H.M.S. HOOD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 153, 31 May 1941, Page 6

H.M.S. HOOD

(By F. S. Golilingham.) Everybody knows, and it they don't they, ought to, that the largest and most powerful warship in tue world was the Hood. But tile man whose name she hears Sam Hood —Lord Hood—was well worthy ot the honour, tor England lias never had a sea officer w.ho was more possessed or the sense of service to his country, ol' single minded devotion to duty than Hood was. He was Nelson's ideal sea officer, the commander under whom Nelson delighted to serve the man front whom more than anyone else Nelson learnt his trade. Later on Nelson described him as ‘‘the best officer, take him altogether; that England has to boast of,’ grout in all situations which an admiral can ho placed in.” He was one of a whole family of naval officers, a number of whom rose to distinction. There has been only one Nelson., only one Rodney, only one Drake, in the nineteenth century, in the days of Queen Victoria., one of several Hoods ruse to he First Lord ot the Admiralty.

Then in our own time there was Bear-Admiral Hood, one of the finest sea officers ol the Great War, one of the heroes of Jutland. lie was in command of the battle cruiser squadron in the Invincible and went down when his ship blew up. What a magnificent family it has been, a West Countrv. a Dorset family.

What a coincidence —or was it a coincidence 'i —that the final revenge for the loss of the Hood was carried out by H.iM.S. .Dorsetshire, which was ordered to sink the Germa.ii battleship Bismarck, and did.