Horace Hood
Rear Admiral Sir Horace Lambert Alexander Hood, KCB, DSO, MVO (2 October 1870 – 31 May 1916) was a Royal Navy admiral of the First World War, whose lengthy and distinguished service saw him engaged in operations around the world, frequently participating in land campaigns as part of a shore brigade. His early death at the Battle of Jutland in the destruction of his flagship HMS Invincible was met with mourning and accolades from across Britain.
Sir Horace Hood | |
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Rear Admiral Horace Hood c. 1916 | |
| Born | 2 October 1870 London, England |
| Died | 31 May 1916 (aged 45) HMS Invincible, North Sea |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1882–1916 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron (1915–16) Force E (1915) Dover Command (1914–15) HMS Centurion (1913–14) Royal Naval College, Osborne (1910–13) HMS Commonwealth (1908–09) HMS Berwick (1906–07) HMS Hyacinth (1903–05) |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Member of the Royal Victorian Order Mentioned in Despatches |
Hood was a youthful, vigorous and active officer whose service in Africa won him the Distinguished Service Order and who was posthumously appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in recognition of his courageous and ultimately fatal service in the Battle of Jutland, during which his ship was constantly engaged from its arrival at the action and caused fatal damage to a German light cruiser. He has been described as "the beau ideal of a naval officer, spirited in manner, lively of mind, enterprising, courageous, handsome, and youthful in appearance … His lineage was pure Royal Navy, at its most gallant".