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Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) Officers
1939-1945

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Gaffney, H.C.
to
Groos, W.H.

  
H.C. Gaffney  to  W.H. Groos
Gaffney,
Harry Cecil
H.C. Gaffney
11.11.1893
Wharfedale, West Riding of Yorkshire
-
Prob. Midsh.
01.1913
A/S.Lt.
09.1916
S.Lt.
03.04.1918, seniority 02.04.1916
A/Lt.
?
Lt.
02.04.1918
T/Lt. RNVR
20.09.1939
T/A/Lt.Cdr. RNVR
?
T/Lt.
30.09.1940, seniority 20.09.1939
T/A/Lt.Cdr. *
30.09.1940 (reld 24.08.1945)

* the official service record [1] states that he held the rank of [T/A/]Commander for the period 20.03.1943-21.02.1945, which cannot be substantiated from other sources, though

[1] As provided on 15.06.2006 by Second Sea Lord and Naval Home Command, Director Naval Career Management, Navy Search, TNT Archive Services, Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

01.1913
-
08.1914
Midshipman, Torpedo Boat 20
16.08.1914
-
07.1915
HMS Kinsfauns Castle (armed merchant cruiser)
15.07.1915
-
04.1918
HMS Challenger (6 inch cruiser)
18.04.1918
-
(01.1919)
First Lieutenant, Torpedo Boat 20
27.10.1939
-
20.04.1941
First Lieutenant, HMS Marmion (paddle minesweeper) (Dunkirk) *
21.04.1941
-
20.08.1942
CO HMS Goatfell (paddle minesweeper)
21.08.1942
-
26.08.1942
HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth)
27.08.1942
-
19.10.1942
CO HMS Goatfell (paddle minesweeper)
20.10.1942
-
22.08.1943
CO HM LST 15 [or 364] (landing ship tank) [borne initially on HMS Asbury (accomodation base, Asbury Park, New Jersey)] **
23.08.1943
-
10.04.1944
CO HM LST 199 (landing ship tank) & SO 3rd LST Flotilla
11.04.1944
-
16.07.1944
CO HM LST 415 (landing ship tank)
17.07.1944
-
21.02.1945
HMS Beaver (RN base, Hull)
* official service record states 01.10.1940-20.04.1941; the Navy List gives as starting date 27.10.1939; the Febr. 1941 Navy List has no appointment listed and doesn't show him at HMS Marmion
** though the Navy List gives LST 15, the official service record mentions LST 364; there's no obvious connection between the two ships
Gale,
Newell Herbert
N.H. Gale
?
-
Lt.Cdr.
01.01.1924
Cdr.
30.06.1931
Capt.
30.06.1937
A/Cdre. 2nd cl.
26.01.1942 (retd > 08.1942, < 07.1944)
Distinguished Service Order DSO
27.10.1942
Commodore of Convoy PQ16 05.42 [SS Ocean Voice]
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
?
?
26.01.1941
-
(08.1942)
Commodore of Ocean Convoys [HMS Eaglet]
Galer,
Richard Percy
R.P. Galer (Photo courtesy of Mr Peter G. Best)
(03?).1887
Hackney, Greater London
-
12.09.1966
London
Prob. S.Lt.
?
S.Lt.
01.07.1913
Lt.
20.07.1915
Lt.Cdr.
20.07.1923
Cdr.
30.06.1929
Capt.
31.12.1935 (retd 15.12.1941) (reverted to retd < 04.1946)
A/Cdre. 2nd cl.
14.11.1940?
Cdre. 2nd cl. (retd)
11.09.1945
Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE
01.01.1942
New Year 42
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
< 1929
?
20.01.1940
-
(04.)1940
HMS Pembroke IV (RN accounting base, Chatham)
?
-
04.03.1940
convoy HX 19 (Halifax - Liverpool) [SS Pacific Reliance] (convoy dispersed)
14.11.1940
-
(12.1941)
Commodore of Convoys [HMS Eaglet (RN base, Liverpool)]
13.02.1941
-
17.02.1941
convoy OB 286 (Liverpool- ?) [SS Athelregent] (convoy dispersed)
21.03.1941
-
09.04.1941
convoy HX 116 (Halifax - Liverpool) [SS Kaipara]
26.08.1941
-
15.12.1941
also: RNR ADC to the King
04.03.1942
-
10.07.1945
Commanding Officer, HMS Mersey (RN depot, Liverpool) *
* (07.1945) still indexed, but no longer listed as such
Galpin,
Richard John
"Dick"
R.J. Galpin (Photo courtesy of Mrs Carolyn Boiston Wheeler.)
21.07.1903
-
08.03.1986
Surrey Northern, Surrey
Prob. S.Lt.
14.04.1926
S.Lt.
18.10.1927, seniority 14.04.1926
Lt.
11.10.1929
Lt.Cdr.
11.10.1937
Cdr.
30.06.1943 (reld 11.04.1946)
Capt.
30.06.1951 (retd 29.06.1955)
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
?
-
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
?
-
24.05.1930
-
(02.1931)
HMS Warspite (battleship) (Atlantic Fleet) (to complete 12 months' training)
02.10.1939
-
(02.1941)
HMS Laconia (armed merchant cruiser)
01.12.1943
-
(07.1945)
HMS Braganza (RN base, Bombay, India)
Went back to the Orient Line after the war and then went to Trinity House as one of the Elder Brethern.
Galteland,
Kristian
K. Galteland
Son of Tellef S. and Marie Galteland, of Sandefjord, Norway
19.06.1913
Norway
-
22.02.1942
[Lowestoft Naval Memorial, panel 8, column 1]
T/S.Lt.
23.09.1940
T/Lt.
19.06.1941
(02.1941)


HMS Claverhouse (RN base, Leith & Granton) *
18.11.1941
-
22.02.1942
Commanding Officer, HMS Rosemonde (anti-subarine trawler)
* indexed, but not listed as such
Geddes,
George Carlow
G.C. Geddes
22.06.1910
-
12.1987
West Lancashire district, Lancashire
Midsh.
01.01.1929
A/S.Lt.
02.04.1932
S/Lt.
28.05.1934
Lt.
18.01.1936
07.12.1938, seniority 01.01.1936
Lt.Cdr.
01.01.1944 (demobilized < 04.1946) (retd 22.06.1955)
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
25.08.1943
-
(04.1940)
 
 
HMS Northern Reward (anti-submarine warfare trawler) *
06.11.1940
-
(04.)1945
Commanding Officer, HMS Azalea (corvette)
08.06.1945
-
(07.1945)
a Naval Assistant, Compass Department, Admiralty [HMS President]
* indexed, but not listed as such
Gedye,
John Brian Burnett
J.B.B. Gedye

(06?).1922
Southampton district, Hampshire
-
T/A/S.Lt.
?
T/S.Lt.
22.05.1943
26.05.1944
-
(10.)1944
HMS Truculent (submarine)
14.12.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS London (cruiser)
(04.1946)
 
 
HMS Flint Castle (corvette) *
* indexed, but not listed as such
Gentle,
Thomas
T. Gentle

?
-
Prob. T/S.Lt.
15.04.1940
T/Lt.
15.04.1941
T/A/Lt.Cdr.
< 10.1944
Mention in Despatches MID
28.11.1944
Operation Neptune (Normandy 06.44)
(02.1941)


HMS Carnarvon Castle (armed merchant cruiser) *
10.1941
-
(12.1941)
First Lieutenant, HMS William Scoresby (minesweeping trawler)
01.07.1943
-
(01.)1945
First Lieutenant, HMS Bangor (Bangor class minesweeper)
23.07.1945
-
(10.1945)
Commanding Officer, HMS Welcome (Algerine class minesweeper)
(04.1946)
 
 
HMS Salvestor (salvage vessel) *
* indexed, but not listed as such
Gibbon,
Donald William
D.W. Gibbon

Son of William Duff Gibbon and Clara Elizabeth Gibbon, of Usk, Monmouthshire.
Husband of Irene Gibbon.
(12?).1910
Kings Norton district, Staffordshire / Warwickshire / Worcestershire
-
25.03.1941
(MPK) [age 30]
[Portsmouth Naval Memorial, panel 60, column 1]
Prob. T/S.Lt.
27.05.1940
T/Lt.
?
Served Merchant Navy (Anchor Line?).
(02.1941)


HMS Dolphin (submarine depot, Gosport) *
?
-
(03?).1941
training, HMS Vernon (torpedo school and experimental establishment, Portsmouth)
(03?).1941
-
25.03.1941
HMS Medway (submarine depot ship)
[missing, presumed killed while on passage aboard steamship SS Britannia [to join his submarine in India] when it was sunk by the German raider Thor off the Cape Verde Islands]
* indexed, but not listed as such
Gibbons,
James
J. Gibbons (Photo courtesy of Mr Tony Gibbons) J. Gibbons (Photo courtesy of Mr Tony Gibbons)
Oldest of four children; younger brother Sgt. (Pilot) Michael Gerrard Gibbons, RAFVR, was killed in action over Cologne, 26.02.1943.
04.07.1905
Birtley, Durham
-
04.1988
Whitehaven, Cumberland
T/Lt.
02.09.1940
T/A/Lt.Cdr.
20. 01.1944? (reld < 04.1946)
Distinguished Service Cross DSC
11.12.1945
wind up Europe 45 [award posted]
Mention in Despatches MID
03.04.1945
minesweeping Holland & Antwerp 09-11.44
Served Merchant Navy.
06.11.1940
-
04.1942
HMS California (armed merchant cruiser)
20.01.1944
-
(07.1945)
Commanding Officer, HMS Bootle (Bangor class minesweeper)
Returned to the Hudson Steamship Co sailing out of Newcastle initially. He then opened up the sugar route to the West Indies and before retirement became Commodore of the Hudson fleet.
Gibson,
Harold
H. Gibson

Married; ... children.
?
-
T/S.Lt.
14.11.1942
T/A/Lt.
01.11.1944
T/Lt.
07.12.1945 (reld 03.12.1946)



temporary officer serving under T.124T (rescue tugs) agreement
01.04.1944
-
(10.1944)
HMS Marshal Soult (trawler base, Portsmouth) (for rescue tugs)
23.01.1945
-
(07.)1945
HMS Hannibal (RN base, Taranto) (for duty with rescue tugs)
17.07.1945
-
(04.)1946
HMS St Angelo (RN base, Malta) (for duty with rescue tugs)
Gill,
[Sir] Roy
R. Gill
19.02.1887
Philadelphia, USA
-
13.10.1967
[Blackheath ?]
Lt.Cdr.
1923
Cdr.
30.06.1929
Capt.
31.12.1935
A/Cdre. 2nd cl.
10.1940 (retd 1942, reld 1946)
Cdre. 2nd cl. (retd)
24.05.1946
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE
01.01.1945
New Year 45
Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE
01.01.1943
New Year 43
Mention in Despatches MID
01.02.1944
3 years ocean convoys
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
1921
?
Education: Shoreham Grammar School; HMS Worcester
1905


joined RNR
1908


served with Geo. Milne & Company as apprentice in the Barques Inverneill and Inverness



2nd mate of Inveresk
1914
-
1919
served European War, 4½ years in command
1920
-
1939
served in command of South Metropolitan Gas Company's Steamers
10.1940
-
1945
Commodore of Ocean Convoys [HMS Eaglet]
1941
-
1942
RNR ADC to the King
1945
-
1946
Naval Officer-in-Charge, Tyne Area



formerly River Superintendent South Eastern Gas Board, Metropolitan Division. Vice­Pres. The Royal Naval Assoc.; Pres. Assoc. of Old Worcesters. Master of Clipper Ship Cutty Sark, 1957-1965; now Captain Commodore (Hon.); Governor of Cutty Sark Society
Goff,
Roy Cyril
R.C. Goff
?
-
Prob. T/S.Lt.
29.01.1940
T/S.Lt.
?, seniority 29.01.1940
T/Lt.
29.01.1941
T/A/Lt.Cdr.
> 12.1943, < 04.1944
(04.1940)


no appointment listed
14.08.1940
-
(02.1941)
HMS Hazard
08.09.1943
-
(06.1944)
CO HMS Selkirk
(07.1945)


no appointment listed
Goldsworthy,
Ivan Ernest Goodman
I.E.G. Goldsworthy
1894 *
St Erth
-
[1959 still alive]

* baptized at 08.06.1894
Lt.
30.09.1925
Lt.Cdr.
30.09.1933
Cdr.
30.06.1937
Capt.
31.12.1942 (reld 1945/46)
Commendation Cmndn
08.10.1940
rescue survivors Lancastria
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
?
?
(1940)


SS Oronsay (as Staff Cdr., Merchant Navy)
[ (07.1945)


HMS Osborne (RN base, Isle of Wight) ?]
Gordon,
Alexander
A. Gordon
From Glasgow.
?
-
T/Lt. (E)
24.09.1940
T/A/Lt.Cdr. (E)
?
Distinguished Service Cross DSC
14.06.1945
HM's birthday 45 [award posted]
(02.1941)
-
(12.1941)
HMS St Modwen (armed yacht; anti-submarine duties) *
* at least indexed for the given period, but not listed as such; got the DSC in 1945 while obviously still serving at the ship
Gorton,
Sandford George

I.E.G. Goldsworthy
Son of Sandford Thomas Gorton (1858-?), railway engineer, and Clara Elliott (1866?-?).
Married 1st (second quarter 1907, Wandsworth district) Haldane Mary (died 2nd quarter 1944), daughter of R.E. Hutchison, of New South Wales; at least one son, one daughter.
Married 2nd (10.01.1945, Chelsea) Margaret Vinton Brown (née French)  (born 17.08.1901 at Lynn, Mass., USA), daughter of Edward Vinton French, president of a US insurance trust.
09.10.1883
Clapham, Lambeth, Greater London *
-
[02.1951 still alive]



* place of birth sometimes indicated as: Richmond, Surrey
T/Lt.
25.03.1918 ?
A/Lt.Cdr.
1918 ?
T/Cdr.
12.12.1939
A/T/Capt.
08.1943
Member of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) MBE
01.01.1918
New Year 18
British War Medal 1914-1920 BWM 14|20
?
?
Victory Medal VM
?
?
Defence Medal DefM
?
?
British War Medal 1939-1945 BWM 39|45
?
?
Education: Cameron House preparatory school, Leatherhead; Thames Nautical Training College’s HMS Worcester (16.09.1897-22.06.1900; 1st Class Petty Officer).
Joins Devitt & Moore as an apprentice (four-masted barque Macquarie), 27.06.1900-21.08.1903. 2nd Mate's Certificate, 10.10.1903. Passes for First Mate, 22.02.1905. Served as Third Officer at Beatrice, Third Officer, then Fourth Officer at Wilcania & Second Officer at Waregal [as of 14.06.1905]. Master's ticket, 16.09.1908.
20.11.1909
20.11.1909
09.12.1910
18.09.1912









General Post Office Cable Ship HMCS Monarch *
4th Navigating Officer
3rd Navigating Officer
Assistant Cable Engineer
25.03.1918
25.03.1918

1918

01.03.1919
autumn 1919
-
15.12.1919






lent to Admiralty
HMS President (additional; for miscellaneous or special service)
for duty outside Admiralty, under Director of Anti-Submarine Division [HMS President]
HMS Vernon (mining school, Portsmouth)
HMS Hodder (cable ship)
15.12.1919
18.03.1924
-
-
17.03.1924
?
Commanding Officer, Cable Ship "Kilmun" (serving under the Admiralty)
12.12.1939
-
30.06.1942
Anti-Submarine Warfare Division, Admiralty [HMS President]
01.07.1942
-
(04.1946)
Anti-Submarine Materiel Department, Admiralty [HMS President]
* ship sunk 08.09.1915 off Folkestone, but Gorton continued service on successor with same name Monarch (3); saw service in Home Waters & Russia
Grant,
Brian Borthwick
B.B. Grant

Married (1922) to Doris Eunice Fleming; two sons.
(12?).1891
Barton Regis, Gloucestershire
-
1966
T/Lt.
04.05.1917
Prob. Lt.
31.12.1924
Lt.
25.08.1926, seniority 31.12.1924
Lt.Cdr.
31.12.1932
Cdr.
31.12.1935 (retd 10.10.1941)
Capt. (retd)
10.10.1941 (reld 1945/46)
A/Cdre. 2nd cl. (retd)
05.09.1942
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
11.03.1940
?
22.11.1939
-
(04.1940)
HMS Pembroke IV (accounting base, Chatham)
05.08.1940
-
(02.1941)
HMS Drake (RN base, Devonport)
05.09.1942
-
(06.1944)
Commodore of Ocean Convoys [HMS Eaglet]
03.07.1945
-
(07.1945)
CO HMS Glengyle (landing ship infantry)
(1949)


CO SS Empress of France
Gray,
Alfred Francis Colenso
A.F.C. Gray
18.04.1900
North Witchford district, Cambridgeshire
-
11.1984

Fenland district, Cambridgeshire
Prob. S.Lt.
14.01.1926
S.Lt.
26.05.1926, seniority 14.01.1926
Lt.
03.04.1929
Lt.Cdr.
03.04.1937 (retd 18.04.1945)
Cdr. (retd)
18.04.1945
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
20.11.1942
-
(04.1940)
 
 
HMS Circassia (armed merchant cruiser) *
(06.1940)


Commanding Officer, HMS St Sunniva (accommodation ship for Contraband Control Service)
28.10.1940
-
(12.1941)
Commanding Officer, HMS Valena (armed yacht for anti-submarine duties) (Campbeltown)
14.04.1942

-
07.1943
Commanding Officer, HMS Sardonyx (destroyer)
23.09.1943
-
(01.)1945
Commanding Officer, HMS Charlestown (destroyer)
(07.1945)
 
 
no appointment listed
High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, 1968-1969.
* indexed, but not listed as such
Green,
Anthony Harold
"Tony"
A.H. Green (Source: www.mikekemble.com) A.H. Green (Source: www.mikekemble.com)
A.H. Green (Source: www.mikekemble.com) A.H. Green (Source: www.mikekemble.com)
personal narrative & photos at www.mikekemble.com
20.10.1924
-
T/Midsh.
?
T/S.Lt.
24.10.1944 (reld 09.1946)
Joined Merchant Navy as a Cadet, 1941. TSS City of Pretoria, 11.1941.
05.1943


joined RNR
21.05.1943
-
12.1943
HMS Howe (battleship) (Mediterranean)
12.1943
-
05.1944
course, RN College, Greenwich
18.05.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS Wren (sloop)
06.03.1946
-
(04.1946)
HMS Kingfisher (sloop)
Received a government grant to study for his Second Mate’s certificate then joined Shell Tankers (Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co) and remained with Shell until 1956 as Master of a tanker. Emigrated to Canada.
Green,
George Durham
G.D. Green
1917 ?
-
05.11.1940
(KIA) [age 23]
[Chatham Naval Memorial]
A/S.Lt. (E)
?
?
-
05.11.1940
HMS Jervis Bay (auxiliary merchant cruiser)
Green,
John William
J.W. Green
?
-
T/Skpr.
01.09.1940 [TS 780] (reld < 04.1946)
(1940?)


HMS Girl Gladys (drifter)
(1941?)


HMS Yezo (trawler)
(02.1941)


no appointment listed
12.05.1941
-
22.10.1941
HMS Alder (trawler) (wrecked east coast Scotland)
20.09.1944
-
(10.1944)
Commanding Officer, HMS Bruinvisch (auxiliary minesweeping trawler)
(07.1945)


no appointment listed
Greene,
Joseph William
"Jimmy"
J.W. Greene
From Fleetwood.
04.04.1909
Fleetwood, Lancashire
-
06.1988
North Walsham, Norfolk
T/Skpr.
04.12.1939 [WS 3171, TS 288]
T/A/Skpr.Lt.
28.04.1944 (reld < 04.1946)
Distinguished Service Cross DSC
14.06.1945
HM's birthday 45
Awarded a gold watch by President Eisenhower for his seamanship in the post-war rescue of American seamen crewing a foundering timber ship.
(04.1940)


no appointment listed
(02.1941)


HMS Kennymore (minesweeping trawler) *
24.05.1941
-
(12.1943)
HMS St Tudno (minesweeping depot, Sheerness) (for minesweeping duties)
28.04.1944
-
(06.1944)
CO HMS Pierre Gustave (drifter)
06.1945
-
(07.1945)
CO HM MMS 144 (motor minesweeper)
Commanded the Grimsby trawler 'Northern Duke', 1950s/60s.

* indexed, but not listed as such; vessel was sunk on 25.11.1940
Groos,
William Henry
W.H. Groos
(06?).1888
Lambeth, London
-
died possibly between 07.1962 and 08.1973
A/Asst.Paym.
04.03.1910
Asst.Paym.
15.11.1911, seniority 04.03.1910
Paym.Lt.Cdr.
04.03.1920
Paym.Cdr. = Cdr. (S)
30.06.1930 (retd 10.06.1938) (reverted to retd < 07.1945)
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
15.02.1921
?
12.08.1940
-
15.02.1945
HMS Unicorn II (RN base, Dundee),
renamed 1942:
HMS Cressy (RN base, Dundee)
       
 
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Gaffney, H.C.
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Groos, W.H.