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Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) Officers
1939-1945

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R      
Rae,
Alistair Sutherland Livingston
A.S.L. Rae
The Scotsman obituary
The Independent obituary
 11.02.1912
Edinburgh
-
19.04.2006
Dundee
T/Sg.Lt.
03.09.1939 (reld < 04.1946)
Education: George Watson's; Edinburgh School of Medicine (...-1935); MB, BCh, DPH
01.1940
 -
 		(04.1940)
 		HMS Echo (destroyer)
(02.1941)

HMS Stag (RN base, Port Said) *



apparently served on Admiral Cunningham's flagship & the hospital at Valetta, Malta
17.01.1945
 -
 		(07.1945)
 		HMS Ukussa (RN Air Station, Katukurunda, Ceylon)
Consultant psychiatrist, West Green Hospital (later: Garvey House Hospital and finally the Liff Hospital), Dundee, 1951-1982.
* indexed, but not listed as such
Ramsay,
Alexander Robert
"Alec"
A.R. Ramsay A.R. Ramsay (Photo courtesy of Mr Alan Ramsay)
Eldest son and second child of seven to  Robert Christian Ramsay (1861-1957), and Olive Zillah Voss (1887-1957).
Married (15.03.1944) 2nd Officer Helen McGregor Shaw, WRNS (died 2007); one son, two daughters.
 12.05.1910
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
-
01.2004
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
T/S.Lt. (A)
 		20.09.1939
T/Lt. (A)
 		23.08.1940
T/A/Lt.Cdr. (A)
 		09.1943?
T/A/Cdr. (A)
 		04.1945? (reld < 04.1946)

Distinguished Service Cross

 DSC
 08.01.1942
 withdrawal from Crete [award posted]

Distinguished Service Cross

 DSC
 01.01.1945
 New Year 45 [award posted]
Education: started in Toowoomba, Queensland; secondary school at Harrow; studied agriculture at Cambridge University.
Sport : Played rugby for Cambridge Univ, London Scottish, and just missed out on playing for Scotland. Played golf off a low handicap.
Aeronautical engineer. Got his flying licence 03.04.1935.
(04.1940)

Fleet Air Arm
06.10.1940
 -
 		(02.)1941
 		pilot, HMS Nile II (RN Air Station, Alexandria)
21.10.1941
 -
 		(12.1941)
 		pilot, 803 Squadron FAA [HMS Grebe (RN Air Station, Dekheila, nr Alexandria)]
09.1943
 -
 		(06.)1944
 		HMS Emperor (escort carrier)
06.09.1944
 -
 		(10.1944)
 		HMS Landrail (RN Air Station, Machrihanish, Argyllshire)
04.1945
 -
 		(07.1945)
 		HMS Bambara (RN Air Station, Trincomalee, Ceylon)
Bought & ran a plantation with his brother in Tanganyka, c. 1948/49 to 1957. Went to Rhodesia to farm tobacco, cattle and Maize at Centenary, north of Harare. Owned and managed a property portfolio including two blocks of flats in Harare (essentially lost everything following transition to independence and collapse of Zimbabwe). Moved back to Australia c. 1987 (Adelaide, then Brisbane, then Toowoomba).
Rankin,
John Cooper
J.C. Rankin (Photo courtesy of Mr Danny Mercer)
1924
Hamilton, Scotland
-
T/Midsh.
 		1943?
T/A/S.Lt.
 		?
T/S.Lt.
27.08.1944
T/Lt.
 		1946? (reld > 04.1946)
Education: University of Glasgow (1941; MA degree)
late 1943
 -
 		autumn1944
 		Fifth Officer, HMS Grey Goose (ex-Steam Gun Boat 9)
07.08.1944
 -
 		14.11.1944
 		Third Officer, HMS Grey Fox (ex-Steam Gun Boat 4)
 [appointed, but never went to sea in it; joined at Milford Haven and went on leave from there]
15.11.1944
 -
 		05.1945
 		Third Officer, HM MTB 781 (motor torpedo boat)



training as a Fleet Air Arm Bomb Range Officer at St Merryn in Cornwall
30.10.1945
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		HMS Pembroke (RN base, Chatham) (for Educational and Vocational Training duties, serving in Braintree [HMS Cicero?] and Abbotsinch [HMS Sanderling?])
Ratcliffe,
Leonard *
L. Ratcliffe (Photo courtesy of Mr Richard Taylor)
Son of John Ratcliffe, waterman, and Florence Turner, shop assistant.
Married (1922, Liverpool) Mary Mitchell Houston.

* sometimes registered with a second first name "Amarapoora", derived from one of the ships he served on		 29.05.1895
Runcorn, Cheshire
-
24.12.1960
Liverpool
T/Midsh. RNR
 		03.12.1914 (reld 16.01.1916)
T/S.Lt.
 		02.03.1916
T/Lt.
 		02.03.1917 (reld 05.02.1919)
T/A/Lt. (Sp.Br.)
22.11.1943 (reld > 04.1946)
Croix de Guerre avec palme (France) CdeG
 17.05.1918
 *
1914-1915 Star 14|15 St
 ?
 ?
British War Medal 1914-1920 BWM 14|20
 ?
 ?
Victory Medal VM
 ?
 ?
Defence Medal DefM
 ?
 ?
British War Medal 1939-1945 BWM 39|45
 ?
 ?
* The Citation à l'Ordre de l'Armée of 20.12.1917 showed him at trawler Brigadier, for having destroyed 100 German mines in a year
 		Joined Merchant Navy as a Cadet, 1911. 
08.12.1914
 -
 		02.12.1915
 		HMS Oropesa (armed merchant cruiser)
02.03.1916
 -
 		13.12.1918
 		HMS Halcyon (base ship, Lowestoft) (additional; for command of a group of minesweeping trawlers)
29.03.1916
 -
 		(04.1916?)
 		short gunnery course, HMS Vivid (RN base, Devonport)
14.12.1918
 -
 		28.01.1919
 		HMS Zaria (Auxiliary Patrol base for Orkney and the Shetlands) (for command of minesweeping trawlers in the 4th and 5th Fast Sweeping Flotillas)
29.01.1919
 -
 		05.02.1919
 		HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) (additional; for demobilisation)
Served Merchant Navy, 1919-c. 1925. In 1928 listed as a tailor with premises in Liverpool.
29.01.1944
 -
 		(06.1944)
 		HMS Cochrane II (supply & accounting base for tenders, Rosyth) (for duty at Inchkeith)
(07.1945)
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		no appointment listed
Occupation at the time of his death described as fancy goods dealer.
Raven,
John Giles
J.G. Raven
From Yeovil, Somerset.
 (06?).1901
Sudbury, Essex
-
18.07.1968
Weymouth, Dorset
T/Lt.
 		22.10.1939
T/A/Lt.Cdr.
 		16.02.1943? (reld > 04.1946)

Distinguished Service Cross

 DSC
 01.09.1942
 minesweeping Channel 06.42 [investiture 17.11.42]
Mention in Despatches MID
 28.11.1944
 Operation Neptune (Normandy 06.44)
09.11.1939
 -
 		(04.1940)
 		HMS Hebe (Halcyon class minesweeper)
10.01.1941
 -
 		(02.)1941
 		First Lieutenant, HMS Ilfracombe (Bangor class minesweeper)
19.09.1941
 -
 		(08.1942)
 		Commanding Officer, HM MMS 46 (motor minesweeper)
16.02.1943
 -
 		(10.1944)
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Parrsborough (Bangor class minesweeper)
(07.1945)

no appointment listed
10.1945
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Antares (Algerine class minesweeper)
Raven,
John Stanley
J.S. Raven
Son of Frederick William Raven.
Married (1935) Nancy, daughter of William Harold Murdoch; three sons.
 05.10.1910
-
15.06.1987
[Coliingham, Yorks. ?]
Prob. T/S.Lt. (Sp.Br.)
 		01.10.1939
T/El.Lt.
 		30.01.1940
T/Lt.
 		30.01.1940
T/A/Lt.Cdr.
 		> 08.1942, < 02.1943
Cdr. (L) RN
 		02.01.1946
Capt. (L) RN
 		31.12.1954
R.Adm. RN
 		07.07.1962 (retd 1965)

Companion of the Order of the Bath

CB
 1964
 ?

BSc, FIEE

Education: Huddersfield College; Leeds University
01.10.1939

joined RNVR
14.10.1939
 -
 		(04.)1940
 		HMS Gloucester (cruiser)
01.10.1940
 -
 		(02.1941)
 		HMS Gloucester (cruiser)
30.03.1942
 -
 		(12.1943)
 		Torpedo Officer, HMS Orion (cruiser)
22.06.1944
 -
 		(07.1945)
 		staff, HMS Vernon (training establishment, Roedean School, Brighton)
01.1946

transferred to RN
21.01.1946
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		Office of Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord, Admiralty
?
 -
 		(01.1956)
 		HMS President (for miscellaneous services)
04.01.1960
 -
 		(07.1961)
 		Director of Radio Division, Weapons Department (DWR), Admiralty [HMS President]
20.08.1962
 -
 		1965
 		Director of Engineering and Training Division, Admiralty, and Deputy Chief Naval Engineering Officer [HMS President]
Rayner,
Denys Arthur
D.A. Rayner (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denys_Rayner)
Married (1933) Elizabeth ...; one daughter, two sons.
From West Kirby.

Wikipedia biography
 09.02.1908
Edmonton, London
-
16.01.1967
Prob. Midsh.
 		26.10.1925
A/S.Lt.
 		?
S.Lt.
 		09.02.1929
Lt.
 		09.02.1931
Lt.Cdr.
 		09.02.1939
Cdr.
 		30.06.1943 (reld < 04.1946) (retd 20.06.1949)

Distinguished Service Cross

 DSC
 01.01.1940
 New Year 40:"for unfailing courage, endurance and resource in H.M. Trawler Loch Tulla in its hard and perilous task of sweeping the seas clear of enemy mines, and combating submarines"

Distinguished Service Cross

 DSC
 29.05.1945
 "for courage, skill and perseverance shown while serving in H.M. Ship Pevensey Castle in successful operations against enemy submarines" (sinking U-boat Western Approaches 11.11.44)
Mention in Despatches MID
 30.09.1941
 "for good services in action against Enemy Submarines" (sinking U-boat Western Approaches 21.05.41)

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Officers Decoration

 VD
 03.1943
 ?
Education: Repton School (1921-1924)
26.10.1925

joined RNVR, Mersey Division
(02.1936)
 -
 		(09.1939)
 		HMS Irwell (RNVR drill ship) (Morpeth Dock, Birkenhead)
(1939)

Commanding Officer, HMS Loch Tulla (anti-submarine trawler) & Senior Officer, 14th Anti-Submarine Group
(04.1940)

HMS Boscawen (RN base, Portland) *
14.11.1940
 -
 		(02.1941)
 		HMS Banneret **
?
 -
 		(08.1942)
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Verbena (corvette) [possibly till 10.1942] ***
15.03.1943
 -
 		(10.)1943
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Shikari (destroyer)
30.10.1943
 -
 		20.02.1944
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Warwick (destroyer) (sunk)
1944
 -
 		1944
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Highlander (destroyer)
(11.1944)
 -
 		12.12.1944
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Pevensey Castle (corvette) & Senior Officer, 30th Escort Group
28.01.1945
 -
 		(07.1945)
 		staff, Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth [HMS Victory]
Writer, farmer and the designer and manufacturer of small sailing yachts.
Published: Escort; the battle of the Atlantic (1955), The enemy below (1956), The long fight (1958), Valour (1959), The long haul (1962)
*
 		Indexed, but not listed as such
**
 		Indexed as Vanneret, but listed as Banneret; type of vessel unknown. Perhaps a mix-up with HMS Verbena, though that vessel is listed as well (without Rayner).
***
 		Starting date given (erroneously) as 09.02.1939
Read,
Geoffrey Gray
G.G. Read		 ?
-
T/Mdish.
 		?
T/A/S.Lt.
 		?
T/S.Lt.
 		16.06.1943 (reld > 04.1946)

Mention in Despatches

 MID
 23.05.1944
 Operation Avalanche (Salerno landings, 09.43)
(09.1943)

LCT 388 [since 03.1944 borne on HMS Copra (Combined Operations accounting base)]
(07.1945)

no appointment listed
Reed,
Geoffrey Henry James
 G.H.J. Reed (Photo courtesy of Mr Ray A. Purton) 		?
-
T/A/S.Lt. (A)
 		?
T/S.Lt. (A)
 		22.11.1943 (reld < 04.1946)
1943

qualified as an observer at Blake 54th Naval Observers' Course, Class 6
(07.1945)

no appointment listed

Rees,
Leslie Norman
L.N. Rees

 (03?).1914 ?
Doncaster district ?
-
1987
Leicestershire
T/A/S.Lt.
 		?
T/S.Lt.
 		02.03.1944 (reld < 04.1946)
02.09.1943
 -
 		(07.1945)
 		HMS Copra (Combined Operations accounting base) (for landing craft duty)
Rees,
Noel
N. Rees		 ?
-
T/Lt. (Sp.Br.)
 		29.08.1942
T/A/Lt.Cdr. (Sp.Br.)
 		< 07.1945 (reld < 04.1946)

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division)

OBE
 14.08.1945
 Aegean operations, relief of Greece

?

GkDSM
 06.11.1945
 services to Greece winter 44-45 [award posted]
(10.1944)

no appointment listed
(1944)
 -
 		(1945)
 		HQ A Force
(07.1945)

HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria, Egypt) *
* indexed, but not listed as such
Renouf,
Stanley
S. Renouf		 ?
-
T/A/S.Lt.
 		01.03.1945 (reld < 04.1946)
01.05.1945
 -
 		(07.1945)
 		HMS Badger (RN base, Harwich) (for rescue tugs)
(04.1946)

no appointment listed
Reynolds,
Mark
 M. Reynolds 		?
-
T/S.Lt. (E)
 		14.02.1944
T/Lt. (E)
 		01.11.1945
03.1944
 -
 		(06.1944)
 		HMS Rushen Castle (corvette)
(07.1945)
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		HMS Knaresborough Castle (corvette) *
* indexed, but not listed as such
Richards,
David
 D. Richards
 Son of Morgan T. Richards and Mary A. Richards, of Crynant, West Glamorgan, Wales.
 		1912 ?
-
17.09.1942
[age 30]
[Maala Cemetery, Yemen, I.28]
T/S.Lt. (E)
 		20.09.1940
A/T/Lt. (E)
 		20.09.1941
T/Lt. (E)
 		?, seniority 20.09.1941
17.12.1940
 -
 		(02).1941
 		HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) (for miscellaneous services)
01.04.1941
 -
 		(12.1941)
 		HMS Hiniesta (twin screw steam yacht; anti-submarine, later calibration vessel)
?
 -
 		17.09.1942
 		HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth)
Richardson,
Claude
 C. Richardson
?
-
T/Lt.
 		24.07.1941 (reld < 04.1946)
(12.1941)
  
 		 
 		no appointment listed
(04.1944)
  
 		 
 		British Naval Liaison Officer, Greek ship "Kanaris" (escort destroyer)
(10.1944)

HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria, Egypt) *
(07.1945)
  
 		 
 		no appointment listed
* indexed, but not listed as such
Riches,
Harry Gordon George Greatorex
H.G.G.G. Riches 		(06?).1905
West Ham, Greater London
-
23.04.1979
Hartley, near Dartford, Kent
S.Lt.
 		06.09.1935
Lt.
 		01.04.1938
T/A/Lt.Cdr.
 		14.07.1943 ? (reld < 04.1946)
06.09.1935

joined Straits Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
21.01.1940
 -
 		(04.)1940
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Malacca (auxiliary minesweeper)
11.12.1940
 -
 		(12.1941)
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Panglima (harbour defence motor launch)
1942/43?

transferred to RNVR [temporary commission]
14.07.1943
 -
 		01.1944
 		Commanding Officer, HMS Verbena (corvette)
21.12.1944
 -
 		(07.1945)
 		Commanding Officer, HM LST 173 (landing ship, tank)
Company director.
Riches,
Trevor Stanley
T.S. Riches
From Kingston.
 24.04.1918
-
03.1994
Stroud, Gloucestershire
T/S.Lt.
 		17.07.1942
T/Lt.
 		17.07.1943 (reld > 04.1946)

Member of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division)

MBE
 14.06.1980
 region Director NFBTE
(07.1945)

no appointment listed
12.02.1946
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		HMS Rotherham (destroyer)
Director, South Western Region, National Federation of Building Trades Employers (1970s).
Ridler,
John William
J.W. Ridler (Photo courtesy of Mr Tony Ridler)
Son of Albert William and Margaret Ridler, of St. Andrews, Bristol.
 24.04.1920
-
20.02.1941
(KIA) [age 20]
Winchester (Magdalen Hill) Cemetery, F.1.100]
Prob. T/A/S.Lt. (A)
 		23.09.1940
Education: St Michael's School, Horfield, Bristol and Temple Technical College, Bristol.
King Scout in St Michael's Troop.
?
 -
 		20.02.1941
 		755 Squadron FAA [HMS Kestrel (RN Air Station, Worthy Down, near Winchester)]
 [killed together with Naval Airman E.W.E. Burton when their Shark aircraft crashed near Bristol ]
Rigby,
Clifford
C. Rigby (Photo courtesy of Linda-Jane Rigby)
From Lancashire.
 ?
-
T/S.Lt.
 		25.06.1942?
T/Lt.
 		25.06.1943
14.08.1944
 -
 		(07.1945)
 		HMS Queen Charlotte (anti-aircraft range, Ainsdale on Sea, Southport, Lancashire)
(04.1946)

HMS Drake (RN base, Devonport) *
* indexed, but not listed as such
Rigg,
Donald
D. Rigg		 ?
-
T/S.Lt.
 		18.10.1940
T/Lt.
 		01.09.1942

Distinguished Service Cross

 DSC
 02.11.1943
 attack 2 trawlers & 2 LCTs Channel
26.10.1940
 -
 		(02.1941)
 		HMS Aubrietia
(09.1943)
 -
 		(06.1944)
 		Commanding Officer, MTB 254 & (09.1943) SO 14th MTB Flotilla
(07.1945)

no appointment listed
Riley,
Quinton Theodore Petroe Molesworth
Q.T.P.M. Riley		 (12?).1905
St Columb, Cornwall
-
1980
(road accident)
T/Lt.
 		05.11.1939
T/A/Lt.Cdr.
 		1944 (retd 1947)

Mention in Despatches

 MID
Norwegian Coast
Education: Pembroke College, Cambridge University



Polar explorer, 1931-1937; British Arctic Air Route Expedition, 1931-1932; Arctic expedition, led by Gino Watkins, Greenland, 1933; British Graham Land Expedition, led by John Rymill, Antarctica, 1934-1937



joined Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 1938
1939
 -
 		1940
 		served on intelligence missions in Finland and Norway
(04.1940)

HMS King Alfred (RNVR training establishment, Hove, Sussex) *
1940
 -
 		1941
 		Instructor, Independent Companies (forerunners of the Commandos), UK
(02.1941)

HMS President *
1941
 -
 		1942
 		Instructor, Winter Warfare School, Iceland
1943

service with Combined Operations Command (participated in Operation Avalanche, the Allied landings at Salerno, Italy, Sep 1943)
1943

Commanding Officer, 30 RN Commando
1943
 -
 		1944
 		Commanding Officer, 30 Assault Unit
1944

served in Intelligence Division, Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia (SACSEA), Ceylon
1944
 -
 		1945
 		Staff Officer, G2 (Intelligence) Division, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), France, Germany and the Channel Islands
1945
 -
 		1947
 		service in Germany
Served on Essex County Council and Braintree Rural District Council.
Published: (with Richard Taylor) Discovery of the poles (1957)
* indexed, but not listed as such
Rimmington,
Alfred Norman Victor
A.N.V. Rimmington
Son of Alfred Norman and Stella Eugene Rimmington; husband of Rita Decima Rimmington, of Weston-super-Mare.
 (03?).1907
Portsmouth, Hampshire
-
13.03.1946
[age 39]
[Weston-Super-Mare Cemetery, section J, grave 371]
Petty Officer
 		(1940)
T/S.Lt. (Sp.Br.)
 		02.12.1942
Distinguished Service Medal DSM
 01.01.1941
 New Year 41
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal; Long Service and Good Conduct
(1940)

HMS Sealion (submarine)
(07.1945)
 -
 		13.03.1946
 		Sea Cadet Corps
Ripley,
Henry Fremont
 J.M. Leggat		 ?
-

[commemmorated at RN College, Greenwich]
T/Lt.
 		08.09.1941



joined RNVR as an American citizen
(12.1941)

no appointment listed
Rippon,
Wilberforce
 ?
-
Prob. T/Lt.Cdr. (Sp.Br.)
 		18.07.1940
T/Lt.Cdr. (Sp.Br.)
 		06.01.1941, seniority 18.07.1940
T/A/Cdr. (Sp.Br.)
 		< 06.1944
T/Cdr. (Sp.Br.)
 		?
T/A/Capt. (Sp.Br.)
< 07.1945
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
 08.06.1943
 Inshore Squadron with 8th Army advance *
Croix de Guerre (France) CdeG
 ?
 Operation Dragoon (invasion of S France 08.44)
* For good services in maintaining, the flow of supplies and reinforcements to the Eighth Army.
18.07.1940
 -
 		(02.1941)
 		Salvage Officer, Salvage Department, Admiralty [HMS President]
15.02.1942
 -
 		27.07.1943
 		HMS Nile (RN base, Aelaxandria) [for the Inshore Squadron]
28.07.1943
 -
 		09.07.1944
 		Principal Salvage Officer, Levant [HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria)], renamed:  
10.07.1944
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		Fleet Salvage Officer, Mediterranean [HMS Byrsa (RN base, Naples), later HMS St Angelo (RN base, Malta)]
Roberts,
Bernard
B. Roberts		 ?
-
T/S.Lt. (Sp.Br.) *
 		06.09.1944

* employed on scientific duties




RNVR six months' short course at Cambridge University
(07.1945)
 		-
 		(04.1946)
 		HMS Collingwood ([radar] training establishment, Fareham, Hampshire) *
* indexed, but not listed as such
Roberts,
Jack
J. Roberts		 ?
-
T/A/S.Lt.
 		?
T/S.Lt.
 		27.01.1944
T/Lt.
 		27.01.1946
Mention in Despatches MID
 18.07.1944
 Operation FY (N Russian convoy 03-04.44)
24.07.1943
 -
 		(06.1944)
 		HMS Keppel (destroyer)
(07.1945)
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		no appointment listed
Robertson [-Justice],
James Norval Harold		   see: Justice, J.N.H.  
Robinson,
Basil Henry Cuthbert
B.H.C. Robinson
From Bournemouth.
 ?
-
T/S.Lt.
 		27.07.1940