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 "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

Mabatt, F.G.
to
Marchesi, V.A.J.B.

Marigold, J.R.
to
McClure, J.A.

McCoy, J.A.
to
Meyrick, T.C.

Michell, K.
to
Moir, D.F.

Money, J.M.
to
Musters, J.D.A.

K. Michell to D.F. Moir

Michell,
Kenneth
K. Michell

3rd son of late G.B. Michell, Sussex.
Married (1917) Helen (died 1963), 2nd daughter of late Prof. W. Frecheville; two sons, one daughter.

(06?.)1887
Steyning, Sussex
-
25.12.1967
Amberley, Arundel, Sussex

A/S.Lt.	30.03.1907?
S.Lt.	20.12.1907, seniority 30.03.1907
Lt.	01.10.1909
Lt.Cdr.	01.10.1917 (retd 03.04.1931)
Cdr. (retd)	03.04.1931

MVO	1925	?
DSO	17.06.1941	Greek withdrawal
DSC	1917	?
DSC	08.01.1942	withdrawal from Crete

Royal Humane Society's Medal, 1926.

Education: HMS Britannia

1902			joined RN
			served European War:
			commanded HM Submarines A9, C28, B10, B7, and E50; Senior Submarines Officer, Venice, 1916 (Cavalier, Order of St Maurice and Lazarus (Italy 07.08.1918; Silver Medal for Military Valour (Italy, 17.11.1917)); DSC in action with German Submarine, North Sea, 1917
1918			Senior Officer, Norwegian Convoy Destroyer Escort Flotilla
1919			CO HM Monitor 33, N. Russia, Dwina River Expedition
1920			Senior Officer, Danube ML Flotilla
1921	-	1923	1st LtComdr, HMS Revenge (battleship)
(08.1923)			no appointment listed
06.09.1923	-	(01.)1925	CO HMS Truro (twin-screw minesweeper) (Portsmouth) [escorted HM Yacht Britannia]
24.01.1926	-	1928	Officer Instructor to London Division, RNVR, HMS President, Victoria Embankment
25.02.1928	-	(08.)1929	CO HMAS Marguerite (sloop)
23.08.1929	-	(04.)1930	Executive Officer, Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay [HMAS Franklin]
(02.1931)			no appointment listed
1933			Chief Officer, Training Ship, Exmouth
1935	-	1939	Liaison Officer, RN and RM Officers Civil Employment Committee
1939			Sea Transport Officer, Dieppe
01.01.1940	-	(04.)1940	HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) (for miscellaneous services)
07.1940	-	(02.1941)	HMS President (for special and miscellaneous services):
1940			Technical Delegate to Danube International Commission, Belgrade
			Staff of Naval Attaché, Athens
			Sea Transport Officer, Piræus (DSO)
			Sea Transport Officer, Suda Bay, Crete (Bar to DSC)
1942			CO HMS Northney II (landing craft base, Hayling Island)
(08.1942)			CO HMS Northney III (landing craft base, Hayling Island) *
(02.1943)			Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty *
17.05.1943	-	(01.)1944	Staff of Operations Division, Admiralty, N. Africa and Adriatic [HMS President]
17.01.1944	-	(06.1944)	Department of the Director of Personal Services, Admiralty [HMS President]
(07.)1945	-	1946	Admiralty Liaison Officer to Ministry of Labour and National Service [HMS President]

Master of MV Sir Edward P. Wills II RN Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, 1947-1948; Superintendent, Training Ship Foudroyant, Portsmouth, 1950-1951; Honorary Local Secretary Sussex Archæological Society Amberley; Member, Society of Sussex Downsmen.

* indexed, but not listed as such

Micklethwait,
St John Aldrich
"Jack" / "Mick"
St.J.A. Micklethwait

Eldest son of late St John Gore Micklethwait, KC, and Annie Elizabeth Aldrich- Blake. Married (1929), Clemence Penelope Olga Welby-Everard; two
sons, one daughter.

04.03.1901
district Kingston
-
31.07.1977
[Penhein, near Chepstow, Gwent ?]

Midsh.	1917
A/S.Lt.	?
S.Lt.	15.01.1921
A/Lt.	?
Lt.	03.10.1923, seniority 15.06.1922
Lt.Cdr.	15.06.1930
Cdr.	31.12.1935
Capt.	31.12.1940
R.Adm.	07.07.1950 (retd 15.12.1953)

CB	01.01.1952	New Year 52
DSO	01.01.1940	New Year 40
DSO	28.06.1940	2nd Battle of Narvik
DSO	08.09.1942	Malta convoy 22.03.42
MID	20.10.1942	sinking U-boat Mediterranean 04.08.42
MID	22.12.1942	landing nr. Tobruk 09.42
Hkn	26.08.1947	services to Norway

Education: RN Colleges, Osborne & Dartmouth

(1917)			HMS Thunderer
18.11.1924	-	(01.1925)	HMS Delhi (cruiser) (Mediterranean)
06.1927	-	(07.1927)	HMS Caradoc (cruiser)
12.1927	-	(04.1930)	First Lieutenant, HMS Vampire (destroyer) (Mediterranean)
02.10.1930	-	(02.1931)	Commanding Officer, HMS Truant (destroyer) (Portsmouth)
14.11.1931	-	(01.1932)	Commanding Officer, HMS Wren (destroyer) (China)
16.07.1932	-	(09.1932)	Commanding Officer, HMS Rowena (destroyer) (Portland)
18.10.1933	-	(07.1935)	Commanding Officer, HMS Beagle (destroyer) (Mediterranean)
(02.1936)			no appointment listed
27.06.1936	-	(06.1938)	Operations Division, Admiralty [HMS President]
(08.1938)			no appointment listed
10.09.1938	-	(10.1938)	Commanding Officer, HMS Vimy (destroyer) (Reserve Fleet)
09.12.1938	-	(04.1940)	Commanding Officer, HMS Eskimo (destroyer) (Home Fleet)
01.1941	-	(02.1941)	Chief Staff Officer to R.Adm. E.J. Spooner [HMS Fortitude (RN base, Ardrossan)]
03.02.1942	-	14.09.1942	Commanding Officer, HMS Sikh (destroyer) (sank off Tobruk)
09.1942	-	1945	captured and POW in Italy & Germany
19.06.1947	-	(07.1948)	Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord [HMS President]
(05.1950)			HMS President *
1950	-	1951	Flag Officer, Training Squadron
18.05.1952	-	(05.)1953	Flag Officer, Gibraltar, and Admiral Superintendent, HM Dockyard [HMS Rooke]

High Sheriff of Monmouthshire, 1959. Deputy Lieutenant, 1960. Chairman Cwmbran Development Corporation for 9 years.
* indexed, but not listed as such

Middleton,
Gervase Boswell
G.B. Middleton

22.12.1893
-
12.06.1961
[London ?]

Capt.	30.06.1935
R.Adm.	02.01.1945
V.Adm.	02.09.1948 (retd 1950)
Adm. (retd)	15.03.1952

CB	12.06.1947	HM's birthday
CBE	01.01.1943	New Year 43
MID	28.11.1944	Operation Neptune
MID	27.03.1945	Operation Dragoon
LM	10.07.1945	Operation Dragoon
LegH	?	invasion S France
CdeG	?	invasion S France

Education: RN Colleges, Osborne & Dartmouth

1914	-	1918	served European War in HMS Zealandia (S.Lt., 1913-1915), Queen Elizabeth, Resolution
1917	-	1918	qualified in Torpedo (Ogilvy Medal)
20.04.1938	-	1940	Commanding Officer, HMS Aurora (cruiser) & Flag Captain & Chief Staff Officer Home Fleet Destroyer Flotillas
02.1942	-	(1943)	Director of Torpedoes and Mining, Admiralty [HMS President]
01.1943	-	07.1943	Commanding Officer, HMS Revenge (battleship)
07.1943	-	(06.1944)	Commanding Officer, HMS Ramillies (battleship)
08.01.1944	-	(06.)1944	ADC to the King
(07.1945)	-	(04.1946)	HMS President
1946	-	1950	Admiral Superintendent HM Dockyard, Chatham

Miers,
[Sir] Anthony Cecil Capel
A.C.C. Miers

2nd son of late Capt. D.N.C.C. Miers, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (Killed in France, September 1914) and Margaret Annie Christie; married 1945, Patricia Mary, daughter of late D.M. Millar, of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China; one son, one daughter.

11.11.1906
Birchwood, Inverness
-
30.06.1985
Inverness
[Tomnahurich Cemetery, Inverness, Scotland. Roman Catholic Section]

S.Lt.	01.01.1928
Lt.	01.01.1930
Lt.Cdr.	01.01.1938
Cdr.	31.12.1941
Capt.	31.12.1946
R.Adm.	07.01.1956 (retd 1959?)

VC	07.07.1942	attack Corfu Roads 04.03.42 *
KBE	13.06.1959	HM's birthday 59
CB	12.06.1958	HM's birthday 58
DSO	07.10.1941	2 war patrols Mediterranean
DSO	07.04.1942	war patrols Mediterranean 08-11.41
MID	01.01.1941	New Year 41
LM	28.05.1946	?

* For valour in command of HM Submarine Torbay in a daring and successful raid on shipping in a defended enemy harbour, planned with full knowledge of the great hazards to be expected during seventeen hours in waters closely patrolled by the enemy. On arriving in the harbour he had to charge his batteries lying on the surface in full moonlight, under the guns of the enemy. As he could not see his target he waited several hours and attacked in full daylight in a glassy calm. When he fired his torpedoes he was heavily counter-attacked and had to withdraw through a long channel with anti-submarine craft all round and continuous air patrols overhead.

Education: Stubbington House; Edinburgh Academy; Wellington College

1924			special entry cadet RN
29.04.1929	-	(08.1929)	submarine course, Portsmouth
12.08.1929	-	(02.1931)	HMS M 2 (submarine)
25.04.1931	-	(01.1932)	First Lieutenant, HMS H 28 (submarine)
(09.1932)			no appointment listed
19.10.1933	-	(07.1935)	First Lieutenant, HMS Rainbow (submarine)
(02.1936)			no appointment listed
08.09.1936	-	(07.)1937	Commanding Officer, HMS L 54 (submarine) (Coronation medal at HM's review in 1937)
1937	-	1938	HMS Iron Duke (training ship)
11.01.1938	-	(10.1938)	staff course, RN Staff College, Greenwich (psc)
02.01.1939	-	1940	Staff Officer (Operations 2) to Commander-in- Chief Home Fleet [HMS Nelson (battleship) till 01.01.1940, HMS Rodney (battleship) till (04.1940), and HMS Warspite (battleship)]
1940	-	1940	HMS Largs
12.11.1940	-	(08.)1942	Commanding Officer, HMS Torbay (submarine)
19.11.1942	-	05.1944	HMS Saker (RN base, USA)
1943	-	1944	Staff of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief US Pacific Fleet
21.05.1944	-	(07.)1945	Commander Submarines 8th Submarine Flotilla [HMS Maidstone (submarine depot ship)]
(04.1946)			no appointment listed
1946			Commanding Officer, HMS Vernon II (HMS Ramillies and HMS Malaya)
1947			jssc
1948	-	1950	Commanding Officer, HMS Blackcap (RN Air Station, Stretton)
(05.1950)			no appointment listed
1950	-	1952	Commanding Officer, HMS Forth and Capt. S/M, 1st Submarine Flotilla
25.06.1952	-	1954	Captain of RN College, Greenwich (Coronation medal, 1953)
1954	-	1955	Commanding Officer, HMS Theseus
(01.1956)			no appointment listed
1956	-	1959	Flag Officer, Middle East

Joined National Car Parks as Director for Development Coordination, 1971.With Mills and Allen Ltd, 1962-74, and with London and Provincial Poster Group, 1962-83. Obtained pilot's certificate ("A" License), 1948. Governor, Star and Garter Home, Richmond, 1970-76; Chm., RN Scholarship Fund, 1968-73. Nat. Pres., Submarine Old Comrades Assoc., 1967-81. Chm., Hudsons Offshore Ltd, 1972-73. Burgess and Freeman of Burgh of Inverness, 1955; Mem., Royal Highland Soc., 1966. Councillor, Lawn Tennis Assoc., 1954-78, Hon. Life Councillor 1979; Pres. RN Squash Rackets Assoc., 1960-70; Pres. RN Lawn Tennis Assoc., 1962-78; FInstD 1960. Freeman of the City of London, 1966; Mem., Court of Assistants, 1969, Under Warden, 1982, Upper Warden, 1983, Master, 1984, Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers; Hon. Kt, Hon. Soc. of Knights of Round Table, 1967. Silver Jubilee Medal, 1977.

Milbourne,
Charles Delves
C.D. Milbourne

Son of Lt.Col. Charles Kingsley Milbourne (1863-?).

(09?).1895
Guildford district, Surrey
-
died between 08.1977 and 08.1983

Lt.	15.03.1919 (retd 31.03.1923; own request)
Lt.Cdr. (retd)	15.03.1927 (reverted to retd < 04.1946)
A/Cdr. (retd)	29.05.1940 to 1941?
Cdr. (retd)	08.05.1946

(04.1940)			no appointment listed
29.05.1940	-	(02.)1941	HMS Malabar (RN base, Bermuda) (for service at Aruba)
08.1941	-	(12.1941)	HMS Goshawk (RN Air Station, Piarco, Trinidad)
01.04.1942	-	(07.1945)	Resident Naval Officer, St Lucia [HMS Benbow (RN base, Trinidad)]

Miles,
Francis Nigel
F.N. Miles, early 1950s (Photo courtesy of Mr Grant Paton)

Son of Charles Stafford Miles, a Civil Service clerk, and Maria Wallace.
Brother of Lt.Gen. Charles George Norman Miles, CMG, DSO, Australian Army.
Married 1st (20.06.1914, London) Emily Helen Shirreff Hilton.
Married 2nd (1951?, Edinburgh) Agnes Dunlop Paton of West Kilbride, Ayrshire.

04.05.1886
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
-
29.05.1971
West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland

Midsh.	30.06.1903
A/S.Lt.	30.08.1906?
S.Lt.	22.04.1907, seniority 30.08.1906
Lt.	30.08.1908
Lt.Cdr.	30.08.1916
Cdr.	30.06.1920 (retd 16.08.1932; own request)
Capt. (retd)	16.08.1932 (recalled 24.07.1939) (reverted to retd 16.11.1945)

OBE

21.06.1919

for valuable services as Navigating Officer of HMS Phaeton during minelaying operations in the North Sea

15.01.1902			entered RN
1902	-	1903	Cadet, HMS Britannia (training ship)
1903	-	1904	Cadet, HMS Revenge (battleship)
1904	-	1906	Midshipman, HMS Euryalus (armoured cruiser)
1906	-	1906	Midshipman, HMS Duncan (battleship)
1906	-	1907	promotion course, RN College, Greenwich [HMS President]
1908	-	1908	HMS Avon (destroyer)
1908	-	1908	HMS Dryad (navigation school, Portsmouth) (for navigation qualifying course)
1909	-	1909	Assistant Navigating Officer, HMS Cumberland (armoured cruiser)
1909	-	1909	Navigating Officer, HMS Hazard (submarine depot ship)
1909	-	1910	Navigating Officer, HMS Pyramus (armoured cruiser)
1911	-	1912	Navigating Officer, HMS Patrol (cruiser)
1912	-	1913	Navigating Officer, HMS Intrepid (cruiser)
1913	-	1913	HMS Dryad (navigation school, Portsmouth) (for navigation qualifying course for first class ships)
1913	-	1913	Navigating Officer, HMS Dido (2nd class cruiser)
1913	-	1914	Navigating Officer, HMS Theseus (1st class cruiser)
1915	-	1916	Navigating Officer, HMS Phaeton (light cruiser) (Battle of Jutland)
1919	-	1920	Navigating Officer, HMS Caledon (cruiser)
1921	-	1923	Navigating Officer, HMS Curacoa (cruiser)
11.05.1923	-	1926	Commanding Officer, HMNZS Philomel (cruiser; training and depot ship, Auckland) & Superintendent Naval Base, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand [lent to New Zealand government]
(05.1926)			no apointment listed [lent to New Zealand government]
04.07.1926	-	1928	Navigating Officer, HMS Hawkins (cruiser) & Fleet Navigating Officer, China Station [lent to New Zealand government]
(08.)1929	-	(01.)1932	Air Ministry (in charge of development of compasses and navigation instruments)
02.09.1939	-	10.08.1940	Commanding Officer, HMS Transylvania (armed merchant cruiser) (Arctic Patrol duties) (torpedoed & sunk by U-56)
25.09.1940	-	16.02.1941	Duty Captain on operational staff of Commander-in-Chief Western Approaches [HMS Drake (RN base, Devonport)]
17.02.1941	-	(07.)1945	Duty Captain on operational staff of Commander-in-Chief Western Approaches [HMS Eaglet (RN base, Liverpool)]

Miles,
Sir Geoffrey John Audley
G.J.A. Miles

02.05.1890
-
31.12.1986
[Holyport, Maidenhead, Berks ?]

...	...
Capt.	30.06.1931
R.Adm.	08.07.1941
V.Adm.	09.03.1944
Adm.	04.01.1948 (retd 1948)

KCSI	01.01.1948	New Year 48
KCB	14.06.1945	HM's birthday 45
CB	11.06.1942	HM's birthday 42
LegH	?	commanding operations Western Mediterranean 44

Education: Bedford; HMS Britannia

1905			joined the Royal Navy
1912			Assistant Navigator, HMS Neptune (flagship of Home Fleet)
1912	-	1914	Navigator, HMS Surprise, since 1913 HMS Alacrity (China Station)
1914	-	1915	Navigator, armed merchant cruiser HMS Empress of Russia (Indian Ocean)
1915	-	1916	Navigator, flotilla leader HMS Botha (Grand Fleet)
1916			Navigator, HMS Fearless, submarine flotilla leader, Grand Fleet
1920	-	1922	Staff Officer, HMS Coventry under R Adm commanding Atlantic Fleet destroyer flotillas
1922	-	1924	Sqn navigating officer, HMS Coventry, Atlantic and Mediterranean flotillas
1925	-	1927	Cdr and Staff Officer Operations in 1 & 3 Battle Sqns
1927	-	1929	Staff Officer Operations and Sqn navigator, HMS Hood, battle cruiser Sqn
1930			Plans Division, Admiralty
1931	-	1932	Commanding Officer, HMS Pangbourne & 1 Minesweeping Flotilla
1933	-	1935	Deputy Director Staff College
1935	-	1937	commanding HMS Codrington & 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean
1937	-	1939	Assistant Director & Director Tactical School, Portsmouth
19.07.1939	-	1941	Commanding Officer, HMS Nelson & Flag Captain Home Fleet
23.06.1941	-	(02.)1943	HMS President (for special and miscellaneous services):
1941	-	1943	Head of Military Mission in Moscow
03.1943	-	07.1943	Staff, Commander-in-Chief Levant [HMS Nile]
13.07.1943	-	(12.)1943	Naval Force Commander, Eastern Expeditionary Force [HMS Salsette]
20.12.1943	-	(04.)1944	Deputy Naval Commander, South East Asia Command (under Mountbatten), East Indies Station [HMS Hathi]
15.07.1944	-	(07.)1945	Flag Officer, Western Mediterranean [HMS Hannibal]
1946	-	1947	Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Navy

Miles,
Roderick Bruce Tremayne
R.B.T. Miles

08.06.1887
district St George Hanover Square
-
26.04.1963
Terwick, Sussex

A/S.Lt.	15.07.1906
S.Lt.	06.04.1907, seniority 15.07.1906
Lt.	31.07.1908, seniority 15.07.1907
Lt.Cdr.	15.07.1915
Cdr.	30.06.1920
Capt.	31.12.1927
R.Adm.	10.01.1939 (retd 11.01.1939) (reactivated 04.09.1939) (reverted to retd > 04.1946)

05.1923	-	(04.)1924	Executive Officer, HMS Dragon (light cruiser)
14.11.1924	-	07.12.1924	Admiralty [HMS President]
08.12.1924	-	(01.1925)	Operations Division, Admiralty [HMS President]
12.01.1926	-	(06.1928)	Commanding Officer, HMS Hollyhock (sloop) (China)
16.03.1929	-	(08.)1929	senior officers' war course, RN War College, Greenwich [HMS President]
14.08.1929	-	(04.1930)	Commanding Officer, HMS Comus (cruiser) (Atlantic Fleet)
21.06.1930	-	(10.)1932	Commanding Officer, HMS Codrington (flotilla leader) & Captain (D) 3rd Flotilla (Mediterranean)