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

Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) Officers
1939-1945

Looking for details on a RNR officer not listed here yet?
Just e-mail me, and I might be able to help out.
Of course, any additions, corrections etc. can also be e-mailed.

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

Halbert, W.E.
to
Hummel, G.H.

W.E. Halbert to G.H. Hummel

Halbert,
William Eric
W.E. Halbert (12?).1907
Toxteth Park, Lancashire
-

Lt.
01.11.1937

A/Lt.Cdr.
> 06.1944, < 10.1944

Lt.Cdr.
01.11.1945 (reld 06.05.1946) (commission terminated 06.04.1947; medically unfit)

DSC
09.05.1944
minesweeping Western Desert Sweep [award posted]

MID
03.09.1940
minesweeping

MID
31.03.1942
minefield clearance 12.41-01.42

MID
28.11.1944
Operation Neptune (Normandy 06.44)

(04.1940)
-
(02.1941)
HMS Sutton (Hunt class minesweeper) *

28.09.1941
-
(12.1943)
Commanding Officer, HMS Romney (Bangor class minesweeper)

03.1944
-
27.07.1944
Commanding Officer, HMS Whitehaven (Bangor class minesweeper)

(10.1944)

no appointment listed

01.12.1944
-
(07.1945)
Commanding Officer, HMS Postillion (Algerine class minesweeper)

* indexed, but not listed as such

Halcrow,
James Alexander Smith
J.A.S. Halcrow 1907 ?
-
09.12.1942
(KIA) (age 35)
[Chatham Naval Memorial]

Lt.
19.11.1935

RD
?
?

25.04.1942
-
09.12.1942
Commanding Officer, HMS Marigold (corvette)

Hall,
Harry John
10.10.1909
-
24.05.1994
Salisbury, Wiltshire

Prob. S.Lt.
28.05.1931

S.Lt.
12.07.1933, seniority 28.05.1931

Lt.
06.11.1934

Lt.Cdr.
06.11.1942

Cdr.
31.12.1944 (retd 01.07.1950)

DSO
11.05.1943
Operation Torch & U-boat attacks

DSC
13.10.1942
convoy PQ17

DSC
21.11.1944
sinking of U671 04.08.44

RD
?
?

27.04.1935
-
(07.1935)
HMS Wishart (destroyer) (Mediterranean) (to complete 9 months' training)

05.09.1939
-
(02.1941)
HMS Sheba (RN base, Aden)

01.05.1942
-
07.1943
Commanding Officer, HMS Lotus (corvette)

30.12.1943
-
(06.1944)
Commanding Officer, HMS Stayner (frigate)

20.09.1944
-
(07.1945)
Office of Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord, Admiralty [HMS President]

(04.1946)

no appointment listed

(05.1950)

no appointment listed

Hall,
Robert Lindsey
R.L. Hall
Son of Henry James and Mercy Lorraine Hall, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 1914 ?
-
05.11.1940
(KIA) [age 26]
[Liverpool Naval Memorial, panel 2, column 2]

T/S.Lt. (E)
15.09.1939

serving under the T.124 agreement

15.09.1939
-
05.11.1940
HMS Jervis Bay (armed merchant cruiser)

Hand,
Reginald Hector Edwin
R.H.E. Hand (Photo courtesy of Mr Tim Hutchinson) (06?).1902
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
-

T/Lt.
22.09.1939

TA/Lt.Cdr.
15.04.1943? (reld < 04.1946)

22.09.1939
-
(02.)1943
HMS Ranchi (armed merchant cruiser)

15.04.1943
-
08.1943
Commanding Officer, HM LST 75 (landing ship, tank)

08.1943
-
11.1944
Commanding Officer, HM LST 214 (landing ship, tank) (Anzio & Normandy)

28.11.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS Dinosaur (Combined Operations base, Troon)

Hansen,
Peder
P. Hansen
Son of Hans Rasmus Syventsen and Hilma Elisabeht (née Johannessen); husband of Martha Hansen, of Haukerod, Norway.
18.07.1899
Norway
-
09.03.1942
[age 42]
[Lowestoft Naval Memorial, panel 8, column 1]

A/T/Lt. (E)
05.08.1941

05.08.1940
-
09.03.1942
HMS Shera (minesweeping trawler)

Hansen,
Thorbjørn
T. Hansen 10.12.1914
Norway
-

T/S.Lt.
26.08.1940 (commission terminated 28.08.1942?)

14.10.1940
-
(02.1941)
HMS Skudd III (converted Norwegian whaler)

Hamilton-Hill,
Edward Alfred
E.A. Hamilton-Hill ?
-

Lt.
18.03.1933 (retd)

Lt.Cdr. (retd)
11.07.1941

A/Cdr. (retd)
< 07.1945 (reverted to retd 23.02.1946)

RD
?
?

King Christian X's Liberty Medal (07.09.1948; mission to Denmark)

(09.1940)

Commanding Officer, MTB 14

(1944?)

Staff of SHAEF

(07.1945)

no appointment listed

Harkness,
Archibald Ferguson
A.F. Harkness (Photo courtesy of Mrs Philippa Stafford)
Married; two sons, one daughter.
14.05.1911
-
1961

A/S.Lt.
22.04.1933

S.Lt.
14.07.1934

Lt.
22.04.1936
17.10.1939, seniority 24.03.1936

A/Lt.Cdr.
early 1942 &
> 02.1943, < 06.1943 till 23.03.1944

Lt.Cdr.
24.03.1944 (reld 27.05.1946) (retd 01.07.1950)

OBE
09.06.1942
passage Black Sea - Alexandria 11.41-02.42

DSC
01.01.1941
New Year 41

RD
12.1943
?

MID
08.01.1942
withdrawal from Crete

MID
24.02.1942
taking Mikoyan [1stblFmgst?] (for skill and good seamanship)

MID
01.01.1944
New Year 44

MID
24.04.1945
bombarding Gothic Line from Adriatic Sea 44

Education: Ayr Academy, Scotland
Joined Merchant Navy, 1927, serving aboard the ships of A Holt & Co, Liverpool, and becoming a Master Mariner.

23.04.1939
-
(09.1939)
HMS Hyperion (destroyer) (Mediterranean) (to complete 9 months' training)

(04.1940)

HMS Vernon (torpedo school & experimental establishment, Portsmouth) *

(1940)

HMS Euclase (armed trawler)

07.11.1940
-
(02.)1941
Commanding Officer, HMS Skudd III (minesweeping trawler)

18.03.1941
-
(12.1941)
Commanding Officer, HMS Wolborough (anti-submarine warfare trawler)

(1942)

HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria)

(1942)

Tuapse (Soviet ship)

05.04.1942
-
09.09.1943
Commanding Officer, HMS Gloxinia (corvette)

10.1943
-
03.1944
Commanding Officer, HMS Tetcott (destroyer)

28.06.1944
-
(07.1945)
Commanding Officer, HMS Urchin (destroyer)

* indexed, but not listed as such

Hart,
William Percival
W.P. Hart
(09?).1901 ?
Ormskirk, Lancashire ?
-

Prob. T/S.Lt.
29.01.1940

T/S.Lt.
?, seniority 29.01.1940

T/Lt.
29.10.1940

T/A/Lt.Cdr.
< 07.1945 (reld > 04.1946)

23.10.1940
-
(02.1941)
First Lieutenant, HMS Arabis (corvette)

19.08.1944
-
?
Commanding Officer, HMS Pennywort (corvette)

(07.1945)

HMS Pevensey Castle (corvette) *

01.12.1945
-
(04.1946)
Commanding Officer, HMS Loch Fada (frigate)

* indexed, but not listed as such

Hartnell,
George Arthur
G.A. Hartnell (Photo courtesy of Mr Peter Brannan) (03?).1908 ?
St George Hanover Square, London ?
-

Prob. T/Lt.
23.09.1940

T/Lt.
1941, seniority 23.09.1940

T/A/Lt.Cdr.
06.12.1945? (reld > 04.1946)

18.12.1940
-
(02.1941)
First Lieutenant, HMS Tiercel (armed yacht; at times used as armed boarding vessel, accommodation ship & target ship)

(07.1945)

no appointment listed

06.12.1945
-
(04.1946)
Commanding Officer, HMS Carisbrooke Castle (corvette)

Harvey,
Louis Martin
L.M. Harvey
Husband of Esther Harvey, of Anlaby.
(03?).1902
Yarmouth, Norfolk
-
03.02.1941
[age 39]
[Haltemprice (Anlaby Tranby Lane) Cemetery, Yorkshire, grave 211]

Prob. T/Skpr.
26.09.1940 [TS 727]

23.10.1940
-
03.02.1941
Commanding Officer, HMS Arctic Trapper (trawler) (ship sunk by aircraft)

Hay,
William
W. Hay 1921 ?
-
07.08.1942
(KIA) (age 21)
[Pulborough (st. Mary) Churchyard]

Prob. Midsh.
01.05.1938

A/S.Lt.
?

S.Lt.
?

MID
20.01.1942
action with enemy Dover 27.11.41

(11.1941)

MTB 219

31.12.1941
-
07.08.1942
First Lieutenant, MTB 45 [HMS Wasp]

Henderson,
James
J. Henderson ?
-

T/Lt. (E)
28.09.1942

MID
24.04.1945
firefighting & damage control 31.01.45

15.03.1943
-
(07.1945)
HMS Berry (frigate)

(04.1946)

HMS Bayfield (Bangor class minesweeper) *

* indexed, but not listed as such

Henderson,
John Roderick
J.R. Henderson 1885
-
01.1953

T/Lt. RNVR
10.04.1915

T/Lt.Cdr.
27.08.1939

T/A/Cdr.
28.08.1939?

DSC
02.08.1940
withdrawal of troops from Le Havre [investiture 22.02.41]

28.08.1939
-
(02.)1941
HMS Forward (RN base, Newhaven)

08.04.1941
-
(12.1941)
staff of Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth [HMS Cochrane (RN base, Rosyth)]

(06.1944)
(07.1945)
(04.1946)
-

(04.1946)

HM's Dockyard, Rosyth [HMS Cochrane]
and for salvage duties
Assistant to Captain of the Dockyard (and for salvage duties)

Hewitt,
Eric
E. Hewitt
Residence: (1970/71) Ty Gwyn, Penman1, Beaumaris, Wales.
18.07.1904
Stoke upon Trent
-
02.1996
Knowlsey, Merseyside
[memorial service 11.05.1996]

Midsh.
01.05.1921

A/S.Lt.
18.07.1925

Lt.
12.06.1928

Lt.Cdr.
12.06.1936

Cdr.
31.12.1941

A/Capt.
15.09.1945?

Capt.
30.06.1947 (retd > 07.1959, < 07.1962)

MID
23.11.1943
defence of convoy Eastern Mediterranean air attack 08.43

LoA
-
bringing ship [SS Mnie de Larrinage] to be sunk as a block ship

RD
08.1940
?

RD
> 05.1953
< 01.1956
?

Education: HMS Conway (1919-1921)

13.06.1927
-
(07.1927)
submarine course, Portsmouth [HMS Dolphin]

28.08.1939
-
(04.1940)
HMS Alaunia (repair ship)

(02.1941)

HMS Pembroke (RN base, Chatham) *

01.1941
-
31.08.1942
First Lieutenant, HMS Shoreham (sloop)

31.08.1942
-
(10.1943)
Commanding Officer, HMS Shoreham (sloop)

20.04.1944
-
23.11.1944
Commanding Officer, HMS Whimbrel (sloop) **

(07.1945)

no appointment listed

15.09.1945
-
(04.1946)
HMS Sultan (base, Singapore) (for sea transport duties)

11.02.1952

RNR representative at funeral of HM King George VI

14.06.1956
-
1960?
RNR ADC to the Queen

Captain Superintendent HMS Conway (school ship since 1953 ashore], Mercantile Marine Services Association), 09.1949-07.1968. Sheriff, High Court of Justice for Anglesy, Wales, 1970-(1971).

* indexed, but not listed as such
** appointment & hence exact dates not confirmed by Navy List, but he was undoubtedly in command for operation Neptune; dates taken from ending & starting dates of predecessor & successor

Heywood,
Peter Walter Kenneth
P.W.K. Heywood
Residence: Laburnam Farm
Waste Lane, Berkswell, Warwickkshire.
?
-

Cadet
?

Prob. Midsh.
31.12.1936

Midsh.
?, seniority 31.12.1936

A/S.Lt.
23.03.1940

S.Lt.
23.03.1941

Lt.
23.09.1942

A/Lt.Cdr.
< 04.1946

Lt. RN
09.01.1947, seniority 23.09.1942

Lt.Cdr. RN
23.09.1950 (emgcy 09.12.1951)

Lt.Cdr. (Sp.Br.)
?, seniority 23.09.1950 (retd 31.12.1971)

RD
08.10.1956
?

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star with France and Germany clasp; Burma Star; 1939-45 War Medal; Silver Jubilee Medal 1910-1935; Russian Convoy medal

06.09.1939
-
04.1940
HMS Patroclus (armed merchant cruiser)

05.1940
-
06.1940
HMS Hornet (Coastal Forces base, Gosport)

06.1940
-
01.1941
HMS Cyclops (submarine depot ship, Rothesay)

02.1941
-
07.1942
HMS Rockingham (destroyer)

29.07.1942
-
03.1944
HMS Obdurate (destroyer)

13.04.1944
-
11.1944
HMS Despatch (cruiser)

18.11.1944
-
(07.1945)
HM LST 410 (landing ship, tank)

02.1946
-
01.1947
Commanding Officer, HM LST 3026 (landing ship, tank)

09.01.1947

transferred from RNR to RN

02.1947
-
06.1947
Commanding Officer, HMS Ringdove (coastal minelayer)

06.1947
-
08.1947
course, HMS Safeguard (boom defence depot, Rosyth)

08.1947
-
08.1949
HMS Barneath (boom defence vessel)

10.08.1949
-
08.1951
HMS Cleopatra (cruiser)

(05.1953)

HMS Pembroke (RN base, Chatham) *

Hill,
Harold
H. Hill ?
-
[1959 still alive]

S.Lt.
13.08.1928

Lt.
13.08.1930

Lt.Cdr.
13.08.1938 (retd 1945/46)

Cdr. (retd)
?

DSC
05.01.1943
successful submarine patrol Western Approaches 07.42

RD
?
?

02.02.1929
-
(08.1929)
Third Officer, HM Subm H 31

04.12.1940
-
02.1942
Commanding Officer, HMS Gardenia (corvette)

23.02.1942
-
(02.1943)
Commanding Officer, HMS Sandwich (sloop)

21.12.1944
-
(07.1945)
Commanding Officer, LST 358

Hill,
Hugh Alfred
H.A. Hill
(09?).1901
Bangor, Anglesey
-
died between 07.1962 and 08.1973

Prob. S.Lt.
?

S.Lt.
29.09.1926, seniority 17.05.1926

Lt.
10.07.1928, seniority 17.05.1928 (retd 11.02.1935; own request)

Lt.Cdr. (retd)
17.05.1936

A/Cdr. (retd)
< 07.1945

Cdr. (retd)
13.08.1946, seniority 08.05.1946

OBE
01.01.1946
New Year 46

BSM
05.11.1946
?

RD
10.01.1946
?

22.04.1942
-
(02.)1943
Commanding Officer, HMS Wakakura (trawler)

15.07.1943
-
(04.1946)
Commanding Officer, HMS Venture (shore establishment, Suva, Fiji) & Naval Liaison Officer, Fiji

Hill,
Walter
W. Hill ?
-

T/Lt. 15.09.1939

serving under the T.124 agreement

15.09.1939 - 05.11.1940 HMS Jervis Bay (armed merchant cruiser)

(02.1941) no appointment listed

Hilldrith,
William
W. Hilldrith (06?).1901
Hull, Yorkshire
-

T/Skpr.
08.06.1940

MID
12.11.1940
attack by enemy aircraft, 2 brought down

(04.1940)

no appointment listed

?
-
23.10.1940
Commanding Officer, HMS Arctic Trapper (minesweeping trawler)

Hire,
Carlton Arthur
C.A. Hire (12?).1909
Cardiff, Glamorgan
-

T/S.Lt.
30.09.1940

T/Lt.
01.10.1942

holding temporary commission under T.124 agreements

(02.1941)

no appointment listed

01.04.1945
-
(07.1945)
HMS Badger (minesweeping base, Harwich) (for rescue tugs)
[HMS Jaunty (rescue tug)]

(04.1946)

no appointment listed

Hitchcock,
Ernest Albert
E.A. Hitchcock ?
-

T/S.Lt.
13.10.1939

T/Lt.
22.11.1940 (reld < 04.1946)

(04.1940)

no appointment listed

02.10.1940
-
(02.1941)
HMS King Sol (anti-submarine trawler)

10.12.1943
-
(06.1944)
HMS Pennywort (corvette)

24.09.1944
-
(07.1945)
Commanding Officer, HMS Borage (corvette)

Hodson,
Frank
F. Hodson ?
-

Skpr.
15.11.1937 [WS 2726]

10.10.1939
-
(04.1940)
Commanding Officer, HMS Brecon Moor

Hodson,
Frederick William
F. Hodson or F.W. Hodson (Drawing courtesy of Mr Nick Clark) ? ?
-
07.1962 still alive

Skpr.
19.07.1937 [WS 2708]

A/Chief Skpr.
14.08.1944 (retd)

05.12.1939
-
(04.1940)
Commanding Officer, HMS Stella Rigel (minesweeping trawler) *

14.12.1940
-
(02.1941)
HMS Calliope (RN base, Tyne)

* under HMS Stella Rigel is given F. Hodson, but as that person commanded HMS Brecon Moor, it is assumed that it should be F.W. Hodson, who is without appointment in the index of the Navy List

Hollinshead,
John Geoffrey
J.G. Hollinshead
Son of Alfred and Lily Hollinshead, of Bray, Co. Wicklow, Republic of Ireland.
1918 ?
-
24.11.1941
[age 23]
[Portsmouth Naval Memorial, panel 60, column 1]

Prob. S.Lt.
09.02.1940

S.Lt.
1940?, seniority 09.02.1940

(04.1940)

no appointment listed

08.11.1940
-
24.11.1941
HMS Dunedin (cruiser) [torpedoed & sunk by U-124 in South Atlantic]

Holmes,
Herbert
H. Holmes
From Birkenhead.
?
-
died between 07.1952 and 07.1959

S.Lt.
17.05.1926

Lt.
17.05.1928 (retd 24.07.1935)

Lt.Cdr. (retd)
17.05.1936 (reverted to retd 04.06.1946)

RD
WW II
?

04.12.1926
-
(07.1927)
HMS Royal Sovereign (battleship) (Mediterranean) (to complete 12 months' training)

25.11.1939
-
06.02.1940
HMS Resource (repair ship, Mediterranean)

06.02.1940
-
(02.1941)
HMS Stag (RN base, Port Said)

25.02.1945
-
(07.1945)
Naval Control Service (NCS) duties with Resident Naval Officer (RNO), Cypriot Ports [HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria)]

Hoodless,
Colin Arthur
C.A. Hoodless (03?).1906
Steyning district, Sussex
-
11.03.1964
Plymouth

T/Lt.
20.11.1939
1940?, seniority 23.10.1940

A/T/Lt.Cdr.
07.1943? (reld < 04.1946)

DSC
14.05.1946
attack 03.07.42 [award posted]

20.11.1939
-
(04.)1940
HMS Derbyshire (armed merchant cruiser)

06.11.1940
-
(06.)1943
Commanding Officer, HMS Le Tiger (auxiliary anti-submarine warfare trawler)

07.1943
-
(10.1944)
Commanding Officer, HMS Jasmine (corvette)

09.06.1945
-
(07.1945)
Commanding Officer, HMS Tintagel Castle (corvette)

Master Mariner. Captain of the Research Vessels "Sabella" & "Sarsia" of the Marine Biological Association, 1950/60s.

Houchen,
George William
G.W. Houchen
(12?).1906
Wayland, Norfolk
-
16.03.1966
Falmouth, Cornwall

Midsh.
01.09.1923

A/S.Lt.
02.04.1928

S.Lt.