Town remembers victims of HMS Hood

Eight men from the town were killed when HMS Hood was sunk by gunfire from the German battleship Bismarck on May 24, 1941.

Councillors, ex-servicemen and family members of the fallen heroes gathered at the war memorial in Chapel Road for the annual service to remember their sacrifices.

Mary McKeown, of Ethelred Road, Worthing, whose uncle William Puttick was killed in the sinking, said the event was well attended, with attendance increasing year-on-year.

She said: “The ceremony is organised each year by Bob Scott, of the Royal Naval Association.

“It was a lovely service and it is growing in numbers every year, which is very pleasing.

“William was born in Worthing and lived in Orme Road. He was only 20 when he died.”

The service was attended by Worthing mayor Bob Smytherman and former councillor and forces champion Tom Wye.