-H.M.S. Hood Crew Information-
H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour
Memorials to Men Lost in the Sinking of Hood, 24th May 1941
Updated 11-Jan-2011

In Remembrance of
MATTHEW METCALFE

Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Leading Seaman
Service Number: P/JX 149060
Date Joined Hood: Unknown
Biographical Information: "Mattie" as he was known, was born on 12 November 1919 in Sunderland, County Durham. He was the first of three children born to Matthew and Elizabeth Metcalfe. He had two sisters, Lillian (born 1923) and Lorainne (born 1932). The family lived in Boldon Colliery.

Mattie appears to have spent time in Gordon Boys Home prior to joining the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1936. The following is a reconstructed service history for Mattie, based upon his best friend Jimmy Arthur's service record.

H.M.S. Ganges (06 May 1936 - 26 April 1937). Promoted to Boy 1st Class in Oct 1936.
18/10/1936 HMS Ganges Boy 1 until 26/04/1937
H.M.S. Ramilles (27 April-30 August 1937)
H.M.S. Iron Duke (31 August - 10 September 1937)
H.M.S. London (11 Sept 1937 - 15 March 1939. Promoted to Ordinary Seaman in November 1937 and Able Seaman in November 1938.
H.M.S. Victory (17 March - 28 March 1939)
HMS Excellent, Whale Island (01 April - 28 June 1939). Mattie qualified as a QR3 gunnery rating.
H.M.S. Victory (29 June - 01 August 1939)
H.M.S. Dunedin (August 1939 - ?)
H.M.S. Hood (final ship).

He was 21 years old at the time of his loss. We have no additional information.

If you have any additional details, please contact us.

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Memorial Information
Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 46, Column 3 (click to view panel)
Also memorialised at
Hood Chapel, Church of St John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire

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Additional Photographs

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Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tony Arthur (photos & information, January 2011)
'Register of Deaths of Naval Ratings' (data extracted by Director of Naval Personnel (Disclosure Cell), Navy Command HQ