-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.

Frederick Laurence Field

Frederick Laurence Field was born on 18th April 1871. He was known as "Tam" to his friends. He entered the Royal Navy in 1884 and was promoted to Lieutenant by 1893. He served in H.M.S. Barfleur during the Chinese Boxer Rebellion of 1900. He was wounded while taking Tientsin City. Subsequently, he was Mentioned in Despatches, plus received the China medal and Relief of Peking clasp.

In 1902, Field was promoted to Commander. Five years later, in December 1907, he was promoted to Captain. He saw service during the First World War. His most notable appointment was as Captain of the battleship H.M.S. King George V at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. He was again Mentioned in Despatches and also eventually received the following: C.B., C.M.G., 2nd Class of Russian Order of St Anne with Swords, Order of Crown of Roumania, Legion of Honour and the American DSM).

Upon leaving the King George V, Field served as the Chief of Staff to Admiral 2nd in Command, Grand Fleet. He served in this capacity until 1918. He then served as the Director of Torpedoes and Mining, Admiralty until 1920. During this assignment has received the C.M.G. and was promoted to Rear Admiral (1919).

From 1920 to 1923, Field served as the 3rd Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy. He left this position to take command on the Battle Cruiser Squadron. He commanded the squadron primarily from the battle cruiser H.M.S. Hood. Following his promotion in September 1924, Field was tasked to command the World Cruise of the Special Service Squadron, a public relations cruise to various ports in the British Empire. This epic journey took place between 1923 and 1924. He received the K.C.B. and K.C.M.G. as a result of his successful command.

Field left the Battle Cruiser Squadron and became the Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, a post he held until 1928. He was promoted to full Admiral in April of that year and subsequently served as Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet. He was reassigned as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty and Chief of Naval Staff in 1933. That same year he was made Admiral of the Fleet and received the G.C.B.

Admiral Field retired in 1933, but was restored to the active list in 1940. He died on 24 October 1945.