Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) officers 1939-1945 -- G

Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) Officers
1939-1945

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Note. In naval circles it is custom to refer to the commander of a vessel as Captain. The Navy List bears the phrase "in command". Strictly out of practical considerations CO (Commanding Officer) is used here on this site. Abbreviations and explanations can be found at the help page.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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)

DSO
27.10.1942
Commodore of Convoy PQ16 05.42 [SS Ocean Voice]

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

CBE
01.01.1942
New Year 42

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)

RD
?
-

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)

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

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)
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)

DSC
11.12.1945
wind up Europe 45 [award posted]

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

KBE
01.01.1945
New Year 45

CBE
01.01.1943
New Year 43

MID
01.02.1944
3 years ocean convoys

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)

Cmndn
08.10.1940
rescue survivors Lancastria

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)
?

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

MBE
01.01.1918
New Year 18

BWM 14|20
?
?

VM
?
?

DefM
?
?

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

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

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"

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)

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)

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.