-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.

Chainbar divider


Alfred Henry Fenner

Photo of
Date of birth: 16th January 1904.
Place of birth: Langport, Somerset, England
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Able Seaman
Service Number: J96204
Joined Hood: 28th August 1928
Left Hood: 16th May 1929








Biographical Information: Like many of his generation, Alf had a tough early life. His parents were part of the Raj forces in India, where some of his siblings were born. His father died not long after the family returned to the UK, leaving his widow penniless and in the workhouse. The children were taken into Dr Barnardo's home - from where Alf entered the Navy. He joined as a Boy 2nd Class at age 15 in 1919. Trained in gunnery, he went on to serve in HM Ships Caradoc and Venetia before joining Hood in 1928. He served aboard Hood as a seaman gunner and was classified as a rating qualified in ordnance. It is likely that he worked with Hood's 4-inch guns - her secondary armament.

After leaving Hood, Alf served in one other ship: HMS Tiger. Alf met his future wife Edith (Edie) during Portsmouth Navy Days. They married in August 1931 and Alf left the Navy not long after, in November that year. They set up home in Walthamstow, Greater London. Together they went on to have three daughters.

After leaving the Royal Navy, Alf worked in engineering as a toolmaker. During World War II, he worked at Ford's Dagenham factory. In later years he bought a window cleaning round which he worked for over twenty years - he said he liked the freedom.

Alf passed away from cancer in 1970 and Edie died in 1993.




Additional Photos



Alfred Fenner (at right) with shipmates in Hood.




The touching inscription on the reverse of the photo above.




Alfred with a Royal Marine colleague. Ship not known.




Alf and Edie on their wedding day. Sadly, their little bridesmaid Doreen lost her life late in World War II when a V2 rocket hit Smithfield Market.




Alf and Edie on Hoe Street, Walthamstow.



Memorials
No known memorials


Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ, 2009)
Certificate of Service and photo from Mike and Val (Alf's daughter) Walton. Further photos and biographical information 2022-3.