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Annual service for 1,415 men who perished on HMS Hood at St John the Baptist, Boldre




Sunshine poured into the church of St John the Baptist on Sunday for the annual service of commemoration for those who served on HMS Hood.

The annual event honours the 1,415 men who perished on the battlecruiser when it was hit by a salvo on 24th March 1941. Only three crew survived when the ‘Mighty Hood’ was sunk.

The Bismarck scored a direct hit on the Hood, smashing through its armour and detonating around 100 tons of explosives, and it went down in less than three minutes.

The annual service remembers the 1,415 souls who perished on the ship after it was sunk by the Bismark (picture: Derek Maidment)
The annual service remembers the 1,415 souls who perished on the ship after it was sunk by the Bismark (picture: Derek Maidment)

It was one of the worst wartime losses for the UK, and the wreck is considered a war grave. A book with all the names of the officers and crew is held in the Boldre church.

Vice Admiral Lancelot Holland, who commanded the squadron which met the Bismarck in the Battle of the Denmark Strait, was a regular member of the congregation at St John’s.

His widow requested the church hold an annual service to remember him and his men, and it has been held ever since, apart from during Covid.

People of all ages joined naval and civic dignitaries at the service, which was described as both “moving and uplifting.”

The book of remembrance was carried in procession to the altar by a sea cadet, accompanied by four standards.

Sea cadets took the Book of Remembrance containing the names of those who perished on HMS Hood to the altar (picture: Derek Maidment)
Sea cadets took the Book of Remembrance containing the names of those who perished on HMS Hood to the altar (picture: Derek Maidment)

Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry, president of the Hood Association, led the Act of Remembrance and Titch Blatchford, great-niece of Hood’s commanding officer, Captain Ralph Kerr, laid a wreath.

Senior naval officers read the lessons and the Naval Prayer, and a bugler sounded The Last Post, followed by a two-minutes silence and Reveille

The Rev Mark Noakes, chaplaincy team leader at HMS Collingwood also addressed the congregation.



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