Frank Stanley Sewell

Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number:
Joined Hood: 4th December 1936 (Boy 1st Class)
Left Hood: 24th March 1938 (Able Seaman)
Biographical Information: Frank joined the Navy at H.M.S. Ganges as a Boy, aged 15, on 5 March 1934. He joined Hood as a Boy 1st Class on 12th December 1936. His service in Hood was in the Mediterranean. He left her on 24th March 1938 having, by that date, progressed to Able Seaman. Although during his time in Hood Frank was part of a Pop Pom crew, he later specialised in Torpedoes. Frank was married in 1941. He retired from the Royal Navy in 1959 as a Chief Eectrician and died in 2012 aged 93.
History of ships served in and ratings held:
Date From | Date to | Ship | Rating | Source |
5th March 1934 | 12th January 1935 | Ganges | Boy 2nd Class | Service Record |
13th January 1935 | 21st February 1935 | Ganges | Boy 1st Class | Service Record |
22nd February 1935 | 1st April 1935 | Pembroke | Boy 1st Class | Service Record |
2nd April 1935 | 25th July 1935 | Valiant | Boy 1st Class | Service Record |
26th July 1935 | 18th January 1936 | Ramillies | Boy 1st Class | Service Record |
19th January 1936 | 5th March 1936 | Pembroke | Boy 1st Class | Service Record |
6th March 1936 | 11th December 1936 | Valiant | Boy 1st Class | Service Record |
12th December 1936 | 5th January 1937 | Hood | Boy 1st Class | Service Record |
6th January 1937 | 7th March 1938 | Hood | Ordinary Seaman | Service Record |
8th March 1938 | 24th March 1938 | Hood | Able Seaman | Service Record |
25th March 1938 | 16th June 1938 | Pembroke | Able Seaman | Service Record |
17th June 1938 | 15th September 1938 | Vernon | Able Seaman | Service Record |
16th September 1938 | 24th September 1938 | Pembroke | Able Seaman | Service Record |
25th September 1938 | 4th September 1940 | Resolution | Able Seaman | Service Record |
5th September 1940 | 10th October 1940 | Pembroke | Acting Leading Seaman (Temporary) | Service Record |
11th October 1940 | 13th December 1940 | Vernon | Acting Leading Seaman (Temporary) | Service Record |
14th December 1940 | 18th January 1941 | Pembroke | Acting Leading Seaman (Temporary) | Service Record |
19th January 1941 | 7th February 1941 | St. Christopher (M A/S B 22) | Acting Leading Seaman (Temporary) | Service Record |
8th February 1941 | 21st May 1941 | Hornet | Acting Leading Seaman (Temporary) | Service Record |
22nd May 1941 | 14th August 1941 | Wasp (M A/S B 23) | Acting Leading Seaman (Temporary) | Service Record |
15th August 1941 | 14th August 1942 | Wasp (M A/S B 23) | Acing Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
15th August 1942 | 8th March 1943 | Wasp (M A/S B 23) | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
9th March 1943 | 9th March 1943 | Hornet | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
10th March 1943 | 2nd August 1943 | St. Christopher (MGB 664) | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
3rd August 1943 | 4th February 1944 | Cicala (MTB 664) | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
5th February 1944 | 16th March 1944 | Pembroke | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
17th March 1944 | 5th October 1944 | Marlborough | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
6th October 1944 | 6th March 1945 | Pembroke | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
7th March 1945 | 28th April 1945 | Golden Hind | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
29th April 1945 | 27th October 1945 | Tyne (Quadrant) | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
28th October 1945 | 19th November 1945 | Golden Hind | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
20th November 1945 | 29th July 1946 | Implacable | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
30th July 1946 | 12th September 1946 | Pembroke | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
13th September 1946 | 3rd January 1947 | Vernon | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
4th January 1947 | 14th January 1947 | Marlborough | Petty Officer (Temporary) | Service Record |
15th January 1947 | 6th March 1947 | Marlborough | Electrician | Service Record |
7th March 1947 | 3rd May 1947 | Defiance | Electrician | Service Record |
4th May 1947 | 10th May 1947 | Collingwood | Electrician | Service Record |
11th May 1947 | 21st April 1949 | Pembroke | Electrician | Service Record |
22nd April 1949 | 27th July 1949 | Triumph | Electrician | Service Record |
28th July 1949 | 31st May 1951 | Phoebe | Electrician | Service Record |
1st June 1951 | 18th October 1951 | Mars (Zebra) | Electrician | Service Record |
19th October 1951 | 22nd May 1952 | Collingwood | Electrician | Service Record |
23rd May 1952 | 15th September 1952 | Pembroke | Electrician | Service Record |
16th September 1952 | 7th January 1953 | Delight (Pembroke II) | Electrician | Service Record |
8th January 1953 | 13th November 1953 | Delight (Pembroke II) | Chief Electrician | Service Record |
14th November 1953 | 31st March 1954 | Delight (Phoenicia) | Chief Electrician | Service Record |
1st April 1954 | 2nd September 1954 | Delight | Chief Electrician | Service Record |
3rd September 1954 | 1st June 1956 | Mediterranean Division Reserve Fleet | Chief Electrician | Service Record |
2nd June 1956 | 8th August 1956 | Pembroke | Chief Electrician | Service Record |
9th August 1956 | 5th June 1957 | Bramle (Pembroke II) | Chief Electrician | Service Record |
6th June 1957 | 5th January 1959 | Pembroke | Chief Electrician | Service Record |
Additional Photos |
![]() Frank on joining H.M.S. Ganges as a Boy. |
![]() The swimming bath at H.M.S. Ganges |
![]() Muster at H.M.S. Ganges |
![]() The mast at H.M.S. Ganges |
![]() Frank during his time in H.M.S. Valiant |
![]() A trip to the pyramids whilst serving in H.M.S. Valiant |
![]() 1937: Frank formed part of the PomPom gun crew in Hood. |
![]() Relaxing on the decks of Hood whilst the ship was at Split. |
![]() On Hood at Malta, 1937. |
![]() On Hood at Malta, 1937. |
![]() Narvik 1940 whilst serving in H.M.S Resolution. |
![]() Frank's wedding in 1941 |
![]() Frank in 1941 wearing a "full set". |
![]() 550 |
![]() Celebrating Christmas 1945 in H.M.S Implacable. |
Memorials
No known memorials
No known memorials
Sources
Frank's grandson, Brett Cleall (Service record and photographs), March 2021
Frank's grandson, Brett Cleall (Service record and photographs), March 2021