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.

 
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R. Walgate  to  P.M. Wright

Walgate, Richard	? - died between 07.1962 and 08.1973 ??	Prob. A/S.Lt. 01.09.1934 A/S.Lt. 11.08.1936 S.Lt. 11.08.1937 Lt. 14.11.1939 02.1941, seniority 03.10.1939 A/Lt.Cdr. > 04.1946 Lt.Cdr. 03.10.1947 (retd 03.09.1957) MID 16.12.1941 attack submarine U452 Orkneys & Shetlands 25.08.41 RD 19.04.1948 - 1939, Atlantic with France and Germany bar, Africa with North Africa 1942-43 bar and Italy Stars, War Medal	01.09.1934 joined RNR (04.1940) no appointment listed 28.11.1940 - (02.)1941 HMS Kingston Onyx (anti-submarine trawler) (08.1941) HMS Vascama (anti-submarine trawler) 23.10.1943 - (06.1944) Navigating Officer, HMS Latimer (cable ship) [involved in the Pipeline under the ocean (PLUTO) scheme] 06.1945 - (07.1945) Navigating Officer, HMS Dungeness (landing craft repair ship) 27.03.1946 - (04.1946) HMS Chaser (escort carrier) Served Merchant Navy. Staff Commander, "Empress of England" (Canadian Pacific Steamship Company), 1957.
Walker, Stanley Hope	? - 01.01.2001	Paym.S.Lt. 06.01.1935 Paym.Lt. 06.01.1937 Lt.Cdr. (S) 06.01.1945 Lt.Cdr. (S) RN 03.12.1946, seniority 06.01.1945 Cdr. (S) RN 31.12.1952 (retd 12.03.1964) OBE 01.01.1964 New Year 64 [investiture 17.03.64] DSC 11.12.1945 wind up Europe 45 RD ? ?	24.08.1939 - (08.1942) Secretary to Naval Officer-in-Charge, Methil [HMS Cochrane II (RN base, Rosyth)] 18.01.1943 - (1945) HMS Sheffield (cruiser) * 22.03.1946 - (04.1946) HMS Mullion Cove (repair ship) 03.12.1946 transferred, RN 07.10.1947 - (07.)1948 HMS Mercury (signal school, nr. Petersfield) 25.09.1948 - (05.)1949 HMS Royal Rupert (Naval Party 1735, Wilhelmshaven) 01.10.1949 - (05.1950) HMS Royal Prince (RN parent ship Germany, Krefeld) 21.05.1951 - (05.1953) HMS Lochinvar (destroyer / minesweeping base, Port Edgar) 26.10.1954 - (01.)1956 HMS Harrier (RN school of aircraft direction and metereology, Kete, Pembrokeshire) 27.02.1956 - (01.1957) SSO [= Senior Supply & Secretariat Officer ?], Persian Gulf & Resident Naval Officer, Bahrein [HMS Jufair] 06.05.1960 - (02.1964) SSO [= Senior Supply & Secretariat Officer ?] on staff of Flag Officer Scotland & Northern Ireland [HMS Cochrane (RN base, Rosyth)] * (07.1945) indexed, but not listed as such
Walker, William John	? - 1953 Libya (died of sunstroke on the bridge of a ship)	Prob. T/Lt. 02.09.1940 T/Lt. ?, seniority 02.09.1940 T/A/Lt.Cdr. < 07.1945 (reld < 04.1946) DSC 08.12.1942 Russian convoy PQ18 09.42	08.11.1940 - (02.1941) HMS Lasso (cable ship) 03.06.1942 - (08.)1942 Commanding Officer, MMS 212 (motor minesweeper) 26.11.1942 - (08.1943) Commanding Officer, MMS 243 (motor minesweeper) (07.1945) no appointment listed
Walley, Rupert Healey	(12?).1887 Chester, Cheshire - 1964 still alive, Foot's Cray, Kent	Lt.Cdr. 01.10.1922 Cdr. 31.12.1929 Capt. 30.06.1936 A/Cdre. 2nd cl. 14.11.1940 (retd) Cdre. 2nd cl. (retd) 12.10.1945 OBE ? ? RD ? ?	14.11.1940 - (08.1942) Commodore of Ocean Convoys [HMS Eaglet] 15.12.1941 - (08.1942) also: RNR ADC to the King (07.1945) no appointment listed
Warwick, Richard Colin Weblog on HMS Rushen Castle	30.08.1912 Surbiton, Surrey - 20.04.2002 Washington, DC	Prob. T/S.Lt. 31.01.1940 T/S.Lt. 05.08.1940, seniority 31.01.1940 T/Lt. 04.1941, seniority 31.01.1941 T/A/Lt.Cdr. 01.12.1943? (reld < 04.1946) DSC 16.08.1940 15th Anti-Submarine Striking Foce, Norwegian coast DSC 01.01.1941 New Year 41	Left Pangbourne College as a cadet Captain to become an Indentured Cadet with the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company to learn the duties of a seaman and a ship's officer. Junior partner with the Wallace Attwood group of management and industrial consultants, engaged in essential war production work. (04.1940) no appointment listed 17.04.1940 - (08.)1943 Commanding Officer, HMS St Loman (anti-submarine trawler) 01.12.1943 - 25.06.1945 Commanding Officer, HMS Rushen Castle (corvette) [ship commissioned 14.02.1944] 06.1945 - (07.1945) HMS Seaborn (RN Air Station, Dartmouth, NS, Canada) (for miscellaneous duties) on leave from his ship between convoys, he worked with the Admiralty Press Division visiting Royal Navy suppliers, and made two broadcasts for the BBC Overseas Programmes. Later he pursued a very successful career as an international marketing consultant based in Washington, DC, USA. Published: Really not required : memoirs, 1939 to 1945 (1997)
Watson, John Raymond	? -	T/Midsh. 06.01.1944 MBE 11.09.1945 sinking U-1024 Western Approaches 12.04.45	12.07.1944 - (10.)1944 HMS Emerald (cruiser) 14.10.1944 - (04.1946) HMS Loch More (frigate)
Watson, William Frederick	08.03.1895 Uckfield, Sussex - 28.06.1973 Nailsea, Somerset	Signalman WW I [J 10489] T/Lt. 19.10.1939 [temporary commission under T.124 agreements] T/Lt. 02.09.1940 T/A/Lt.Cdr. < 07.1945 (reld > 04.1946) DSC 14.11.1944 Operation Neptune (Normandy invasion 06.44) [investiture 13.11.45] 1914-15 War Medal	(04.1940) no appointment listed 17.09.1940 - (02.1941) Commanding Officer, HMS Commiles (minesweeping trawler) 15.06.1942 - (08.)1942 Commanding Officer, HM MMS 140 (motor minesweeper) 28.11.1942 - (02.)1943 Commanding Officer, HM MMS 175 (motor minesweeper) 01.04.1943 - (06.1944) Commanding Officer, HM MMS 218 (motor minesweeper) (07.1945) - (04.1946) no appointment listed Worked for P.A. Cambell on the paddle steamers Ravenswood, Bristol Queen, Cardiff Queen etc. Retired Master Mariner.
Watts, Geoffrey	? - [1959 still alive]	Lt. 08.03.1929 (retd > 08.1929, < 02.1931) Lt.Cdr. (retd) 08.03.1937	02.1942 - (1945?) Commanding Officer, Prince of Wales Training School (Stalham, nr Norfolk)
Webster, Arthur Wallace	? -	T/S.Lt. 24.09.1939 T/A/Lt. 24.09.1940 T/A/Lt.Cdr. < 10.1944 (reld < 04.1946)	Served Merchant Navy. (04.1940) HMS Lucifer (RN base, Swansea) * 24.09.1940 - (02.)1941 HMS Lucifer (RN base, Swansea) 19.05.1941 - (12.1943) HMS Stag (RN base, Port Said) (additional; for various services) (10.1944) HMS Drake (RN base, Devonport) * (07.1945) no appointment listed * indexed, but not listed as such
Weeks, Alan Frederick Son of late Capt. Frederick Charles Weeks, MN, and Ada Frances Weeks. Married (1947) Barbara Jane (née Huckle); one son (and one son, one daughter deceased).	08.09.1923 Brighton - 11.06.1996 Hove, Sussex	T/Midsh. 1941 T/A/S.Lt. ? T/S.Lt. 01.03.1944 T/Lt. 01.04.1945 (reld 04.1946)	Education: Hove & Sussex Grammar School, Brighton Cadet, Merchant Navy, 1939-1941. ? HMS Renown (battlecruiser) 04.06.1943 - (12.1943) HMS Rother (frigate) 01.02.1944 - (06.1944) HMS Rushen Castle (corvette) (07.1945) no appointment listed (04.1946) HMS Helmsdale (frigate) * PRO, Sports Stadium, Brighton, 1946-1965; Secretary, Brighton Tigers Ice Hockey Club, 1946-1965; Director, London Lions Ice Hockey Club, 1973-1974; first Director, Sports Aid Foundation, 1976-1983. BBC Commentator: Ice Hockey, 1951-1988; Football, 1956-1978; Ice Skating, 1958-1996; Gymnastics, 1962-1989; Swimming, 1971-1990; Presenter: Summer Grandstand, 1959-1962; Olympics, 1960, 1964; BBC Commentator: Winter Olympics: 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994; Olympics: 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988; World Cup: 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978; Commonwealth Games: 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986; Presenter, Pot Black, 1970-1984. Life Mem., Nat. Skating Assoc. of GB, 1984 (Chm. Trustees, 1993-); Mem. Council, British Ice Hockey Association, 1983-; inducted British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, 1988. Life Pres., Brighton and Hove Entertainment Managers' Assoc., 1985. Hon. Mem., Amateur Swimming Assoc., 1990. Governor, Sports Aid Foundation, 1983-1996. * indexed, but not listed as such

Weeks, Albert Clifford	see:	RNVR section
Wells, Augustus Widdicombe Stenson "Gus" Son of ... and Amelia Elizabeth (Stenson) Wells. Married (1912, Cardiff) ... Groves; two sons.	1887 - 21.09.1957 Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire	Ldg.Sign. ? [O.N. 225676 (R.F.R. Dev./B4666)] T/S.Lt. RNVR 12.06.1918 T/Lt. 01.04.1940 T/A/Lt.Cdr. > 02.1943, < 06.1943 (reld 1946?) MID 20.09.1918 Mediterranean	WW I served Royal Navy & Merchant Navy (all over the world) 1918 joined Merchant Navy WW II served in Turkey, North Africa & Western Approaches (wounded) (02.1941) no appointment listed 07.1942 - (12.1943) HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria): 07.1942 - (02.1943) for various services (06.1943) - (12.1943) Navy Control of Shipping (NCS) Officer, Tripoli [wounded] (07.1945) HMS Ferret (RN base, Londonderry) * (04.1946) no appointment listed * indexed, but not listed as such Publican in Aylesbury, Bucks. and ran a branch of the Sea Cadets.
Whichello, George Alfred [Blandford] "Toby" Son of George and Edie Whichello. Husband of Lilian Elizabeth Whichello, of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.	19.07.1907 Thanet, Kent - 22.10.1943 (KIA) [age 36] [Lowestoft Naval Memorial, panel 11, column 1]	T/Skpr. 10.11.1939 [WS 3098, TS 217] A/T/Skpr.Lt. < 12.1941 DSC 11.06.1942 HM's birthday 42 * [award presented to next-of-kin] * For a rescue mission whilst escorting a convoy, which was attacked by German aircraft. One ship was lost [probably SS Ratula], and a difficult rescue was initiated by Whichello, in launching a small boat to rescue sailors from the burning ship loaded with aviation fuel which was about to explode at any time.	(04.1940) no appointment listed 22.08.1940 - (06.)1942 HMS Leeds United (auxiliary anti-submarine trawler) 08.1942 - 22.10.1943 Commanding Officer, HMS Orfasy (Isle class trawler) (torpedoed)
White, Ernest Woodeson Son of William Henry and Laura Susannah White; husband of Marguerite Jane White, of Waterlooville, Hampshire.	1881 ? - 05.11.1940 (KIA) [age 59] [Liverpool Naval Memorial, panel 3, column 1]	T/Paym.Lt.Cdr. 15.09.1939	15.09.1939 - 05.11.1940 HMS Jervis Bay (auxiliary merchant cruiser)
White, Leonard Arthur	? -	Prob. S.Lt. 31.12.1936 S.Lt. 1937/38, seniority 31.12.1936 Lt. 20.08.1938 A/Lt.Cdr. 29.03.1941? (reld from active service 20.04.1946) Lt.Cdr. 20.08.1946 (retd or died > 05.1950, < 05.1953) DSC 02.06.1943 HM's birthday 43 [investiture 15.02.44] RD 10.04.1946 ?	05.09.1939 - (02.)1941 Commanding Officer, HMS Kingston Turquoise (anti-submarine warfare trawler) 29.03.1941 - (10.1944) Commanding Officer, HMS Widgeon (sloop) 04.06.1945 - (07.1945) Commanding Officer, HM LST 303 (landing ship, tank)
White, Samuel Norman	? - [1959 still alive]	Capt. 31.12.1932 (retd (> 08.1939, < 08.1942) A/Cdre. 2nd cl. (retd) 22.04.1941 Cdre. 2nd cl. (retd) 13.09.1945 CBE 11.12.1945 wind up Europe 45 MID 27.06.1944 3 years service RD ? ?	28.10.1938 - (08.1939) RNR ADC to the King 22.04.1941 - (06.1944) Commodore of Ocean Convoys [HMS Eaglet] (07.1945) no appointment listed
White, Sidney Alexander	? -	T/Skpr. 27.09.1939 [W.S. 3046, T.S. 165] A/T/Ch.Skpr. 08.11.1944 (reld < 04.1946) DSC 01.01.1940 New Year 40	04.12.1939 - (04.1940) Commanding Officer, HMS Silver Dawn (armed drifter) 28.09.1940 - (02.1941) Commanding Officer, HMS Almandine (minesweeping trawler) 12.11.1943 - (07.1945) HMS Colonsay (RN base for minesweeping force, Humber)
Whitehouse, Geoffrey Thomas	(12?).1891 Bosmere, Suffolk - died between 08.1977 and 08.1983	... ... Lt. 01.09.1916 Lt.Cdr. 01.09.1924 (retd 16.12.1924) Cdr. (retd) 18.08.1931 A/Capt. (retd) 1941? CBE 1960/70s ? ? DSC WW I ? ? RD 11.1942 ? Distinguished Service Decoration (Greece) (24.11.1942; for services to the Greek Navy)	(04.1940) no appointment listed 14.06.1940 - (02.1941) Naval Officer-in-Charge, Port Sudan [HMS Stag (RN base, Port Said)] (12.1941) HMS Sheba (RN base, Aden) * 17.08.1942 - (07.1945) HMS Eaglet (RN base, Liverpool) (for AND duties) * indexed, but not listed as such
Whitfield, Edwin Son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Casson) Whitfield. Married Margaret Connell (1911-95), of Dundas, Ontario, Canada; two sons, one daughter.	10.02.1902 Austwick, Yorkshire - 30.10.1997 Canada	T/S.Lt. 29.08.1939 T/Lt. 28.11.1939 (reld > 04.1946)	Lived in Bermuda since 1927. 29.08.1939 - 28.08.1940 HMS Malabar (RN base, Bermuda) (for service at Bermuda) 29.08.1940 - (07.1945) Examination Service, St George [HMS Malabar (RN base, Bermuda)] (04.1946)     no appointment listed After the war he and his family moved to Canada, where he led an active life until the age of 95.
Whitfield, William	? -	Lt. 27.07.1938 A/Lt.Cdr. 02.10.1941? (reld 1945/46) DSC 02.10.42 Operation Jubilee MID 11.06.42 HM's birthday 42	02.10.1941 - 23.08.1943 Commanding Officer, ML 194 & SO 11th ML Flotilla [HMS Beaver III] 07.1944 - (07.1945) Commanding Officer, HMS Fleetwood (sloop)
Wilkinson, Thomas Victoria Cross Reference	01.08.1898 Widnes, Lancashire - 14.02.1942 (KIA) Malayan Straits, Java [Liverpool Naval Memorial]	T/Lt. ? VC 17.12.1946 attack Japanese convoy 14.02.42 * * On 14th February, 1942, H.M.S. Li Wo, a patrol vessel of I,000 tons, formerly a passenger steamer on the Yangtse River, was on passage from Singapore to Batavia. Her company consisted of eighty-four officers and men, mainly survivors from H.M. ships and Army and Air Force units. Her armament was one 4-inch gun (with 13 practice shells) and two machine-guns. Since leaving Singapore she had beaten off four air attacks and had suffered considerable damage. Late in the afternoon she sighted two enemy convoys, the larger being escorted by Japanese fleet units, including a heavy cruiser and some destroyers. Lieutenant Wilkinson, with the unanimous backing of his mixed company, decided to engage the convoy and to fight to the last, inflicting what damage he could. He knew that his ship faced certain destruction. In the action that followed the machine-guns were used effectively, and a volunteer gun-crew fought the 4-inch gun to such purpose that they hit and set on fire a Japanese transport. After a little more than an hour, H.M.S. Li Wo was critically damaged and was sinking. Lieutenant Wilkinson decided to ram the damaged transport. It is known that this ship burned throughout the night and was probably sunk. Having ordered his ship to be abandoned, Lieutenant Wilkinson himself went down with her. Lieutenant Wilkinson's valour was equalled only by the skill with which he fought his ship. The Victoria cross is bestowed upon him posthumously in recognition of the heroism and self-sacrifice displayed not only by himself but by all who fought and died with him.	Master, Li Wo (commercial vessel) - 14.02.1942 Commanding Officer, HMS Li Wo (auxiliary patrol vessel)
Williams, David Thomas Morgan	? -	Lt. 20.04.1923 Lt.Cdr. 20.04.1931 Cdr. 30.06.1938 Capt. 30.06.1943 (reld 1945/46) MID 01.07.1941 HM's birthday 41 RD ? ?	(1941) Nore Command [HMS Pembroke] 01.01.1944 - (07.1945) Salvage Department, Admiralty [HMS President]
Williams, Patrick Michael Cay	? -	S/Lt. ? Lt. ? DSC 29.09.1942 air-sea rescue Dover 15.01.42 MID 02.12.1941 air-sea rescue Dover	(1942) - 18.01.1943? Commanding Officer, ML 141
Williamson, Hugh Son of John and Helen Williamson, of Fordyce, Portsoy, Banffshire; husband of Pearl Grant Williamson (nee Robertson), of Keith, Banffshire.	1898 ? - 05.11.1940 (KIA) [age 42] [Liverpool Naval Memorial, panel 15, column 1]	First Radio Officer ? [913236]	Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy), serving under the T.124 agreement 15.09.1939 - 05.11.1940 Chief Radio Officer, HMS Jervis Bay (armed merchant cruiser)
Willis, William Austin Son of Frederick William Willis. Married (1950) Frances Thompson; one son, one daughter.	17.05.1914 Belfast, Northern Ireland - 04.1986	T/Lt. 25.05.1942 T/A/Lt.Cdr. 08.1944?	06.08.1942 - (12.1943) HMS Ulster Queen (auxiliary anti-aircraft ship) 08.1944 - (04.1946) Commanding Officer, HM LSE 2 (landing ship, emergency repair) Master Mariner. Master of Esso tankers. Went to Namibia, 29.12.1951. He was a Director of Willis Lund and Company Shipping Line. Mayor of Walvis Bay for 7 years. Master of the fish factory ship L'Interpeche, c. 1970-1978.
Wilson, John Son of John Watson Wilson and Margaret Wilson. Married Jane Farquharson Wilson; two sons. website	15.02.1899 Newhaven, Leith, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland - 27.09.1967 Edinburgh	Deck Hand 15.02.1917 [DA14647] Skpr. 08.09.1924 [WS 2354] Ch.Skpr. 08.09.1934 Skpr.Lt. 31.12.1941 (reld 24.11.1945) (retd 15.02.1949; age limit) DSC 11.07.1940 HM's birthday 40 RD 27.11.1939 ? British War Medal; Victory Medal; 1939-45 Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45	15.02.1917 entered RNR 15.02.1917 - 06.12.1917 HMS Boadicea 2 (Auxiliary Patrol Parent Ship, Dublin) 07.12.1917 - 26.04.1918 HMT Emley (hired trawler) 27.04.1918 - 03.06.1918 HMT Trumpeter (hired trawler) 04.06.1918 - 31.12.1918 HMT Grosbreak (hired trawler) 01.01.1919 - 09.02.1919 HMS Gunner (Auxiliary Patrol Base, Granton) 09.02.1919 - 29.08.1939 demobilised, returning to his civilian occupation (trawling); remained in the RNR, having training for a few weeks every few years, until being recalled for actual service with the Royal Naval Patrol Service (RNPS) 29.08.1939 - 21.09.1939 HMS Pembroke X (RNPS base, Lowestoft) 22.09.1939 - 08.11.1939 HMT Regal (anti-submarine trawler) 09.11.1939 - 05.12.1939 HMS Romola (minesweeping base, Lowestoft) 06.12.1939 - 20.04.1940 HMT Rutlandshire (anti-submarine trawler) 21.04.1940 - 08.06.1940 HMS Europa (RNPS base, Lowestoft) 09.06.1940 - 23.08.1943 HMS Pembroke IV (RN accounting base, Great Yarmouth) 24.08.1943 - 09.10.1943 HMS Europa (RNPS base, Lowestoft) 10.10.1943 - 17.09.1945 HMS Caroline (RN base, Belfast) 18.09.1945