William George Chevis

Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Petty Officer
Service Number: J 57113
Joined Hood: 8th September 1936
Left Hood: 9th September 1940










Biographical Information: William was born on 24th August 1900 at Chichester in Sussex. He joined the Royal Navy on 14th August 1916 - a few days before his 16th birthday - having trained in civilian life as a Pork Butcher's Boy. His first ship was H.M.S. Impregnable which he joined as a Boy 2nd Class.William initially signed up for 12 years but his service was, in fact, to be continuous from the middle of World War 1 all the way through to 5th December 1945.William served in Hood from 8th Sept 36 to 9th Sept 1940 joining the ship as an Acting Petty Officer and being confirmed in that rank on 1st September 1937.William specialised in torpedoes and spent several spells at the Royal Navy's torpedo school, H.M.S. Vernon in Portsmouth harbour.After leaving Hood, William spent a long spell in shore bases until he was drafted to the battleship H.M.S. Howe in Junes 1942. Promotion to Chief Petty Officer came whilst he was serving in H.M.S. Howe in February 1944.lWhen William left the Navy on 5th December 1945 he was though to be one of the longest serving sailors in the Navy.

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