Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) Officers 1940-1945

British officers | RN | RNR | RM | WRNS | home

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) Officers
1939-1945

Looking for details on a RNVR 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. For some more explanations & abbreviations see 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

D

Dale,
C V
C.V. Dale
From Sydney, Australia.
?
-

T/S.Lt.
?

(1943)

served Motor Gun Boats (MGBs)

Dale,
Geoffrey Alan
G.A. Dale 22.09.1923
Leyton, London
-
26.12.1988
Canterbury

T/Midsh.
?

T/A/S.Lt.
?

T/S.Lt.
01.03.1944

T/Lt.
01.03.1946

06.06.1943
-
(12.1943)
First Lieutenant, HMS MGB 8

15.05.1944
-
(07.1945)
First Lieutenant, HMS MTB 731
?

(04.1946)

HMS Vernon (training establishment, Brighton)

Trained as a teacher and taught history for many years at schools in Dover.

Dalziel,
William George
W.G. Dalziel ?
-

T/S.Lt.
?

DSC
06.07.43
?

(04.1943)

Navigating Officer, MGB 630 [HMS Midge]

Danckwerts,
Michael John
M.J. Danckwerts (Photo courtesy of Mr Peter Danckwerts)
Son of V.Adm. Victor Hilary Danckwerts, RN (1890-1944), and Joyce Middleton.
29.01.1924
Emsworth, Hampshire
-
28.11.1997
Kemsing, Kent

T/S.Lt. (A)
01.03.1944

T/Lt. (A)
01.03.1946 (reld > 04.1946)

16.08.1944
-
(07.1945)
Naval Air Warfare and Flying Training Division, Admiralty [HMS President] (apparently serving in Canada)

(04.1946)

no appointment listed

Danckwerts,
[Prof.] Peter Victor
P.V. Danckwerts
Son of V.Adm. Victor Hilary Danckwerts, RN (1890-1944), and Joyce Middleton.
George Cross Database
14.10.1916
Emsworth, Hampshire
-
25.10.1984
Cambridge

T/S.Lt. (Sp.Br.)
?

T/Lt. (Sp.Br.)
14.10.1941

GC
20.12.1940
parachute mines disposal, London 08.40

MBE
29.12.1942
mine disposal 07.42

Education: Winchester College; Balliol College, Oxford; Massachusetts Inst. of Technology. BA (chemistry) Oxon, 1938; SM (Chemical Engineering Practice), MIT, 1948; MA Cantab 1948

1939
-
1940
held a post in a small chemical company

1940
-
1946
RNVR:

04.1942
-
(08.1942)
HMS Cormorant (parent ship, Gibraltar);

(04.1944)
-
(07.1945)
Experiments and Developments Branch, Combined Operations HQ

Commonwealth Fund Fellow, MIT, 1946-48; Demonstrator and Lecturer, Dept of Chemical Engineering, Cambridge Univ., 1948-54; Deputy Director of Research and Development, Industrial Group, UK Atomic Energy Authority, 1954-56; Prof. of Chemical Engineering Science, Imperial College of Science and Technology, 1956-59. MIChemE 1955 (President, 1965-66); Hon. FIChemE. Hon. DTech Bradford, 1978; Hon. DSc: Loughborough, 1981; Bath, 1983. For. Hon. Mem., Amer. Acad. of Arts and Scis, 1964; For. Associate, Nat. Acad. of Engineering, USA, 1978.

Darby,
Robert Keith
R.K. Darby
From Stourbridge.
Married (25.09.1954, Stafford) Annabel Forrester Bostock (born 1932).
?
-
1996
West Midlands

T/S.Lt.
24.07.1942

T/Lt.
24.01.1945 (reld > 04.1946)

DSC
11.06.1946
wind up Far East

(10.1944)
-
(07.1945)
HMS Brontosaurus (Combined Operations base, Castle Toward, Dunoon, Argyll) *

(1945)

LCI(L) 266 (landing craft infantry (large))

(04.1946)

no appointment listed

Ran an engineering business post-war.
* indexed, but not listed as such

Darke,
Norman John Horatio
N.J.H. Darke
(09?).1915
Portsmouth, Hampshire
-

T/S.Lt.
21.07.1944 (reld < 04.1946)

39|45 St
?
?

Atlantic Star Atl St
?
Bar France/Germany

Defence Medal Def M
?
?

British War Medal 1939-1945 BWM 39|45
?
?

1953 Coronation Medal Cor M
?
?

Queen's Police Medal; Police Long Service Medal [EII R]

12.09.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS Lawson (frigate)

Chief Superintendent & Commander, Metropolitan Police.

Darnborough,
Frank Gilbert
F.G. Darnborough
Residence: (1944) Carlshalton Beeches, (from 1953 onwards) Cape Town, South Africa.
(03?).1903
Greenwich, London
-
1998
Cape Town, South Africa

T/Lt.
23.10.1939

T/A/Lt.Cdr.
13.10.1943? (reld < 04.1946)

DSC
01.01.1945
New Year 45

OBE
08.06.1968
HM's birthday 68: British subject resident in South Africa

MID
02.06.1943
HM's birthday 43

01.04.1938

joined Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve [attached to London Division RNVR]

1939
-
1945/46?
served in Arctic Convoys (Archangel runs), D-Day, &tc. (in destroyers and minesweepers):

08.11.1939
-
(02.1941)
HMS Seagull (minesweeper)

09.10.1942
-
(02.)1943
HMS Blyth (minesweeper)

13.10.1943
-
(06.)1944
Commanding Officer, HMS Llandudno (minesweeper)

17.07.1944
-
(07.1945)
Minesweeping Department, HMS Vernon (torpedo training establishment, Brighton)

Darracott,
William Roy
W.R. Darracott ?
-

T/S.Lt.
11.09.1942

T/Lt.
01.06.1944

DSC
21.11.1944
action west coast Italy 06.44

DSC
05.12.1944
coastal operations Adriatic & Aegean

28.05.1943
-
(06.1944)
First Lieutenant, MGB 662

(07.1945)

HMS Gregale (Coastal Forces base, Malta) *

27.11.1945
-
(04.1946)
HMS Waxwing (RN camp, Townhill, Dunfermline, Fife)

* indexed, but not listed as such

Davies,
Charles Gordon Victor
G.A. Dawson (09?).1904
Hackney district, Greater London
-
1997
Surrey

Prob. T/S.Lt. (Sp.Br.)
06.01.1941

T/Lt. (Sp.Br.)
06.04.1941

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

MBE
11.06.1942
HM's birthday 42 [investiture 03.11.42]

LegH
?
liberation of France

(02.1941)

no appointment listed

06.02.1941
-
(07.1945) HMS Orlando (RN base, Greenock) (from ... Staff Officer (Operations) for Flotilla Duties)

(04.1946)

no appointment listed

Davies,
Peter Errington
P.E. Davies 04.02.1916
-
01.1991
Truro, Cornwall

T/S.Lt.
10.04.1941

T/Lt.
10.04.1942 (reld 07.01.1946)

DSC
15.05.1945
minesweeping in the Adriatic 08-10.44

01.07.1941
-
(08.1942)
First Lieutenant, HMS Wyoming (minesweeping trawler)

11.01.1943
-
(10.1944)
Commanding Officer, HM BYMS 2053 (British yard minesweeper)

(07.1945)

HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) *

* indexed, but not listed as such

Davis,
Arthur Reginald Jack
A.R.J. Davis ?
-
1960 ??

Prob. T/S.Lt. (A)
29.07.1940

T/Lt. (A)
28.09.1942

Lt. (A) RN
1946?, seniority 28.09.1942 (reld 12.02.1950; placed on emgcy list)

?
-
15.11.1940
812 Squadron FAA
[taken off in his Fairey Swordfish L9724 G3L from North Coates, the tail hit by Flak in a bombing raid on Barley Airfield, crashed and overturned at Dunkirk; captured

11.1940
-
1945?
prisoner of war in German captivity

(04.1946)

816 Squadron FAA *

1946?

transferred to RN

04.1947
-
(07.1948)
observer, 728 Squadron FAA [HMS Falcon (RN Air Station, Halfar, Malta)]

15.01.1949
-
(05.1949)
HMS Vulture (RN Air Station, St Merryn, nr Padstow, Cornwall)

* indexed, but not listed as such

Davis,
Jonathan Philip
G.A. Dawson ?
-

T/A/S.Lt.
?

T/S.Lt.
13.09.1944 (reld > 04.1946)

08.05.1944
-
(04.1946)
HMNZS Achilles (cruiser)

Davis,
Ronald Ernest
R.E. Davis (Photo courtesy of Mr Shawn Dymond) ?
-

T/S.Lt.
11.07.1940

T/Lt.
11.01.1943 (reld > 04.1946)

MID
21.12.1943
Operation Husky (Sicily 07.43)

05.10.1940
-
(02.1941)
HMS Wolsey (destroyer)

24.11.1941
-
(08.1943)
HMS Tetcott (destroyer)

01.11.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS Rotherham (flotilla leader)

15.09.1945
-
(04.1946)
HM Dockyard Singapore (for torpedo duties)

Davis,
William Eric
"Uncle David"
W.E. Davis
Son of William John and Florence Kate Rachel Davis.
Married (1935) Barbara de Riemer (died 1982); one son, two daughters.

27.06.1908
Upton Upon Severn district, Worcestershire
-
29.04.1996
Ealing district, London

T/S.Lt.
26.08.1943

T/A/Lt.
07.1944? (reld < 04.1946)

MBE
01.01.1969
New Year 69

Education: Bishop's Stortford College; The Queen's College, Oxford (MA)
Schoolmaster, 1931-1935; joined BBC as member of Children's Hour, 1935.

1942
-
1946
served RNVR:

1943
-
06.06.1944
British Naval Liaison Officer, Greek LST "Lesvos" (wounded in action when ship was wrecked)

09.07.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS Byrsa (RN base, Naples, Italy)

LRAM, ARCM. BBC, 1946-1970; Head of Children's Hour, BBC, 1953-1961; Head of Children's Programmes (Sound), BBC, 1961-1964; Producer, Drama Department, 1964-1970, retired.
Published: Various songs, etc including: Lullaby, 1943; Fabulous Beasts, 1948; Little Grey Rabbit Song Book, 1952; poetry: A Single Star, 1973; various speech recordings, including: Black Beauty; Just So Stories; The Wind in the Willows (complete text), 1986.

Dawson,
George Alvin
G.A. Dawson ?
-
?

T/A/S.Lt.
?

T/S.Lt.
17.03.1943 (reld > 04.1946)

possibly served at some point at HMS Speedy (minesweeper); posted to Malta for Operation Pedestal (Gibraltar-Malta convoy, 08.1942)

01.03.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS Weston (sloop)

(04.1946)

HMS Pembroke (RN base, Chatham) *

* indexed, but not listed as such

De La Riviere,
Lewis Dibdin
W.R. Darracott 09.08.1909
Billericay, Essex
-
04.1986
Mid Warwickshire

T/S.Lt.
?

T/Lt.
05.09.1941 (reld < 04.1946)

(07.1945)

HMS Colne (minesweeping trawler) *

* indexed, but not listed as such

Deiter,
Oswald Birrell
O.B. Deiter 15.11.1903
USA
-
07.1979
Bergen, New Jersey

T/Lt.
24.06.1941

24.06.1941

joined the RNVR (as an American citizen)

24.06.1941
-
(12.1941)
HMS Nimrod (anti-submarine establishment, Campbeltown) (for instructional duties)

Dent,
Ernest
E. Dent ?
-

T/Lt. (Sp.Br.)
21.05.1941

T/A/Lt.Cdr. (Sp.Br.)
< 07.1945 (reld < 04.1945)

(12.1941)

HMS President (Admiralty) *

(10.1944)

HMS President (Admiralty) *

(07.1945)

HMS Byrsa (RN base, Naples) *

* indexed, but not listed as such

Dewhurst,
[Sir] Christopher John
"Jack"
O.B. Deiter

02.07.1920
Garstang, Lancashire
-
01.12.2006

T/Sg.Lt.
04.02.1944

Education: MB, ChB, MRCS, LRCP

?
-
(07.1945)
HMS Flamingo

Dick,
John Mathew
J.M. Dick 02.08.1899
Campbeltown, Argyll
-
04.02.1981
[Edinburgh ?]

:Lt.
1924

Cdr.
30.06.1935

Capt.
31.12.1940 (retd 1946)

A/Cdre. 2nd cl.
1943

CB
1955
?

CBE
01.01.1945
New Year 45

VRD
?
?

Education: Campbeltown Grammar School; Edinburgh Academy

1917

entered RNVR

1917
-
1919
served in Mediterranean and Grand Fleet (despatches, Order of Crown of Roumania)

qualified for torpedo duties

03.09.1921

East Scottish Division, RNVR

1927
-
1939
Commanding Officer, Edinburgh RNVR

1939
-
1945
served Coastal Forces & Admiralty

29.06.1942
-
(<04.1946)
Naval Assistant to Admiral Commanding Reserves, Admiralty [HMS President]

31.10.1943
-
01.11.1945
RNVR ADC to the King

1946
-
1964
Solicitor to Secretary of State for Scotland (and in Scotland to Treasury)

Dixon,
John Dudley
J.D. Dixon ?
-

T/Lt.
06.11.1942

T/A/Lt.Cdr.
?

DSC
25.07.44
action light enemy forces 11.05.44

DSC
14.11.44
German evacuation Le Havre

DSC
19.06.45
action ag E-boats 07.04.45

(05.1944)
-
(08.1944)
MTB 450

(04.1945)

MTB 454

Dodd,
Leonard Hindle
L.H. Dodd ?
-

S.Lt.
28.01.1940

T/A/Lt.
21.03.1941 (reld < 04.1946)

PolMC
01.08.1944
good services to Polish Navy

13.03.1940
-
(04.1940)
HMS Eskimo (destroyer)

(02.1941)
-
(12.1941)
British Naval Liaison Officer, ORP Burza (Polish destroyer)

(1942?)

perhaps British Naval Liaison Officer, ORP Piorun (Polish destroyer)

(08.1942?)
-
(07.1945)
British Naval Liaison Officer, ORP Ślązak (Polish destroyer) [already in that position during the Dieppe operation]

Doig,
John Carr
J.C. Doig ?
-

T/S.Lt. (E)
?

T/Lt. (E)
05.10.1944 (reld > 04.1946)

Temporary Officer serving under T.124X agreements

(1942?)

HMS California (armed merchant cruiser)

08.05.1943
-
(10.)1943
HMS Stalker (escort carrier)

21.11.1943
-
(04.1946)
HMS Ranee (escort carrier)

Dolby,
James Taylor
J.T. Dolby
Married (1943) Mary Harper, daughter of a chemistry teacher at the Keighley Boys’ Grammar School; three sons.
25.04.1909
Oxenhope near Keighley, Yorkshire
-
18.10.1975

T/S.Lt.
15.03.1940

T/Lt.
05.05.1940 (reld 21.01.1946)

Education: Royal College of Art
Taught at Bournemouth College of Art before the war, where he developed his love of sailing and the sea.

28.03.1937

joined Royal Naval Volunteer Supplementary Reserve (attached to Sussex Division, RNVR)

15.03.1940
-
04.05.1940
HMS King Alfred (RNVR officers' training establishment, Hove, Sussex)

05.05.1940
-
19.05.1940
HMS Vernon (training establishment, Portsmouth)

20.05.1940
-
12.01.1941
HMS Calliope (RN base, Tyne):

06.1940

served at Dunkirk

1940
-
13.10.1940
Commanding Officer, HMS Summer Rose (Admiralty steel drifter) (Lowestoft) (sunk off Sunderland)

(10?).1940
-
12.01.1941
Commanding Officer, HMS June Rose (Admiralty steel drifter) (Lowestoft)

13.01.1941
-
26.01.1941
HMS Orpheus (submarine?) *

27.01.1941
-
09.05.1941
HMS King Emperor (minesweeping trawler)

10.05.1941
-
12.07.1942
HMS Baldur (RN base, Iceland)

13.07.1942
-
29.07.1942
HMS Pembroke (RN base, Chatham)

30.07.1942
-
15.07.1943
HMS Flora (RN base, Invergordon)

16.07.1943
-
27.08.1943
HMS Pembroke (RN base, Chatham)

28.08.1943
-
30.06.1945
HMS Dartmouth (RN base, Dartmouth)

01.07.1945
-
21.01.1946
HMS Pembroke (RN base, Chatham)

* the submarine Orpheus was sunk in 06.1940, and no other vessel by this name has been found, so this posting seems rather peculiar; Navy List date 31.01.1941
Became head of art at Blackburn College of Art in Lancashire, retiring in 1969.

Donaldson,
John Henry
J.H. Donaldson (Photo courtesy of Mr John H. Donaldson)
Married; at least one son.
03.03.1913
Leith, Edinburgh
-
01.02.1996
Bonnyrigg, Midlothian

T/A/S.Lt.
27.07.1944 (reld < 04.1946)

39|45 St
-
-

Atlantic Star Atl St
-
-

Fr&G St
-
-

British War Medal 1939-1945 BWM 39|45
-
-

Served in the Merchant Navy.

temporary commission under T.124T (rescue tugs) agreements

27.07.1944
-
(10.1944)
HMS Marshal Soult (trawler base, Portsmouth) (for rescue tugs)

HMS Saucy (rescue tug)

20.05.1945
-
(07.1945)
HMS Nimrod (anti-submarine training establishment, Campbeltown) (for duty with rescue tugs)

Donnelly,
Michael
M. Donnelly ?
-

T/A/S.Lt. (Sp.Br.)
?

T/S.Lt. (Sp.Br.)
27.02.1944 (reld < 04.1946)

28.06.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS Mercury II (Admiralty signal establishment, Haslemere)

Douglas-Watson,
Francis
F. Douglas-Watson
Son of Cdr. Francis Douglas-Watson, RN (1896-1941), and Mary Fedora St Ledger (1899-1977).
1923
Glasgow, Scotland
-

T/S.Lt. (Sp.Br.)
22.02.1944

T/Lt. (Sp.Br.)
22.02.1946

(10.1944)
-
(04.1946)
HMS King Alfred (RNVR officers' training establishments, Hove & Lancing, Sussex) *

* indexed, but not listed as such

Doust,
William Alexander
W.A. Doust (06?.)1895
Portsmouth, Hampshire
-

T/Cdr.
02.09.1939

T/A/Capt.
< 07.1945

CBE
11.07.1944
salvage work Italy & Naples [investiture 10.10.44]

OBE
14.01.1941
salvage work [investiture 18.02.41]

LM
05.11.1946
salvage work in Mediterranean

02.09.1939
-
(12.1941)
Salvage Officer, Salvage Department, Admiralty [HMS President]

(08.1942)
-
(02.1943)
Deputy Director of Salvage (H), Admiralty [HMS President]

(07.1945)

no appointment listed

(04.1946)

no appointment listed

Worked in the Far East after the war.
Published: The ocean on a plank (1976)

Douthwaite,
Harry
H. Douthwaite
Married Lily Warren (died 1985); one son, one daughter.
1908
-
1992

T/A/S.Lt.
?

T/S.Lt.
26.09.1943

T/Lt.
1945? (reld < 04.1946)

HMS Arbutus (corvette)

HMS Amazon (destroyer)

30.06.1943
-
(10.1944)
First Lieutenant, HMS George Adgell (minesweeping trawler)

(07.1945)

no appointment listed

Dove,
Rodney George
"Rod"
R.G. Dove

01.09.1921
South London
-
30.10.2005

T/S.Lt.
?

T/A/Lt.
30.10.1944

DSO
18.04.1944
sinking cruiser Palermo 02.01.43

(01.1943)

HMS Talbot (submarine depot ship, Malta)

(07.1945)

<