-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the sinking

We will remember them
Chainbar divider

In Remembrance of
Gerald Edward Coombes

Photo of
Date of birth: 9th November 1907
Place of birth: Petersfield, Hampshire, England
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. S. Coombes
Service: Royal Marines
Rank: Sergeant
Service Number: PO/X 22638
Joined Hood: 16th May 1940 (Sergeant)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Sergeant)
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Biographical Information:

Gerald was born on 9th November 1907 to Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Coombes, of Highfield Road, Petersfield, Hampshire. He attended the Petersfield Council School as a boy. He also served as an altar boy at St Laurence's Church, Petersfield. After completing school, he worked in the offices of The Hants and Sussex News.

Gerald joined the Marines at age 18. He was keen on sports reporting and journalism and was a frequent contributor to the Royal Marines magazine Globe and Laurel. He was very popular among his shipmates.

Gerald had two children, Michael and Maureen. He was 33 years old at the time of his loss.




Additional Photographs
None at this time.






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)





Gerald's name is in Column 2 of Panel 58.





Detail of Gerald's name.







Petersfield War Memorial, Petersfield, Hampshire, England

Photos of the memorial



A view of the Petersfield War Memorial which stands in High Street.





The first panel of World War 2 names lists Gerald along with
two more of Hood's marines who he would undoubtledly have known well:
Marine Henry Roy Crewsswell and
Marine Frederick John Hiscock






Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
The National Archives (ADM 159/202/22638)
Susan Richardson (photo & information, August 2015)