Awarded to Ralph Hood, Chief Engine Room Artificer. Obverse: Head of King George VI. Legend: 'GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX : F:D : IND : IMP'. Reverse: An oak tree and Royal crown supported by lions rampant, their heads turned away. Inscription: '1939', '1945'. Exergue: 'THE DEFENCE MEDAL'. Fitted with a bar and orange ribbon with pale green edges divided by a narrow black stripe. Emblem: Silver laurel leaves. (King's commendation for brave conduct. Civil.)

Ralph Hood (1898-1980) was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, the son of George James Hood, an electrical contractor. He entered the Royal Navy on 3 January 1915, signing up for twelve years’ service in 1917 and training as an engineer or artificer at the shore base HMS 'Fisgard'. In 1919, he joined the battlecruiser HMS 'Princess Royal' and served in other cruisers and battlecruisers during the interwar period. He was in HMS 'Queen Elizabeth' at the time of the fleet review on 26 July 1924. Hood was promoted to Chief Engine Room Artificer RN II on 2 June 1933. His Naval General Service Medal was awarded for services in HMS 'Repulse' supporting the British response to the Arab revolt in Palestine 1936-39. He was pensioned in 1939 but continued to serve in naval shore bases during World War II. Hood seems to have been on the books of HMS 'Penelope' at a time when she was undergoing repairs at Harland & Wolfe, Govan. He was not onboard when she was sunk by U-410 in 1944. He was finally discharged in 1947.

Ralph Hood married Eveline Phyllis Guy in 1939 at Fareham, Hampshire and the couple settled at Newhaven, Sussex and then at Dawlish.