H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information

In Remembrance of
Albert Edward Chaplin

Date of birth: 26th May 1923
Place of birth: Shoreditch, London, England
Parents: Edward and Rose Chaplin
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Boy 1st Class
Service Number: P/JX 160792
Joined Hood: 1940 (Boy Second Class)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Boy First Class)
Click here to print memorial poster

Biographical Information: Albert Edward Chaplin often called and signed himself by his given name, but was nonetheless known to everyone as Charlie - not surprisingly in view of his surname. He was born on 26th May 1923 in Shoreditch, London, to Edward and Rose Chaplin.

This memorial page owes much to the family of Charlie's best friend, John Cooper. John mourned Charlie's loss, and kept photographs and other treasured items from Charlie until the end of his own life. Although John passed away many years ago, his wider family retained those memorabilia from Charlie's short life and naval career, and have kindly passed copies to the HMS Hood Association.

Both Charlie's cap tally in his portrait above, and other memorabilia, attest to his time spent, as a cadet, in the training ship TS Arethusa. Having joined the Royal Navy in 1939, he did his basic training in the 'stone frigate' HMS St Vincent, in Gosport, Hampshire.

Charlie joined Hood in 1940. He was just two days short of his 18th birthday when he lost his life in her sinking.

Additional Photos

Cadet Training Ship TS Arethusa. Image taken from a photograph sent by Charlie to a friend.

Reverse of the postcard Charlie sent.

Albert Edward (Charlie) Chaplin passing out of basic training establishment HMS St Vincent, Gosport.

A poem in memory of Charlie, kept for over eighty years.

Hood Chapel, Church of St. John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial

Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial

The part of the memorial in which the Hood casualty names can be found.
(Panels 45 to 61)

Albert's name is in Column 3 of Panel 51.

Detail of Albert's name.

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 and information November 2022 from Mrs Julie Belch and her husband Andy. Mrs Belch is the niece of John Cooper, Albert's best friend.