-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Crew List

It is estimated that as many as 18,000 men served aboard the 'Mighty Hood' during the operational portion of her 21 year career. Unfortunately, there is no surviving official single listing of ALL men who served in her. Here you will find our attempt at creating such a listing. We are using the few, fragmentary crew lists known to exist, Navy Lists, various official reports, public records, and most importantly of all, inputs from the families of former crew.

Richard Foard Powton

Richard married Stella Ditchburn and they had two children, David and Kathleen. They lived in the Stoke area of Plymouth.

As a Chief Petty Officer Cook, Richard served in the heavy cruiser H.M.S. Exeter. In December 1939, Exeter was one of the three Royal Navy cruisers which did battle with the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee at the Battle of the River Plate. Richard died of wounds incurred during that battle, and was buried with full naval honours in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.

The following is an extract from the ‘Exeter Memories’ website.

‘Richard Powton died of his injuries on the 17th December and was buried on the Falklands. From Godolphin Terrace, Plymouth he left an 11 year old daughter and a 6 year old son.’

From the Western Morning News.

‘GIFT FROM FRANCE Sent to Stoke Girl who Lost Father in HMS Exeter.

Miss Kathleen Powton of 18. Godolphin Terrace, Stoke, whose father died from injuries received in HMS Exeter, in which he was serving as a chief petty officer cook, has received a beautiful gift from the French Minister of Marine, consisting of an attache case containing needlework materials and also a French doll and a drawing book. An accompanying note says "This toy comes to you as your share of a gift made through the French Ministry of Marine from the wives and families of French sailors to the children of men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who have lost their lives in the present war."’