Douglas Merson Steel
| Douglas Merson Steel | |
|---|---|
 Douglas Merson Steel | |
| Born |
5 April 1897 Keighley, Yorkshire |
| Died |
24 May 1941 (aged 44) HMS Hood |
| Education | Mrs Stothert's Private Preparatory School, Boston Grammar School, Cambridge University |
| Employer | Royal Field Artillery; Royal Navy |
| Notable work(s) | Parry Gold Medal winner (1914) |
| Spouse | Margaret Steel |
| Children | Four children |
| Parents | Thomas Steel, Mary Steel |
Douglas Merson Steel was the husband of Margaret Steel, of Soberton, Droxford, Hants. He was born in Keighley, Yorkshire on 05 April 1897 to Thomas and Mary Steel. The family ultimately resided in Boston. He was educated at Mrs Stothert's Private Preparatory School until age 9 (1906). He then attended Boston Grammar School, where he was awarded the Parry Gold Medal in 1914, and later, Cambridge University (MA).
He first saw military service in the First World War. He was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Field Artillery. During his service he was wounded once and reached the rank of acting Captain. Following the war, he resumed his academic studies, then took a commission in the Royal Navy in the early 1920s.
By September 1927 Douglas had been promoted to Instructor Lieutenant Commander. He subsequently served on the staff of the Royal Naval Engineering College, Keyham (HMS Vivid) from September 1928 to August 1929. In 1929 he and Margaret were married. They would ultimately have four children.
From September 1930 to September 1932, he served in the cruiser HMS Dorsetshire. He then served aboard the battleship HMS Resolution from September 1933 to July 1935. He was promoted to Instructor Commander in September 1935. From March 1936 to February 1937, Douglas served at the HMS Ganges training establishment in Shotley.
Following Ganges, Douglas attended a course of instruction and was posted to the battle cruiser HMS Hood on 6 August 1939 on which he was Chief Gunnery Officer. He was killed in action aboard Hood on the morning of 24th May 1941.
In May 1941 during an engagement with the German Navy the Hood was hit. A shell penetrated the deck and exploded in the ship's magazine. At precisely 06:00 hours on 24 May 1941 the entire contents went up and the Hood was blasted apart. Douglas was one of the 1,416 men who perished in that moment (only three survived). The massive explosion was caught on film, which over the years since has been seen by millions worldwide.
At BGS
In the report of the BGS Speech Day of 1913, it was noted that Steel had gained "Second-class senior honours, Oxford Local Examination" and was "winner of the Latin prize for Form VI."
A memento
From The Bostonian, 1941 issue
We wish to thank Mrs. M Steel, the widow of Instructor-Commander Steel who, as is reported elsewhere, was lost on H.M.S. Hood, for presenting several books to the School as a memento of her husband. These books had been presented to Instructor-Commander Steel when he was at the University by Mr. H. Snaith, himself an Old Boy of the School.
External links
- Bismarck vs Hood original WWII recordings footage - YouTube
- Battle Cruiser Hood - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour - In Remembrance of Douglas Merson Steel