Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945

Royal Navy (RN) 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

Abbey, G.J.H.
to
Adams, R.R.
Adams, S.J.
to
Alderson, T.R. Alderton, H.
to
Allen, G.E. Allen, G.R.G.
to
Anderson, B.J.
Anderson, C.C.
to
Appleton, C.
Appleton, K.H.
to
Arnold, L.J.
Arnold, P.J.
to
Atkins, R.H. Atkins, R.H.W.
to
Ayton, J.

S.J. Adams to T.R. Alderson

Adams,
Samuel Jackson
10.07.1914
-
06.1984
Surrey Northern,
Surrey

Prob. Schoolmaster
05.09.1944 (reld 1946?)

Education: BA

08.12.1944
-
(07.1945)
HMS St George (boys' training establishment, Douglas, Isle of Man)

01.01.1946
-
(04.1946)
HMS Ganges (boys' training establishment, Douglas, Isle of Man)

Adams,
Sydney Edward
S.E. Adams 17.01.1898
Portsea Island, Hampshire
-
11.10.1971
Honiton, Devon

A/Wt.Eng.
01.07.1930

Wt.Eng.
?, seniority 01.07.1930

Cd.Eng.
01.04.1940 (retd 17.06.1948)

A/Lt. (E)
>10.1943, < 12.1943

Lt. (E) (retd)
17.06.1948

23.09.1930
-
(02.1931)
HMS Tiger (battle cruiser)

01.10.1931
-
(09.1932)
HMS Cornwall (cruiser)

(01.1934)

no appointment listed

31.08.1934
-
(01.)1937
HMS Valorous (destroyer) (Reserve Fleet, Nore)

05.01.1937
-
(04.1939)
HMS Endeavour (surveying vessel)

(07.1939)
-
(08.)1939
no appointment listed

20.11.1939
-
(04.)1940
HMS Carlisle (cruiser)

20.04.1940
-
(02.)1941
HMS Warwick (destroyer)

08.1941
-
(02.)1943
HMS Guysborough (minesweeper)

30.04.1943
-
(06.)1943
HMS Barle (frigate)

07.1943
-
(10.)1943
HMS Canada (base, Halifax, NS)

11.1943
-
(06.1944)
HMS Douglas (destroyer)

05.05.1945
-
(04.1946)
HMS Crescent (destroyer) (in charge while under construction)

Adams,
Sydney Edward
S.E. Adams ?
-
12.2004 still alive

A/S.Lt. (E)
01.01.1945

S.Lt. (E)
01.12.1945

Lt. (E)
01.11.1945

Lt.Cdr. (E)
01.11.1953 (retd 10.04.1970)

(07.1945)

no appointment listed

07.1945
-
(04.1946)
HMS Opportune (destroyer)

(07.1948)

no appointment listed

(05.1950)

no appointment listed

03.06.1952
-
(05.1953)
RN Engineering College, Manadon, Plymouth

24.09.1955
-
(01.1956)
HMS Ark Royal

(07.1961)

Department of the Director-General, Aircraft, Admiralty *

(02.1963)

Naval Security Department, Admiralty *

(03.1969)

Naval Manpower Department, Admiralty *

* indexed, but not listed as such

Adams,
Sydney William
S.W. Adams 11.02.1905
Lewes, Sussex
-
died between 08.1983 and 08.1989

T/Wt. Telegr. = T/Cd.Telegr.
21.10.1943 (retd > 07.1945, < 04.1946)

served in the ranks [personal number J102274]

14.11.1943
-
(07.1945)
HMS Mercury II (experimental signal establishment, Haslemere)

Adams,
Thomas Congdon
T.C. Adams 06.05.1885
Buncrana, Donegal, Ireland
-
01.05.1959
Plymouth
[age 73]

Wt.Tel.
01.07.1916

Cd.Tel.
01.07.1926 (retd 07.12.1926; own request)

Tel.Lt. (retd)
11.03.1942 (reverted to retd 1945/46)

MBE
01.01.1946
New Year 46

31.12.1924
-
(01.1925)
HMS Repulse (battlecruiser) (Atlantic Fleet)

01.09.1939
-
(07.1945)
HMS Drake (for Fort Staddon W/T Station)

Adams,
Wilfred Herbert
W.H. Adams ?
-
died between 08.1989 and 12.1998

A/T/Wt.Eng. = T/Cd.Eng.
07.07.1944 (retd > 04.1946, < 07.1948)

29.11.1944
-
(04.1946)
HMS Rodney (battleship)

Adams,
William Leslie Graham
W.L.G. Adams
Son of Leonard Graham Adams.
Married (1928) Erica Margaret Hawkins.
Lived ad Weston Super Mare, Somerset.

diary (1920-1922)
20.04.1901
Bath, Somerset
-
28.03.1963
[Greensleeves, Crondall, Hampshire ?]

Cadet
?

Midsh.
?

A/S.Lt.
15.09.1921

S.Lt.
?, seniority 15.09.1921

Lt.
15.10.1922

Lt.Cdr.
15.10.1930

Cdr.
31.12.1935

A/Capt.
1941?

Capt.
30.06.1943

R.Adm.
08.07.1952 (retd 15.03.1955)

CB
01.01.1955
New Year 55 [investiture 08.02.55]

OBE
10.03.1942
Operation Countenance [investiture 22.06.43]

MID
11.06.1942
HM's birthday 42

MID
01.01.1949
New Year 49

OON
07.01.1947
?

Education: Christ's Hospital

1919

special entry into the Royal Navy

(1922)
-
08.1922
HMS Raleigh (cruiser)

03.01.1923
-
(08.1923)
promotion course, RN College, Greenwich [HMS President]

15.12.1924
-
(05.)1926
HMS Seawolf (destroyer) (Reserve Fleet, Devonport)

31.12.1926
-
(06.1928)
First Lieutenant, HMS Vendetta (destroyer) (Mediterranean)

(08.1929)

no appointment listed

02.12.1929
-
(04.)1930
HMS Codrington (flotilla leader) (and for duty with Captain Superintendent, Contract-Built Ships)

14.08.1930
-
(01.)1932
Commanding Officer, HMS Sepoy (destoyer) (China)

08.02.1932
-
(09.1932)
Staff Course, RN Staff College, Greenwich [HMS President]

(05.1933)

no appointment listed

04.05.1933
-
(07.1934)
Commanding Officer, HMS Wolfhound (destroyer) (Home Fleet)

05.1935
-
(07.1935)
Commanding Officer, HMS Foxhound (destroyer)

(02.1936)

no appointment listed

10.09.1936
-
(08.)1938
Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty [HMS President]

04.10.1938
-
(04.)1939
HMS President (for miscellaneous service at Admiralty) (Naval Intelligence Division)

29.06.1939
-
03.02.1941
Executive Officer, HMAS Perth (cruiser)

04.02.1941
-
24.03.1941
passage to UK

25.03.1941
-
02.02.1943
Commanding Officer, HMS Kanimbla (armed merchant cruiser)

03.02.1943
-
08.09.1943
HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) (departed Australia by air 07.02.1943)

09.04.1943
-
22.11.1944
Commanding Officer, HMS Wasp & in command of Coastal Forces Base, Dover

22.11.1944
-
14.01.1946
Director, Coastal Forces Materiel Department, Admiralty [HMS President]

14.01.1946
-
27.10.1946
Director, Craft and Amphibious Material Department, Admiralty [HMS President]

01.08.1947
-
1948
Commanding Officer, HMS Fierce & as Captain 2nd Minesweeper Flotilla

24.12.1948
-
(05.1950)
Naval Assistant to Admiral Commanding Reserves [HMS President]

(05.1953)

no appointment listed

1953
-
1954
Flag Officer, Home Fleet Training Squadron

Director of Civil Defence, Southern Region (Reading), 1955-1963. Younger Brother of Trinity House 1951.

Adams,
Woodrow Gregory
W.G. Adams
Son of Sydney and Martha Adams (née Mathias), of Paddington.
(09?).1918
Willesden, London
-
05.10.1940
(KIA) [age 22]
[Liverpool (Anfield) Crematorium, panel 1]

Midsh. (A)
04.07.1938

A/S.Lt. (A)
12.08.1939

S.Lt. (A)
?

04.07.1938
-
(10.1938)
HMS Hermes (aircraft carrier)

06.10.1938
-
(08.1939)
pilot's course, No. 1 Flying Training School, Netheravon

(04.1940)

Fleet Air Arm

?
-
05.10.1940
HMS Ark Royal (aircraft carrier) (killed in action)

Adamson,
Ian Ronald Atherton
I.R.A. Adamson
Son of William and Florence Adamson, of Greenmount, Lancashire, England.
1919 ?
-
05.02.1944
Charleston Naval Hospital, USA [age 25]
[Beaufort National Cemetery, South Carolina, USA, PA61 0 55]

T/Lt. (E)
23.04.1942

Education: BA Hons. (Cantab.)

05.05.1942
-
05.02.1944
HMS Uganda (cruiser)

Adcock,
Douglas John
D.J. Adcock
Son of Albert Edward and Florence Annie Adcock.
1916
Lewisham, London
-
19.10.1940
(KIA) [age 23]
[Portsmouth Naval Memorial, panel 37, column 1]

Prob. S.Lt.
03.04.1939

S.Lt.
?, backdated 16.02.1939

(07.1939)

HMS Ark Royal (aircraft carrier) *

(08.1939)
-
(04.1940)
no appointment listed

?
-
19.10.1940
HMS Rainbow (submarine)

* indexed, but not listed as such

Adcock,
Francis William
F.W. Adcock (03?).1901
Oakham, Rutland
-
02.12.1967
Bradford-on- Avon, Wiltshire

A/T/Wt. Stores Offr.
08.06.1944

Lt. (S)
03.02.1946

Lt.Cdr. (S)
03.02.1954 (retd > 01.1956, < 07.1961)

?
-
(07.1945)
HMS Forte (RN base, Falmouth) *

11.1945
-
(04.1946)
HMS Artifex (heavy repair ship)

06.1948
-
(07.1948)
HMS Commonwealth

01.01.1949
-
(05.1950)
HMAS Commonwealth

03.07.1951
-
(05.1953)
HMS Battleaxe

17.02.1954
-
(01.1956)
HMS Mercury

Civil Defence Officer.
* indexed, but not listed as such

Adcock,
Harry
H. Adcock 26.08.1899
Salisbury, Wiltshire
-
died between 08.1989 and 12.1998

T/Wt.Electr. = Cd.Electr.Offr.
29.12.1941

T/A/Cd. Electr. = T/A/Sen.Cd. Electr. Offr.
29.12.1945 (retd > 05.1950, < 07.1952)

A/Lt. (L)
> 05.1950

served in the ranks [personal number M27552]

08.01.1942
-
(08.1942)
HMS Lynx (RN base, Dover)

(02.1943)
-
(10.1943)
no appointment listed

24.11.1943
-
(06.1944)
HMS Unicorn (aircraft maintenance ship)

18.05..1945
-
(04.1946)
HMS Vernon (training establishment, Portsmouth/Brighton) [initially "for duties at Portsmouth", later HMS Vernon II (accommodation ship, Portsmouth)]

12.06.1948
-
(07.1948)
HMS Vernon (TAS School, Portsmouth) (borne for duty in HMS Royalist)

(05.1950)

no appointment listed

Addick,
William George
W.G. Addick ?
-

A/T/Wt. Stores Offr.
24.10.1944 (reld/retd? 1940s)

BEM
?
?

(07.1945)
-
(04.1946)
no appointment listed

Addington,
[the Hon.] Hiley William Dever
H.W.D. Addington 1917
-
29.01.2001
London

Cadet
01.01.1935

Midsh. (E)
01.09.1935

A/S.Lt. (E)
?

S.Lt. (E)
01.05.1938

Lt. (E)
01.11.1939
?, seniority 16.05.1939

A/Lt.Cdr. (E)
?

Lt.Cdr. (E)
16.05.1947 (retd 09.05.1949)

01.09.1935
-
(04.1939)
engineering course, RN Engineering College, Keyham [HMS Drake]

25.04.1939
-
(02.1941)
HMS Ark Royal (aircraft carrier)

(08.1942)

HMS Daedalus (RN Air Station, Lee-on-Solent) *

25.01.1943
-
(02.1943)
HMS Jackdaw (RN Air Station, Crail, Fife)

(06.1943)
-
(04.1944)
no appointment listed

16.05.1944
-
(06.1944)
730 Squadron FAA (for RN Air Section, Abbotsinch) [HMS Sanderling]

(07.1945)
-
(04.1946)
HMS Pioneer (maintenance carrier) *

10.10.1946
-
(07.1948)
Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Department, Admiralty [HMS President]

* indexed, but not listed as such

Addington,
Leonard George
L.G. Addington ?
-
died between 08.1983 and 08.1989

Midsh.
15.05.1910

A/S.Lt.
15.09.1912

S.Lt.
30.06.1913

Lt.
30.03.1915

Lt.Cdr.
30.03.1923 (retd 18.08.1937)

Cdr. (retd)
18.08.1937 (reverted to retd 1945/46)

DSC
14.03.1916
Gaba Tepe 04.05.15

(05.1915)

Commanding Officer, HMS Usk

22.11.1924
-
(01.1925)
Navigating Officer, HMS Despatch (cruiser) (China)

05.04.1927
-
(07.1927)
Navigating Officer, HMS Rodney (battleship) (and for duty with the Captain Superintendent of Contract-Built Ships)

01.02.1929
-
(01.1934)
HM Dockyard Hong Kong [HMS Tamar]

29.01.1935
-
(08.1939)
King's Harbour Master, Dockyard Port of Cromarty, later: Dockyard Cromarty and Invergordon (later also: King's Harbour Master, Invergordon, and Officer Commanding Naval Establishments at Invergordon] [HMS Greenwich, later HMS Cochrane]

(04.1940)

HMS Flora (RN base, Invergordon) *

04.09.1940
-
(02.1941)
HMS Baldur (RN base, Reykjavik, Iceland)

06.03.1942
-
(06.1944)
Assistant King's Harbour Master, HM Dockyard Portsmouth [HMS Victory]

(07.1945)

no appointment listed

* indexed, but not listed as such

Addis,
Charles Thorburn

Third in a family of six sons and seven daughters of Sir Charles Stewart Addis, KCMG (1861-1945), late Director Bank of England, and Elisabeth Jane "Eba" McIsaac (1871-1952).
Married (08.12.1933, Hong Kong) Pamela Poland (16.10.1913 - 01.1996), daughter of R.Adm. Allan Poland, CBE, DSO, RN; two sons, three daughters.
02.07.1898
Shanghai
-
21.12.1962
Streatley-on- Thames, Berkshire

Cadet
04.05.1911

Midsh.
03.06.1915

S/Lt.
15.09.1917

Lt.
15.08.1919

Lt.Cdr.
15.08.1927

Cdr.
31.12.1932

Capt.
30.06.1940 (retd 08.07.1949)

DSO
05.01.1944
sinking of German battlecruiser Scharnhorst 26.12.43 [investiture 12.12.44]

MID
01.01.1941
New Year 41

Education: RN Colleges Osborne & Dartmouth; Staff Course, RN College Greenwich (psc)

04.05.1911
-
16.04.1913
RN College, Osborne [HMS Racer]

08.05.1914
-
01.08.1914
RN College, Dartmouth [HMS Britannia]

03.08.1914
-
04.06.1915
HMS Venus (2nd class cruiser)

08.06.1915
-
08.03.1917
HMS New Zealand (battlecruiser) (Battle of Jutland 31.05.1916)

19.03.1917
-
14.01.1919
Torpedo Control Officer, HMS Carysfort (light cruiser)

31.01.1919
-
20.10.1919
Cambridge Course for Naval Officers (1919 Lent & Easter Terms)

23.10.1919
-
27.11.1919
First Lieutenant, HMS Holderness (minesweeper)

12.09.1920
-
25.07.1922
HMS Ganges (boys' training establishment, Shotley)

25.07.1922
-
14.11.1924
HMS Petersfield (sloop)

(01.1925)

no appointment listed

19.02.1925
-
29.03.1927
HMS Benbow (battleship) (Atlantic)

07.07.1927
-
24.06.1929
HMAS Cerberus (RAN trainnig establishment, Victoria) [lent to Royal Australian Navy]

25.11.1929
-
29.12.1930
Executive Officer, HMS Pangbourne (minesweeper)

20.01.1931
-
17.01.1933
First Lieutenant, HM Yacht Victoria and Albert

05.05.1933
-
20.10.1934
Executive Officer, HMS Medway (submarine depot ship) (China)
[Navy List dates appointment as 17.03.1933]

15.01.1935
-
20.12.1935
staff course, RN Staff College, Greenwich [HMS President]

09.01.1936
-
12.06.1937
Executive Officer, HMS Hermes (aircraft carrier) (China)

12.06.1937
-
30.08.1937
Commanding Officer, HMS Hermes (aircraft carrier) (Reserve Fleet, Devonport )

14.12.1937
-
31.01.1940
Executive Officer, Royal Naval College, Dartmouth [HMS Drake]

16.02.1940
-
28.05.1940
Commanding Officer, HMS Scarborough (sloop)

17.07.1940
-
1942
Commanding Officer, HMS Nimrod (anti-submarine school, Campbeltown)

02.06.1942
-
02.1943
Commanding Officer, Gunnery School, Chatham [HMS Pembroke]

12.02.1943
-
05.08.1944
Commanding Officer, HMS Sheffield (cruiser)
[Navy List dates appointment as 01.1943]

15.09.1944
-
21.11.1946
Director Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich [HMS President]

15.05.1947
-
14.02.1949
Commanding Officer, HMS London (cruiser) & Flag Captain while it served as Flagship British Pacific Fleet

08.01.1949
-
08.07.1949
also: Naval ADC to the King

Co-author of the first three of the five volume official history of "The war against Japan" (London : HMSO, 1957-1969).

Addis,
Eric Elrington
E.E. Addis
Son of David and Emily Addis.
Married ((06?).1926) Hazel I. Wilson, of Bacton, Suffolk.
1899 ?
-
31.08.1941
[age 42]
[Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery]

A/Lt.
?

Lt.
15.10.1920

Lt.Cdr.
15.10.1928 (retd 04.04.1930; own request)

Cdr. (retd)
19.05.1939

(01.1925)

no appointment listed

22.12.1926
-
(08.1929)
HMNZS Philomel (cruiser) [lent to Royal New Zealand Navy]

barrister-at-law

19.08.1939
-
(04.1940)
HMS Warspite (battleship)

15.07.1940
-
31.08.1941
HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria)

Addison,
Sir Albert Percy
A.P. Addison
Son of Albert Addison, Solicitor, Portsmouth. Married (1908) Mary Harriet (died 1947), daughter of W. Kellett, Southport; one son one daughter; 1948, Vera
Louise Wilson Hughes.
08.11.1875
Portsea Island, Hampshire
-
13.11.1952

Capt.
30.06.1913

R.Adm.
02.11.1923

V.Adm.
28.02.1929 (retd 01.03.1929)

Adm. (retd)
31.12.1932

KBE
03.06.1931
HM's birthday 31

CB
03.06.1924
HM's birthday 24

CMG
29.08.1917
Straits of Otranto 15.05.17

(1894)

Midshipman, HMS Garne

01.01.1913

War Staff Officer (without qualifying course)

1914
-
1919
served European War (CMG, Legion of Honour, Croix de Guerre, Order of Savoy, Italy; Order of Rising Sun, Japan; Bronze [14.04.1897] and Silver [17.01.1894] Humane Society Medals)

(05.1917)

Commanding Officer, HMS Dartmouth

1923
-
1924
Commodore and Rear-Admiral commanding Australian Fleet

01.09.1924
-
1926
Rear-Admiral (D) Commanding Destroyer Flotillas, Mediterranean Fleet [HMS Coventry (cruiser)]

14.03.1927
-
(07.1927)
Senior Officers' War Course, RN War College, Greenwich

01.03.1928
-
01.05.1937
Director of Dockyards, Admiralty

(09.1939)
-
(04.1946)
no appointment listed

Addy,
Ernest
E. Addy ?
-
died between 08.1973 and 08.1977

A/T/Wt.Eng.
02.07.1943 (retd 21.03.1950)

09.1943
-
(06.1944)
HMS Teme (frigate) *

(04.1946)

no appointment listed

16.09.1946
-
(07.1948)
HMS Kestrel (RN Air Station, Worthy Down)

* 07.1945 still indexed but not longer listed as such

Adlam,
Ernest Maxted
E.M. Adlam ?
Uttar Pradesh, India
-
1990
Ontario, Canada

A/Gnr. (T)
25.02.1940 (retd > 02.1941, < 08.1942)

22.03.1940
-
(04.1940)
HMS Vidette (destroyer)

(02.1941)

no appointment listed

Adlam,
George Albert
G.A. Adlam 01.11.1909
Lambeth, London
-
19.05.2000
Taunton, Devon, Somerset

Gnr. (T)
26.09.1942

Sen.Cd.Gnr.