On May 24, 1941, the Royal Navy battle cruiser HMS Hood was sunk by the German battleship Bismarck 1,415 men were lost in this country's largest single-ship loss of the war.

The HMS Hood Association wishes to create a photographic memorial to these men. Photos are displayed in a memorial gallery at the association's annual reunion and on our web site at www.hmshood.com throughout the year.

We have photographs of 460 men the largest memorial gallery for any Royal Navy ship although still less than a third of the total and would like to break the 500 barrier before this year's reunion on May 22.

If any readers had friends or relatives who were lost with Hood, would they be kind enough to send me a photo? Photo to photo copies can be sent or originals which I would copy and return. Biographical information is also welcome as it helps to build up a more detailed memorial than has been possible in the past.

We are also interested in hearing from any men who served in Hood but left her before she was lost. Please write to the address below.

Paul Bevand

HMS Hood Association

98 Monarch Drive

Worcester WR2 6EU