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.
 

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E.O. Obbard  to  R.A.J. Owen
Obbard, Edward Owen Married (1943) Lady Elizabeth Knott.	(09?).1901 Cheltenham district, Gloucestershire - 10.03.1951	A/Lt. 15.04.1923 Lt. 03.10.1923, seniority 15.04.1923 Lt.Cdr. 15.04.1931 (retd 19.08.1946) A/Cdr. 13.02.1940 Cdr. (retd) 19.08.1946 GM 27.12.1940 mine disposal [investiture 27.05.41] DSC 24.04.1940 mine disposal [investiture 07.05.40] * * For his part in an expedition to salvage a German magnetic mine from oyster beds at Whitstable, Kent in February 1940.	15.04.1923 - (08.1923) HMS Revenge (battleship) (01.1925) no appointment listed 03.01.1925 - (05.)1926 HMS Windsor (destroyer) (Atlantic Fleet) 30.12.1926 - (07.)1927 qualifying for torpedo duties, RN College, Greenwich [HMS Vernon] 17.08.1927 - (06.1928) qualifying for torpedo duties, HMS Vernon 12.04.1929 - (08.)1929 HMS Rodney (battleship) (Atlantic Fleet) 29.10.1929 - (01.)1932 Torpdeo Officer, HMS Stuart (flotilla leader) (Mediterranean) 07.06.1932 - (01.)1934 Torpedo School, Portsmouth [HMS Vernon] 19.07.1934 - (02.)1936 Torpedo Officer, HMS Cairo (cruiser) & as Squadron Torpedo Officer, Home Fleet Destroyer Flotillas (Home Fleet) 15.12.1936 - (08.)1938 Torpedo Officer, HMS Nelson (battleship) (Home Fleet) 25.08.1938 - (04.1939) Instructional Department, Torpedo School, Portsmouth [HMS Vernon] 04.07.1939 - (08.1939) Torpedo Officer, HMS Caledon (cruiser) 13.02.1940 - (06.)1944 Commanding Officer, Torpedo School, Chatham [HMS Pembroke] 01.10.1944 - (04.)1946 in charge of Bomb and Mine Disposal Section, Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining; redesignated 01.02.1946: Bomb and Mine Disposal Section, Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons 1950 Jurat, Jersey.
O'Conor, Rory Chambers Son of Sir John O'Conor, KBE, MA, MD, BCh (1863-1927), and Grace Beatrice Richmond Oxley, of Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight.	23.09.1898 Buenos Aires, Argentina - 23.12.1941 (KIA) [age 42] [Plymouth Naval Memorial, panel 44, column 2]	S.Lt. ? Lt. 31.08.1919 25.10.1920, seniority 15.04.1919 Lt.Cdr. 15.04.1927 Cdr. 31.12.1931 Capt. 30.06.1936	Education: Imperial Defence College 06.1923 - (08.1923) HMS Excellent (trawler) (Portsmouth) (for miscellaneous duties) 14.06.1924 - (01.)1925 Assistant Gunnery Officer, HMS Resolution (battleship) (Atlantic Fleet) 05.08.1925 - (05.1926) Gunnery Officer, HMS Emerald (cruiser) (East Indies) (07.1927) no appointment listed 24.11.1927 - (06.1928) HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth) 10.06.1929 - (04.)1930 Gunnery Officer, HMS Royal Sovereign (battleship) (Mediterranean) 13.10.1930 - (06.)1933 HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth) 30.08.1933 - (02.1936) HMS Hood (battlecruiser) (Home Fleet) 12.01.1937 - (07.)1937 imperial defence course, Imperial Defence College 29.12.1937 - (09.1939) an Assistant Director of Plans Division, Admiralty [HMS President] * (04.1940) Plans Division, Admiralty [HMS President] ** 04.05.1940 - 19.12.1941 Commanding Officer, HMS Neptune (cruiser) (sunk by mines in Libyan waters) * (04.1940) still indexed, but no longer listed as such ** indexed, but not listed as such Published: Running a big ship on 'ten commandments' (1937)
Oddie, Eric Roland John	? - died between 08.1977 and 08.1983	... ... Lt. 30.01.1926 Lt.Cdr. 30.01.1934 Cdr. 30.06.1940 (retd 01.08.1947) DSC 28.06.1940 submarine actions against the enemy [investiture 03.09.40]	... - ... ... 18.07.1939 - (08.1939) Commanding Officer, HMS Narwhal (submarine) 27.02.1940 - (04.)1940 Commanding Officer, HMS Triad (submarine) 09.1940 - (02.)1941 Executive Officer, HMS Titania (submarine depot ship) 13.08.1941 - (08.)1942 HMS Maidstone (submarine depot ship) (for submarines) 01.10.1942 - (02.)1943 Senior Officer, Submarines [HMS Elfin (submarine depot ship)] 04.04.1943 - (08.)1943 Commanding Officer, HMS Ambrose II (submarine base, Lerwick) (and for duty with submarines) 13.09.1943 - 23.10.1943 Executive Officer, HMS Charybdis (cruiser) (torpedoed and sunk by German torpedo boats off North France) 18.12.1943 - (10.1944) HMS Indomitable (aircraft carrier) (07.1945) no appointment listed ? - (04.1946) Commanding Officer, HMS Queensferry (Reserve Fleet Forth Area parent ship, Rosyth) 1948 owner/skipper of the fishing boat Rain Goose (at Newry).
O'Dell *, Harry Lloyd   * officially Odell, but in naval records registered as O'Dell. Married Vera ...; one daughter. Lived at Gosport, Hampshire.	16.01.1910 Medway dsitrict, Kent -	T/A/Wt.Eng. 26.02.1945 T/Wt.Eng. = T/Cd.Eng. 1946?, seniority 26.02.1945 T/Sen.Cd.Eng. = T/Eng.Lt. 01.04.1952 (reld c. 1957)	went to China before the war served Mediterranean 17.04.1945 - (04.)1946 HMS Seneschal (submarine) 14.10.1946 - 03.10.1947 Torpedo Officer on staff of Commodore Submarines [HMS Dolphin (submarine depot, Gosport)]  04.10.1947 - (05.1949) HMS Dolphin (submarine depot, Gosport) (for miscellaneous duties) 20.03.1950 - (05.1950) HMS Sea Eagle (joint anti-submarine school) 06.05.1952 - (05.)1953 HMS Trespasser (submarine) 11.09.1953 - (04.1955) HMS Dolphin (submarine depot, Gosport) (for submarines) (01.1956) - (01.1957) HMS Perseus (aircraft maintenance ship) * Emigrated to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. * indexed, but not listed as such
O'Donnell, George Eric Maxia	31.08.1893 Bombay, India - 18.01.1953 [ashes scattered from HMS Bermuda in the English Channel, approaching Plymouth Sound]	Midsh. 15.05.1911 A/S.Lt. 15.09.1913 S.Lt. 15.04.1914 Lt. 15.07.1915 Lt.Cdr. 15.07.1923 Cdr. 30.06.1929 Capt. 31.12.1936 (retd 02.01.1946) DSO 02.12.1938 gallantry during a bombing attack on British shipping at Wuhu on 05.12.37 when he was wounded * MID 30.01.1945 for leadership and skill in damage control (FltgOkClps?) 08.44 DSM 06.07.1938 USS Panay incident ** [permission from HM the King to accept the award 11.10.1938]  Coronation Medal (12.05.1937) * This Officer was present in HMS Ladybird during a bombing attack on British shipping at Wuhu on the 5th December, 1937. Though painfully wounded in the right hand [#] he placed himself under the orders of the Commanding Officer when the helmsman of HMS Ladybird was hit, and took the wheel himself. Shortly afterwards, and with no regard for his own safety or his injury, he landed among hostile soldiery and proceeded to the shore Headquarters to protest, and was in time to prevent more than one round being fired at H.M.S. Bee. ** In recognition of his initiative and courageous action in proceeding immediately with unselfish disregard of his own safety to render assistance in recovering the survivors of the United States Ship Panay in the face of threatened force and armed opposition. [#] 'Certificate for Wounds and Hurt' (01.03.1938). The citation states that Captain O'Donnell 'belonging to HMS Bee, being then actually upon HMS Ladybird while that ship was under fire by artillery ashore was Wounded on 12th December by being struck in the right hand by a piece of shrapnel sustaing a comminated fracture of the base of the prenimal? phalanx of the little finger' Countersigned by H T Armstrong Commander , H D Barlow Lt Cdr and the acting Admiralty Surgeon.	Education: RN College (The Royal Life Saving Certificate; 07.1910) (09.1913) HMS Vanguard (battleship) (04.1917) HMS New Zealand (battlecruiser) ['Hurt Certificate' on the 18th April 1917 having sustained a fractured leg whilst playing football on the 16th April] 21.10.1918 - (01.1919) Gunnery Officer, HMS Southampton (light cruiser) (08.1923) no appointment listed 01.11.1923 - (01.1925) HMS Ganges (Shotley training establishment) 01.01.1926 - (05.1926) HMS Iron Duke (battleship) (Atlantic Fleet) 05.01.1927 - (06.1928) Gunnery Officer, HMS Royal Oak (battleship) (Mediterranean) 29.08.1929 - (02.)1931 Torpedoes and Mining Department, Admiralty [HMS President] 14.11.1931 - (06.)1933 Executive Officer, HMS Emerald (cruiser) (East Indies) 22.11.1933 - (07.1934) Executive Officer, Gunnery School, Devonport [HMS Drake] 08.01.1935 - (02.1936) Executive Officer, Submarine Flotilla [HMS Dolphin (submarine depot ship)] (for Fort Blockhouse) (02.1937) - (07.1937) no appointment listed 30.07.1937 - 04.1938 Flag Captain, HMS Bee & Chief Staff Officer to Raear-Admiral and Senior Naval Officer, Yangtse [HMS Bee (river bunboat)] [USS Panay incident, 12.1937] 13.04.1938 - (08.)1938 Naval Liaison Officer on staff of Commander-in-Chief, China Station [HMS Cumberland (cruiser)] (10.1938) no appointment listed (02.1939) no appointment listed 13.03.1939 - (04.)1939 Senior Officers' War Course, RN War College, Greenwich [HMS President] 22.05.1939 - 18.06.1939 HMS President (additional; for duty in Naval Intelligence Division) [appointed 15.05.1939] 06.07.1939 - (08.)1939 Naval Attaché, Athens (to Greece, Turkey & Yugoslavia) 26.08.1939 - (02.1941) Naval Attaché, Ankara (to Turkey) 02.1942 - (06.)1943 Commanding Officer, HMS Enterprise (cruiser) 22.07.1943 - (10.)1943 Commanding Officer, HMS Malaya (battleship) 10.1943 - (10.1944) Commanding Officer, HMS Valiant (battleship) 30.04.1945 - (07.)1945 Commanding Officer, Damage Control School [HMS President] 07.1945? - 02.01.1946 also: Naval ADC to the King
Ogilvy, John Augustine Son of Gilbert Francis Molyneux Ogilvy (1868-1953), and Marjory Katharine Clive (1882-1961). Married (31.01.1942) Margaret Vivienne Lyndell Gregg, daughter of Col. W.T.H. Gregg; one son, one daughter.	28.08.1915 - 1993	Midsh. 01.09.1933 A/S.Lt. 01.01.1936 S.Lt. 16.05.1936 Lt. 01.09.1937 Lt.Cdr. 01.09.1945 (retd 20.07.1959) MID 25.08.1942 Murmansk convoys 03-05.42	02.09.1933 - (01.)1934 HMS Valiant (battleship) (Home Fleet) 18.04.1934 - (02).1935 HMS Hawkins (cruiser) (East Indies) 26.04.1935 - (07.1935) HMS Orion (cruiser) (Home Fleet) 01.01.1936 - (02.)1936 promotion course, RN College, Greenwich [HMS President] 31.08.1936 - (02.)1937 promotion course, Portsmouth 26.04.1937 - (07.)1937 submarine course, Portsmouth [HMS Dolphin] 07.08.1937 - (09.1939) HMS Severn (submarine) (Mediterranean) 16.03.1940 - (05.1942) HMS Volunteer (destroyer) * 22.09.1942 - (06.)1943 HMS Campbell (destroyer) 26.07.1943 - (12.)1943 Commanding Officer, HMS Leamington (destroyer) 22.12.1943 - (10.1944) First Lieutenant, HMS Loring (frigate) 27.06.1945 - (04.1946) HMS Merganser (RN Air Station, Rattray, Aberdeenshire) 01.10.1947 - (05.)1949 HMS Victorious (aircraft carrier) 08.1949 - (05.1950) Commanding Officer, HMS Chameleon (minesweeper) (05.1953) HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) ** 24.07.1953 - (01.1957) Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord's Office, Admiralty [HMS President] (01.1959)     Directorate of Officer Appointments, Admiralty ** * (08.1942) still indexed, but no longer listed as such ** indexed, but not listed as such
O'Leary, Patrick Albert "Pat" nom de guerre of: Guérisse, Albert-Marie Edmond George Cross Database	05.04.1911 Brussels, Belgium - 26.03.1989 Waterloo, Belgium	T/Lt.Cdr. 16.09.1940 (retd 1945?) GC 05.11.1946 escape organization allied personnel KBE (Hon.) 1979 ? DSO 1942 secret operations LegH 1947 ? MoF 1947 ? CdeG 1945 ? Officier Ordre Léopold, 1946, Grand Officier, 1970; Polish Croix de Guerre, 1944. Hereditary Nobility with personal title of Count granted by King of the Belgians, 1986	Education: Louvain; Brussels University 05.1940 - 06.1940 Medical Officer (Lieutenant), Belgian Army; after Belgian capitulation embarked at Dunkirk 09.1940 first officer of "Q" ship, HMS Fidelity * 04.1941 - 03.1943 engaged on secret work in France until arrest by Gestapo (chief of an escape organisation) 1943 - 1945 after 2 years in Concentration Camps returned to England after demobilisation from RN rejoined Belgian Army (1st Lancers) 1951 joined Belgian Volunteer Batallion as Chief of Medical Service in Korea - 1970 Major-General in the Belgian Army; Director-General, Medical Service, Belgian Forces * for the duration of the war indexed in the Navy List under HMS Lucifer (RN base, Swansea)
Oliver, [Sir] Geoffrey Nigel   Elder son (of three children) of late Prof. Francis Wall Oliver (1864-1951), palaeobotanist & ecologist, and Mildred Alice (1875-1932), daughter of Charles Robert Thompson, surgeon. Married (1933) Barbara, only daughter of late Sir Francis Adolphus Jones, KBE, CB; one son (and one son, one daughter deceased).	22.01.1898 Chelsea, London - 26.05.1980 Batts, Henfield, W Sussex	Cadet (Special Entry) 1915 Midsh. 1916 S.Lt. 15.09.1917 Lt. 15.10.1918 Lt.Cdr. 15.10.1926 Cdr. 30.06.1932 Capt. 30.06.1937 Cdre. 2nd cl. 01.10.1942 Cdre. 1st cl. 02.1944 R.Adm. 05.07.1945 V.Adm. 03.02.1949 Adm. 15.05.1952 (retd 01.12.1955) GBE 01.01.1955 New Year 55 KCB 01.01.1951 New Year 51 CB 23.05.1944 Operation Avalanche DSO 25.11.1941 Operations Style & Substance DSO 14.09.1943 N African campaign 10.42-05.43 DSO 14.11.1944 Operation Neptune (Normandy 06.44) MID 06.01.1942 Operation Halbert MID 14.08.1945 relief of Greece LM 07.09.1943 N African campaign LM 10.10.1944 Salerno landings 09.09.43 OSw - state visit king & queen of Sweden 28.06.54	Education: Durnford Preparatory School, Langton Maltravers, and Rugby School; Queens' College, Cambridge University (1920?; two terms, no degree) 1915 joined RN as a special entry cadet (Keyham College) 1916 - 1917 Midshipman and Sub­Lieutenant, HMS Dreadnought (battleship) 08.05.1917 - 1920 HMS Renown (battlecruiser) [saw no actual fighting in World War I] HMS Resolution (battleship) 1920? - 1921? promotion courses (obtained first class certificates in all five subjects and won the Goodenough Medal for best results in gunnery examination) 1921? 06.1923  - - 1924   (08.1923) specialised in gunnery & advanced course in gunnery (first in his class: Commander Egerton Prize) HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth) (miscellaneous) 28.03.1924 - (01.)1925 junior member, Experimental Department, HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth) 05.08.1925 - 1927 Gunnery Officer, HMS Carlisle (light cruiser) (China Station) (07.1927) no appointment listed 14.01.1928 - (08.1929) second senior member, Experimental Department, HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth) (and in command of trawler 'Excellent') 02.01.1930 - (01.)1932 Gunnery Officer, HMS Rodney (battleship) (Atlantic Fleet) 07.03.1932 - (07.)1934 head [= Experimental Commander], Experimental Department, HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth) 1934 - 12.1934 Commanding Officer, HMS Diana (destroyer) (1st Destroyer Flotilla, China) 12.1934 - (02.)1936 Commanding Officer, HMS Veteran (destroyer) (1st Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean) 05.08.1936 - (07.1937) Executive Officer, HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth) 10.01.1938 - (02.)1938 tactical course, HM Dockyard, Portsmouth [HMS Victory] 19.04.1938 - 23.05.1939 naval staff, Tactical Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 23.05.1939 - (04.)1940 Deputy Director, Training and Staff Duties Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 30.10.1940 - 16.06.1942 Commanding Officer, HMS Hermione (light cruiser) (Western Mediterranean, Malta, Madagascar, Eastern Mediterranean) (sunk south of Crete) 1942 - 1942 Naval Liaison Officer with the Nile Delta Army 01.10.1942 - 01.01.1943 HMS Cormorant (parent ship Gibraltar) (for flotilla duties) [to organise and train the vast armada of small ships and craft which was assembling there for the invasion of Algeria] 01.01.1943 - 07.1943 Senior Officer Inshore Squadron, North Africa [HMS Cannae (RN base, Bone, Algeria)] 04.07.1943 07.1943 09.1943 - (10.)1943 Commodore Force "N" [HMS Hannibal] invasion of Sicily British Assault Force Commander, Salerno [HMS Hilary] late 1943 - 22.02.1944 Chairman of the 'Accuracy of Gunnery Committee' (produced final report) 02.1944 - 24.06.1944 Naval Commander, Force J, Assault Force, Normandy [HMS Hilary] 10.1944 - 02.1945 Commodore Commanding 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron [HMS Royalist] (clearing the Aegean of mines and obstructions and bringing relief to the starving people of Greece) 23.02.1945 - (07.)1945 Commodore/Rear-Admiral Commanding 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron [HMS Royalist] (Eastern Fleet) early 1946 - 04.1946 President, Aircraft Maintenance Committee 04.1946 - 12.1946 Flag Officer, Naval Air Stations [= Admiral (Air)] [HMS Daedalus (RN Air Station, Lee-on-Solent)] 02.12.1946 - (07.)1948 a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff [HMS President] 09.1948 - 02.03.1950 President, RN College, Greenwich [HMS President] 04.1950 - 20.08.1952 Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station [HMS Mauritius] (05.1953) no appointment listed 15.05.1953 - (04.)1955 Commander-in-Chief, the Nore [HMS Pembroke (RN base, Chatham)] Bought a farm in Sussex and settled down to the country life.
Oliver, Sir Henry Francis Uncle of R.Adm. R.D. Oliver.	22.01.1865 Lochside, Kelso - 15.10.1965 [London ?]	Lt. 1888 Cdr. 1899 Capt. 30.06.1903 R.Adm. 08.12.1913 A/V.Adm. 05.11.1914 V.Adm. 01.01.1919 Adm. 01.11.1923 Adm. of the Fleet 21.01.1928 (retd 1933) (restored to active list 1940) GCB 1928 ? KCB 01.01.1916 New Year 16 CB 03.06.1913 HM's birthday KCMG 1918 ? MVO 11.08.1905 King Edward's visit to Portsmouth Jubilee Medal, 1935; Coronation Medals, 1937 and 1953. American Distinguished Service Medal; Commander Legion of Honour; Orders of St Anne of Russia (06.1908), Swords of Sweden; Hon. LLD (Edin.), 1920	entered Navy, 1878; Captain of Navigation School Portsmouth, 1905-1907; Naval Assistant to First Sea Lord, 12.1908-12.1911; ADC to the King, 02.03.1913; Director of Intelligence, Admiralty War Staff, 01.11.1913-1914; Chief of Admiralty War Staff, 05.11.1914-1917; on Admiralty reorganisation in 1917 became a member of the Board and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff; Rear­Admiral Commanding First Battle Cruiser Squadron, 1918 1919 Vice-Admiral Commanding Home Fleet 1919 - 1920 Vice-Admiral Commanding Reserve Fleet 1920 - 1924 Second Sea Lord 1924 - 1927 Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet 1939 - 1945 no active appointment listed
Oliver, Henry Lewis	18.06.1902 - 08.1989 Taunton Deane, Somerset	A/S.Lt. 15.01.1922 S.Lt. ? Lt. 15.09.1924 Lt.Cdr. 15.09.1932 (retd 18.06.1947) A/Cdr. </