Selected Biographies

Hood, Basil Montague Robert – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1897.  Parents: Charles Frederick Hood (Railway Guard) and Blanche Mary [née Grice] of Long Melford.  Family Connections: Brother to Clarence Charles Hood [b1900].  Home: 58 Harman Road, Enfield, Middlesex (1901), The Stables, 484 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London (1911), 53 Vale Road, Finsbury Park [1916].  Service Record: Basil enlisted as Pte.G/7209 with 2^nd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge’s Own [Middlesex] Regiment, being posted to France from 7.12.1915 as part of 23^rd Brigade, 8^th Division.[1]  Died: Private Hood was killed in action on 1.7.1916, the first day of the Battle of Albert, the opening phase of the Somme Offensive.  He is one of 72,246 names commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme [pier and face 12d and 13b], Somme, France.[2]

Hood, Clarence Charles Ÿ Born: Bush Hill Park, Middlesex on 29.1.1900.[3] Parents: Charles Frederick Hood (Railway Guard) and Blanche Mary [née Grice] of Long Melford.  Family Connections: Brother to Basil Montague Robert Hood [b1897]. Home: 58 Harman Road, Enfield, Middlesex (1901), The Stables, 484 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London (1911), 53 Vales Road, Tottenham, Middlesex (1939). Occupation: Railway Porter (1939). Married: Hilda Gladys Emily Read in 1925. Service Record: Clarence enlisted as Pte.205731 with 2/2^nd [City of London] Battalion, [Royal Fusiliers] London Regiment, being posted to France on 1.8.1918. On 31.8.1919 he was injured by sniper fire, receiving a gunshot wound to his back and left side.[4] Died: Harringay, London in 1971.

Notes – [1] For details of 2^nd Middlesex’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/1712/1]. See also his Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [2] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record, British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 file [ref: 361378].  [3] Date of birth from the 1939 Register.  [4] Admission and Discharge Book for Field Service for No.2 General Hospital, Le Havre [MH 106/993], Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372].