-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
Charles William Allen

Photo of
Date of birth: 5th October 1904
Place of birth: Godstone, Surrey, England
Parents: Charles William & May Allen
Wife: Edith Nora Emily Allen
Previous occupation: Van Boy
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service Number: P/J 101995
Joined Hood: 25th July 1938 (Able Seaman)
Left Hood: 24th May 1941 (loss of ship) (Acting Leading Seaman (Temporary))
Click here to print memorial poster



Biographical Information:

Charles was born 5th October 1904 in Godstone, Surrey to Charles and May Allen.

Joining the Royal Navy on 5th October 1922, for a period of 12 years, Charles' initial training took place at H.M.S. Ganges before his first draft which was to the battleship H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth. This was followed by a period in the aircraft carrier H.M.S Courageous.

Charles undertook several periods of training in H.M.S. Excellent and initially held the non substantive rating of Seaman Gunner before passing as a Gun Layer 2nd Class in July 1931.

On completion of his 12 years in 1934, he returned to civilian life for three years, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve in October 1934.

In August 1937 Charles rejoined the service and was drafted to the cruiser H.M.S. London in January of the following year. He served in that ship until July 1938 at which point he was drafted to H.M.S. Hood.

He was the husband of Edith Allen. He was serving in Hood as an Acting Leading Seaman (Temporary) at the time of the sinking. He was 36 years old at the time of his loss.





History of ships served in and ratings held:


Date FromDate toShipRatingSource
14th April 192111th February 1922GangesBoy 2nd ClassADM188/850
12th February 192225th May 1922GangesBoy 1st ClassADM188/850
26th May 192212th June 1922Victory IBoy 1st ClassADM188/850
13th June 19224th October 1922Queen ElizabethBoy 1st ClassADM188/850
5th October 192210th September 1923Queen ElizabethOrdinary SeamanADM188/850
11th September 192310th October 1923CourageousOrdinary SeamanADM188/850
11th October 19233rd December 1923CourageousAble SeamanADM188/850
4th December 192329th August 1925Columbine (Verdun)Able SeamanADM188/850
30th August 192526th April 1926ExcellentAble SeamanADM188/850
27th April 192630th June 1928Egmont II (Witch)Able SeamanADM188/850
1st July 192816th July 1928Victory II (Witch)Able SeamanADM188/850
17th July 192823rd August 1928Victory IAble SeamanADM188/850
24th August 19285th November 1928ExcellentAble SeamanADM188/850
6th November 192818th July 1939Victory IAble SeamanADM188/850
19th July 192922nd January 1931Emperor of IndiaAble SeamanADM363/381
23rd January 19311st April 1931Victory IAble SeamanADM363/381
2nd April 193130th September 1931ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/381
1st October 193119th October 1931Frobisher (Whitehall)Able SeamanADM363/381
20th October 19312nd June 1932ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/381
3rd June 193219th September 1932Osprey (Thruster)Able SeamanADM363/381
20th September 193217th October 1932ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/381
18th October 193211th November 1932Royal SovereignAble SeamanADM363/381
12th November 193230th June 1933Egmont II (Active)Able SeamanADM363/381
1st July 193328th January 1934St. Angelo (Active)Able SeamanADM363/381
29th January 193425th February 1934Cardiff (Ark Royal)Able SeamanADM363/381
26th February 193425th May 1934Victory IAble SeamanADM363/381
26th May 19343rd October 1934ExcellentAble SeamanADM363/381
31st August 19377th January 1938Victory IAble SeamanADM363/381
8th January 193824th July 1938LondonAble SeamanADM363/381
25th July 19389th November 1940HoodAble SeamanADM363/381
10th November 194024th May 1941HoodActing Leading Seaman (Temporary)ADM363/381

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)





Charles's name is in Column 3 of Panel 46.





Detail of Charles'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)
His daughter, Mrs Betty Mary Piper (photo, January 2004)