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

R.W.D. Don   to   J.E. Dyer
Don, Robert William Douglas Son of William Gilbert Don and Jeannette Elizabeth Edith Grizel Don, of Brechin, Angus.	c. 1918/19 ? - 20.01.1942 (KIA) [Portsmouth Naval Memorial, panel 62, column 1]	Cadet 01.05.1937 Midsh. 01.05.1938 A/S.Lt. 01.01.1940 S.Lt. 07.1940, seniority 01.08.1939 Lt. 10.1941, seniority 16.06.1941 DSC 23.02.1940 Battle of the River Plate DSC 20.01.1942 5 war patrols Mediterranean 02-07.41 DSC 05.05.1942 3 war patrols Mediterranean autumn 41	01.05.1938 - (08.1939) HMS Exeter (cruiser) (America and West Indies Station) (04.1940) no appointment listed 22.08.1940 - 20.01.1942 HMS Triumph (submarine) (sunk in the Aegean)
Donner, Charles Montague	01.11.1907 Macclesfield district, Cheshire - 11.1984 Oxford district, Oxfordshire	Midsh. 15.09.1925 A/S.Lt. ? S.Lt. 25.09.1929, seniority 16.07.1928 Lt. 16.10.1929 Lt.Cdr. 16.10.1937 Cdr. 30.06.1940 (retd 01.11.1957) OBE 01.01.1957 New Year	15.04.1927 - (07.1927) HMS Repulse (battlecruiser) (Atlantic Fleet) 05.06.1929 - (08.1929) HMS Woolston (destroyer) (Mediterranean) 08.1929 - (02.1931) HMS Amazon (destroyer) (Mediterranean) (01.1932) no appointment listed 28.04.1932 - (09.1932) torpedo course, HMS Vernon 17.06.1933 - (01.1934) HMS Vernon (torpedo school, Portsmouth) (miscellaneous duties) 04.07.1934 - (02.1936) Torpedo Officer, HMS Revenge (battleship) (Mediterranean) 14.03.1936 - (02.1938) Instructional Department, HMS Vernon (torpedo school and experimental establishment, Portsmouth) 27.06.1938 - (04.1940) Commanding Officer, MTB No. 1 & SO 1st MTB Flotilla [HMS Vulcan (Coastal Forces depot ship)] (Mediterranean & Felixstowe) 10.09.1940 - (02.1941) Torpedoes and Mining Department, Admiralty [HMS President] 15.07.1942 - (12.1943) HMS Vernon (RN establishment, Brighton) 27.03.1944 - (07.1945) Commander, HMS Berwick (cruiser) 28.02.1946 -  (04.1946) HMS Defiance III (torpedo school ship, Devonport) 01.03.1948 - (05.1950) HMS President (for miscellaneous serives) 28.05.1951 - (01.1956) Staff Officer (Operations) to Admiral Commanding Reserves [HMS President]
Donovan, Rickard Charlie Son of Richard Donovan, JP, DL, of Ballymore, Camolin, co. Wexford. Married (1926) Edith Margaret, daughter of Alexander MacKay, of Glencruitton, Oban, Argyll	1898 - died between 07.1952 and 07.1959	Lt. 15.04.1919 Lt.Cdr. 15.04.1927 (retd 03.05.1927) Cdr. (retd) 28.04.1938 A/Capt. (retd) 12.08.1943? CBE 14.06.1945 HM's birthday 45 LoP 1944? Operation Neptune (Normandy invasion 06.44) LM 28.05.1946 ?	served European War in Persian Gulf, Suez Canal, and Dardanelles 18.04.1922 - (08.1923) HMS Maidstone (submarine depot ship) (additional) 01.11.1924 - (05.1926) HMS Hood (battlecruiser) (Atlantic Fleet) (01.1941) HMS Heron (RN Air Station, Yeovilton) * 27.01.1941 - (12.1941) Training and Staff Duties Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 15.06.1942 - 11.08.1943 Plans Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 12.08.1943 - 16.12.1943 Assistant Director of Plans (Combined Operations), Plans Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 17.12.1943 - (07.)1945 Deputy Director of Combined Operations Division, Admiralty [HMS President] * indexed, but not listed as such
Dorling, Henry Taprell "Taffrail" Second son of late Col. Francis Dorling, late Royal Sussex Regiment, of Farnborough, Hants. Brother of V.Adm. James Wilfred Sussex Dorling, CB, RN. Married (1909) Evelyne (died 1968), daughter of late Roderick MacDonald, Kew, Surrey; one son.	08.09.1883 Duns, Berwickshire - 01.07.1968 Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex	A/S.Lt. ? S.Lt. 15.07.1902 Lt. 31.12.1904 Cdr. 31.12.1916 (retd 08.09.1929) Capt. (retd) 08.09.1929 (reactivated 1939) DSO ? ? LM 24.10.1944 North Africa MID 22.06.1917 ? Gold medal from Swedish Government for saving life at sea (1917)	Education: HMS Britannia (1897) served HMS Terrible (South Africa and China, including Relief of Pekin, 1900) European War, 1914-1918, commanding destroyers (despatches, DSO) 30.07.1923 - (08.1923) HMS President (for miscellaneous services at Admiralty) (01.1925) no appointment listed (05.1926) - (07.1927) instructor, RNVR (Tyne Division) [HMS President] (04.1928) - (06.1928) no appointment listed (08.1929) no appointment listed 1939 - (08.)1942 Ministry of Information and afloat in all types of warships [HMS President *] 12.1942 - 1945 Staff of Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean [HMS Hannibal, later: HMS Byrsa] 01.01.1943 - (06.)1944 Press Officer 01.08.1944 - (07.1945) SONI [= Staff Officer Naval Information?] A Younger Brother of Trinity House; Member of the Navy Records Society, and of the Society for Nautical Research. RN Minewatching Service and Minewatching Service Officer, Port of London, 1954-1962. Published: Under pseudonym Taffrail, Pincher Martin, OD; Michael Bray; Sea Ventures of Britain; Sea Escapes and Adventures; Pirates, 1929; Men o' War, 1929; Kerrell; Endless Story; The Scarlet Stripe, 1932; Dover­Ostend, 1933; The Man from Scapa Flow, 1933; Seventy North, 1934; Second Officer; Swept Channels, 1935; Mid­Atlantic, 1936; Mystery at Milford Haven; Mystery Cruise; Operation MO; The Shetland Plan, 1939; The Navy in Action, 1940; Chenies, 1943; Battle of the Atlantic, 1946; Western Mediterranean, 1942-1945, 1948; Blue Star Line, 1948; Toby Shad, 1949; The Jade Lizard, 1951; The New Moon, 1952; Eurydice, 1953; Arctic Convoy, 1956; enlarged edns Ribbons and Medals (first published, 1916), 1956, 1957; other books on naval and nautical subjects; late Naval Correspondent of The Observer; has done considerable broadcasting; written many naval feature programmes for the BBC * indexed, but not listed as such
Dorling, James Wilfred Sussex Son of late Col. Francis Dorling, Farnborough, Hants. Brother of Capt. Henry Taprell "Taffrail" Dorling, DSO, RN. Married (1914) Dorothy Burnett, daughter of Colonel J.G. Panton, CMG; no children.	(06?).1889 Preston, Lancs. - 12.05.1966 [Fareham, Hants. ?]	A/S.Lt. 30.07.1908? S.Lt. 03.04.1909, seniority 30.07.1908 Lt. 10.06.1910, seniority 30.07.1909 Lt.Cdr. 30.07.1917 Cdr. 30.06.1921 Capt. 30.06.1928 R.Adm. 01.08.1939 (retd 30.10.1942) V.Adm. (retd) 30.10.1942 CB 01.07.1941 HM's birthday 41 LM 15.10.1946 BAD Washington 02.42-04.44	Education: HMS Britannia 1904 joined RN 1914 - 1918 served European War 15.11.1922 - (01.1925) Operations Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 05.05.1927 - (07.1927) Experimental Commander, Signal School (Experimental), Portsmouth [HMS Victory] 14.01.1929 - (08.1929) Imperial Defence Course, Imperial Defence College [HMS President] 10.03.1930 - (01.1932) Director of Signal Department, Admiralty 08.08.1932 - (09.1932) Senior Officers' Technical Course, Portsmouth 18.10.1932 - (07.1935) Commanding Officer, HMS Codrington (flotilla leader) & Captain (D) 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) 24.08.1935 - (07.1937) Commanding Officer, Signal School, Portsmouth [HMS Victory] 10.01.1938 - (02.1938) Commanding Officer, HMS Resolution (battleship) (Home Fleet) 18.02.1938 - (04.1939) Flag Captain, HMS Royal Sovereign (battleship) (Home Fleet) 10.01.1939 - 01.08.1939 also: Naval ADC to the King (08.1939) - (09.1939) no appointment listed 28.08.1939 - (02.)1941 Deputy Controller, Admiralty [HMS President] 01.04.1942 - 04.1944 Supply Representative, British Admiralty Delegation, Washington, DC [HMS Saker] 15.08.1944 - (<04.)1946 Flag Officer, Liverpool [HMS Eaglet] MIEE; MBrit.IRE; FRSA. Director of Radio Industry Council, 1946-1958. A Younger Brother of Trinity House, 1946, Honorary Vice-President British Wireless Dinner Club, 1961.
Douglas-Pennant, [the Hon. Sir] Cyril Eustace Son and heir of 5th Baron Penrhyn, Frank Douglas- Pennant (1865-1967) and Maud Eleonora Hardy. Married 1st (06.01.1917) Phyllis Constance (who obtained a divorce, 1936), daughter of late Colonel Oswald Mosley Leigh; one daughter. Married 2nd (05.04.1937) Sheila, daughter of late Stanley Brotherhood, Thornhaugh Hall, Peterborough.	07.04.1894 Westminster, London - 03.04.1961 Westminster, London	A/S.Lt. ? S.Lt. 09.12.1914, seniority 15.07.1914 Lt. 15.10.1915 Lt.Cdr. 15.10.1923 Cdr. 30.06.1928 Capt. 30.06.1935 ?, seniority 31.12.1934 Cdre. 2nd cl. 25.06.1940? Cdre. 1st cl. 1944? R.Adm. 07.07.1944 ?, seniority  08.01.1944 V.Adm. 13.07.1948 A/Adm. ? Adm. 26.01.1952 (retd 15.09.1953) KCB 02.01.1950 New Year 50 CB 18.12.1945 wind up, Europe 45 CBE 21.12.1943 Operation Husky, Sicily 07.43 DSO 14.11.1944 Operation Neptune, Normandy 06.44 DSC 08.03.1918 services in destroyer and torpedo boat flotillas 17 MID 20.04.1943 Operation Torch, North Africa 11.42 LM 17.07.1945 Operation Neptune, Normandy 06.44 LegH 1948 Operation Neptune, Normandy 06.44 CdeG 1948 Operation Neptune, Normandy 06.44	Education: RN Colleges Osborne & Dartmouth 1907 entered Royal Navy served European War, 1914-1918 16.09.1924 - (01.1925) staff course, RN Staff College, Greenwich [HMS President] 15.03.1927 - (07.1927) Executive Officer, HMS Capetown (cruiser) (North America and West Indies) 05.02.1929 - (02.1931) Training and Staff Duties Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 18.12.1931 - (09.1932) staff, RN Staff College, Greenwich [HMS President] 25.07.1933 - (01.1934) Executive Officer, HMS Dorsetshire (cruiser) (Africa) 20.06.1935 - (07.1935) Commanding Officer, HMS Deptford (sloop) [under construction, Chatham] 07.10.1935 - 17.09.1936 Commanding Officer, HMS Exeter (cruiser) (America and West Indies Station) 09.10.1936 - (07.1937) Commanding Officer, HMS Iron Duke (training ship) (Portsmouth) 07.10.1937 - (04.)1939 staff, RN War College, Greenwich [HMS President] 24.07.1939 - (08.1939) Captain of the Fleet, Reserve Fleet (Portsmouth) [HMS Effingham] 18.09.1939 - (04.1940) Chief Staff Officer to Vice-Admiral Commanding Northern Patrol [HMS Pyramus (RN base, Kirkwall)] 1940 - 1942 serving West Indies: 25.06.1940 - (02.1941) Commodore, West Indies & Commanding Officer, HMS Despatch (cruiser) 21.04.1942 - (06.1944) HMS President, for special & miscellaneous services: (08.1942) Naval Staff Officer to Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces 1942 - 1943 Chief of Staff, Adm. B.H. Ramsay (N Afr [NCXF], Sicily [SNOL(G)], Salerno) 01.1944 - Naval Commander, Force G (Normandy invasion) 06.11.1944 - (04.1946) Chief Naval Staff Officer to SACSEAC [HMS Hathi] 1947 - 1949 Commandant Joint Services Staff College, Chesham 1948 - 08.04.1950 Flag Officer (Air) Mediterranean, and Second-in-Command, Mediterranean Station (05.1950) no appointment listed 1950 - 1952 Admiral, British Joint Services Mission in Washington, DC [HMS Saker] 11.1952 - (05.)1953 Commander-in-Chief, Nore [HMS Pembroke] Played First-Class Cricket (batting and fielding), 1924-1925.
Douglas-Watson, Francis Son of Francis Douglas-Watson, a telephone company superintendent, and his wife, Elizabeth Cunningham. Married (13.09.1922, Glasgow) Mary Fedora St Ledger (1899-1977); one son (S.Lt. Francis Douglas-Watson, RNVR).	03.06.1896 Glasgow, Scotland - 07.04.1941 [age 44] [Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece, 4.E.4]	A/S.Lt. ? S.Lt. 15.09.1916 Lt. 15.03.1918 Lt.Cdr. 15.03.1926 A/Cdr. > 04.1939, < 08.1939 DSO 25.10.1940 Operation Dynamo (Dunkirk)	11.11.1919 - 14.08.1922 lent to RAN (2 years): 11.11.1919 - 20.01.1920 London Depot RAN (HMAS Anzac) 21.01.1920 - 22.03.1922 HMAS Anzac 23.03.1922 - 09.04.1922 HMAS Penguin 10.04.1922 - 14.08.1922 London Depot RAN 07.12.1922 - (01.)1925 First Lieutenant, HMS Venomous (destroyer) (Mediterranean) 25.05.1925 - 04.07.1927 lent to RAN (2 years): 25.05.1925 - 25.05.1925 London Depot RAN 25.05.1925 - 08.07.1925 HMAS Cerberus 09.07.1925 - 09.01.1927 HMAS Penguin [11-13.01.1926 temporarily in command] 10.01.1927 - 08.05.1927 Commanding Officer, HMAS Yarra (destroyer) [based at HMAS Cerberus (Flinders Naval Depot, Westernport)] 09.05.1927 - 28.06.1927 Commanding Officer, HMAS Parramatta (destroyer) [based at HMAS Cerberus (Flinders Naval Depot, Westernport)] 29.06.1927 - 04.07.1927 HMAS Cerberus (Flinders Naval Depot, Westernport) (additional; for passage to UK per RMS Mongolia) 07.11.1927 - (06.)1928 HMS Hood (battlecruiser) (Atlantic Fleet) 12.09.1928 - (02.)1931 Commanding Officer, HMS Witherington (destroyer) (Mediterranean) 11.08.1931 - (01.1932) Commanding Officer, HMS Vortigern (destroyer) (Atlantic Fleet) (09.1932) no appointment listed 03.1933 - (06.)1933 Commanding Officer, HMS Vivacious (destroyer) 23.10.1933 - (07.)1935 HMS Cardiff (cruiser) (Reserve Fleet, the Nore) 30.11.1935 - (07.)1937 HMS Cardiff (cruiser) (Reserve Fleet, the Nore) (for minesweepers in reserve) 19.07.1937 - 31.10.1938 Commanding Officer, HMS Pangbourne (twin-screw minesweeper) (Mediterranean) 01.11.1938 - (04.1939) HMS St Angelo (RN base, Malta) (for command of minesweepers in reserve [probably HMS Pangbourne as command vessel]) (08.1939) - (06.1940) Commanding Officer, HMS Pangbourne (twin-screw minesweeper) 16.10.1940 - (02.)1941 Executive Officer, HMS Miranda (minesweeping base, Great Yarmouth) ? - 07.04.1941 HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria, Egypt) [British steamer CLAN FRASER (7529grt) of convoy ANF .24 was damaged by German bombing and set afire in the Greek harbour of Piraeus . At 0330/7th, the explosion of her TNT cargo sank the steamer and wrecked the harbour, killing Cdr. Douglas-Watson ashore.]
Dowding, Sir Arthur Ninian Son of Arthur John Caswell Dowding and Maude Caroline Tremenheere. Brother of Air Chief Marshal Lord Hugh C.T. Dowding, RAF. Married 1st (1915) Kathleen Charlotte Hamilton (died 1961), daughter of late Capt. J.H. Drummond, 34th Regt (Border); one son (died of wounds in France, 1940). Married 2nd (1964) Penelope Wilhelmina, only daughter of late Charles Onslow Master of Flax Bourton, Somerset, and widow of John Statter.	04.01.1886 Moffat, Dumfrieshire - 26.11.1966 [London ?]	A/S.Lt. 15.04.1905? S.Lt. 08.10.1906, seniority 15.04.1905 Lt. 15.07.1906 Lt.Cdr. 15.07.1914 Cdr. 31.12.1918 Capt. 30.06.1926 R.Adm. 19.08.1936 (retd 06.05.1940) V.Adm. (retd) 06.05.1940 (reverted to retd 1945) KBE 01.01.1945 New Year 45 CB 09.06.1938 HM's birthday 38 LM 28.05.1946 ?	Education: Clifton College; HMS Britannia 1900 joined RN (01.1925) - (07.1927) Air Ministry 13.06.1929 - (02.1931) Commanding Officer, HMS Cornwall (cruiser) (China Station) 30.03.1931 - (09.1932) Commanding Officer, Gunnery School, Chatham [HMS Pembroke] 03.01.1933 - (01.1934) HMS President (for Directorate of Organisation and Staff Duties, Air Ministry) 16.03.1935 - (07.1935) Senior Officers' War Course, RN War College, Greenwich [HMS President] 15.08.1935 - (02.1936) Commanding Officer, HMS Furious (aircraft carrier) (Home Fleet) 12.07.1936 - 19.08.1936 Naval ADC to the King 11.01.1937 - (02.1937) Senior Officers' Technical Course, Portsmouth [HMS Victory] (07.1937) no appointment listed 01.02.1938 - (08.1938) HMS President (for miscellaneous or special sevice) 27.09.1938 - (07.)1945 Admiral Superintendent, HM Dockyard Devonport [HMS Drake]
Dowling, Dudley Burdett	(12?).1900 Brentford district, Middlesex - 14.05.1987 Parkview, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa	A/S.Lt. ? S.Lt. ? Lt. 15.08.1921 Lt.Cdr. 15.08.1929 (retd 28.10.1945) A/Cdr. 31.03.1943 Cdr. (retd) 28.10.1945 OBE 01.01.1943 New Year 43	13.08.1922 - (08.1923) HMS Sikh (torpedo-boat destroyer) (01.1925) no appointment listed 08.04.1926 - (07.1927) HMS Lowestoft (cruiser) (Africa) 21.11.1928 - (04.)1930 HMS Canterbury (cruiser) (Atlantic Fleet) 09.06.1930 - (01.)1932 Commanding Officer, HMS Seamew (river gunboat) (China) (09.1932) no appointment listed 13.09.1933 - (01.1934) Commanding Officer, HMS Dundalk (twin screw minesweeper) (1st Minesweeping Flotilla) 03.01.1935 - (02.)1936 HMS Nelson (battleship) (Home Fleet) 31.07.1936 - (07.)1937 HMS Dauntless (cruiser) (Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth) 21.07.1937 - (10.1938) HMS Durban (cruiser) (Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth) 06.01.1939 - (04.)1940 HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) (for training duties) 17.09.1940 - (02.)1943 HMS King George V (battleship) 31.03.1943 - (10.)1943 Executive Officer, HMS Saunders 15.11.1943 - (07.1945) Executive Officer, HMS Queen (escort carrier)
D'Oyly-Hughes, Guy Eldest son of late Dr Samuel D'Oyly Hughes (died 1937), and Keziah Hughes, of New Milton, Hampshire. Married (1920) Ann Margaret Gladys, daughter of J.A.O. Crawford, Co. Down; two daughters. Lived at London.	01.08.1891 Utah, USA - 08.06.1940 (KIA) [age 48] [Plymouth Naval Memorial, panel 36, column 1]	Midsh. ? S.Lt. 30.04.1912 Lt. 30.09.1913 Lt.Cdr. 30.09.1921 Cdr. 31.12.1925 Capt. 31.12.1932 DSO 08.10.1915 Dardanelles * DSO 14.09.1918 for services in action with enemy submarines DSC 24.06.1915 destroying Turkish ships Sea of Marmora