in Despatches (gazetted June 1944.)

Following his World War II service, John was discharged to pension once more. He died in Blackpool not long after, in 1947, at the early age of 50, and, his family tell us, is buried in an unmarked family plot in his home town of St Helens.


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)
Service Record: ADM363/57(Ancestry)
Mr Terry Briody, great-nephew. Photo and biographical information 2021.