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

Raban-Williams, J.
to
Robson, W.G.A.

Roche, S.O'G.
to
Ryder, R.E.D.

Roche, S.O'G. to Ryder, R.E.D.

Roche,
Sir Standish O'Grady;
4th Baronet (1838)
S.O'G. Roche
Son of Sir Standish Deane O'Grady Roche, 3rd Bt (1845-1914) and Sybil (1872-1950), only daughter of Col. Julius DysonLaurie, Gloucester Pl., W. Succeeded father, 09.12.1914.
Married (1946) Evelyn Laura, only daughter of Major W. Andon; two sons.
13.03.1911
-
02.04.1977
[Sao Bras de Alportel, Portugal?]

Cadet
?

Midsh.
01.01.1929

A/S.Lt.
01.05.1931

S.Lt.
01.01.1932

Lt.
01.10.1933

Lt.Cdr.
01.10.1941 (retd 04.12.1952; own request)

DSO
08.09.1942
Malta convoy 22.03.42

CdeG
1945
wind up, Europe 45

01.05.1928
-
(02.1931)
HMS Royal Oak (battleship) (Mediterranean)

30.04.1931
-
(01.1932)
promotion course, RN College, Greenwich [HMS President]

31.08.1932
-
(09.1932)
HMS Cardiff (cruiser) (Africa)

10.08.1933
-
(01.1934)
HMS Delhi (cruiser) (Mediterranean)

(07.)1935
-
(07.)1937
ADC to Governor-General of New Zealand

21.02.1938
-
(06.1938)
Commanding Officer, HMS Acheron (destroyer) (Portsmouth)

27.07.1938
-
(02.1941)
First Lieutenant, HMS Fortune (destroyer) (Home Fleet)

10.08.1941
-
(08.1943)
Commanding Officer, HMS Beaufort (destroyer)

(10.1943)
-
(06.1944)
no appointment listed

07.11.1944
-
(04.1946)
Commanding Officer, HMS Matchless (destroyer)

12.1947
-
(07.1948)
RN Camp, Stamshaw [HMS Victory]

(05.1950)

HMS Howe *

* indexed, but not listed as such

Rodgers,
John Malcolm
J.M. Rodgers
see also: www.hmsfiredrake.co.uk (06?).1901
Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire
-
died between 07.1962 and 08.1973

A/Lt.
15.05.1923

Lt.
?, seniority 15.12.1922

Lt.Cdr.
15.12.1930 (retd 02.07.1946)

A/Cdr.
1940-(12.1941) &
20.02.1944?-(04.1946)

Cdr. (retd)
02.07.1946

DSC
08.06.1944
HM's birthday 44

MID
23.12.1939
succesful actions against enemy submarines

MID
26.09.1940
Norway 04-06.40

(08.1923)

short course of instruction

29.04.1924
-
(01.1925)
HMS Royal Oak (battleship) (Atlantic Fleet)

(07.1927)

no appointment listed

08.12.1927
-
(08.1929)
HMS Cumberland (cruiser) (China)

02.01.1930
-
(01.)1932
HMS Campbell (flotilla leader) (Atlantic Fleet)

17.05.1932
-
(01.)1934
Commanding Officer, HMS Moth (gunboat) (China)

17.12.1934
-
(02.1936)
Commanding Officer, HMS Whitehall (destroyer) (Mediterranean)

05.01.1937
-
(02.)1938
Commanding Officer, HMS Firedrake (destroyer) (Home Fleet)

12.04.1938
-
(08.)1939
Executive Officer, HMS Hermes (aircraft carrier)

10.10.1939
-
05.07.1940
Commanding Officer, HMS Whirlwind (destroyer) (sunk)

02.1941
-
(12.1941)
HMS Glendower (training establishment, Pwllheli, North Wales)

04.07.1942
-
05.1943
Commanding Officer, HMS Watchman (destroyer)

28.05.1943
-
(12.1943)
Commanding Officer, HMS Vesper (destroyer)

20.02.1944
-
(04.1946)
staff, Flag Officer Flying Training [HMS Merlin (shore base Naval Air Stations)]

Rodier,
Mark Fleming
M.F. Rodier 1917 ?
-
28.03.1942 [age 25]
(KIA)
[Plymouth Naval Memorial]

T/S.Lt.
29.11.1940

T/Lt.
?

MID
10.11.1942
attack St. Nazaire 28.03.42

(02.1941)

no appointment listed

-
28.03.1942
Commanding Officer, ML 177

Rodney,
Nigel Robert Harley
N.R.H. Rodney
Son of Mervyn Harley Rodney, and Dorothy Thompson.
Married (1946) Patricia Ann Merlyn Ashburner; two sons, two daughters.
21.02.1917
-
12.1992
Honiton, Devon

...
...

S.Lt.
?

Lt.
01.06.1939

A/Lt.Cdr.
> 07.1945, < 04.1946

Lt.Cdr.
01.06.1947

Cdr.
30.06.1950 (retd)

MID
01.01.1944
New Year 44

MID
23.05.1944
Operation Avalanche

MID
11.07.1944
sinking U450 Mediterranean 10.03.44

MID
14.08.1945
relief of Greece

...
-
...
...

16.11.1939
-
(04.)1940
HMS Basilisk (destroyer)

01.08.1940
-
(12.1941)
French Ship "Calais"

30.06.1942
-
(12.1943)
First Lieutenant, HMS Queenborough (destroyer)

01.1944
-
(07.1945)
Commanding Officer, HMS Brecon (destroyer)

(04.1946)

no appointment listed

...
-
...
...

Roe,
Arthur John Talbot
A.J.T. Roe ?
-
died between 08.1977 and 08.1983

...
...

Lt.
16.02.1934

Lt.Cdr.
16.02.1942

A/Cdr.
< 07.1945

Cdr.
?

Capt.
31.12.1951 (retd)

DSO
?
?

OBE
?
?

?
-
(02.1941)
HMS Neptune

?
-
(07.1945)
HMS Royalist

Roe,
Albert William
A.W. Roe ?
-
died between 08.1989 and 12.1998

T/Gnr. (T) = T/Cd.Gnr. (T)
15.09.1941 (retd < 07.1959)

?
-
(07.1945)
no appointment listed

Roe,
Donovan Connor
D.C. Roe (Photo courtesy of Mr Ian O'Neil Roe)
Only son of Richard George Tennant Roe and Bertha Nugent (née Nixon), of Yelverton, Devon.
Unmarried; no children.
04.10.1892
Northam, Devon
-
24.05.1941
KIA a/b HMS Hood
[Portsmouth Naval Memorial, panel 45, column 3]
[memorial at St. Paul's Church
Yelverton]

Asst. Clerk
07.1910

Clerk (Accounting Officer)
15.07.1911

Asst. Paym.
15.10.1913

Paym.Lt.
15.10.1917
1919/20?, seniority 15.10.1915

Paym.Lt.Cdr.
15.10.1923

Paym.Cdr.
15.10.1931

14|15 St
-
-

BWM 14|20
-
-

VM
-
-

NGSM
-
& clasp Palestine

Entitled to (but not as yet issued): 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star and British War Medal 1939-1945 (& possibly even Africa Star).

Education: passed the Accountant Officers Technical Course

07.06.1910

passed the Civil Service Commissioners competitive examination for assistant clerkship in the Royal Navy

05.08.1910

HMS Mars (battleship)

?
-
(10?.)1913
HMS Hyacinth (cruiser)

12.03.1913
-
1918
served on the Africa Station on the staffs (as Clerk to the Secretary) of Admiral H.G. King-Hall and Admiral E.F.B. Charlton, Commanders-in-Chief [HMS Goliath (battleship)] and of Rear-Admiral M.R. Hill, Senior Naval Officer at Simonstown [HMS Afrikander]

19.12.1919
-
(1920)
HMS Gibraltar (depot ship for auxiliary patrol, Portland)

01.01.1923
-
(08.1923)
HMS Resolution (battleship)

01.07.1924
-
(01.1925)
RN Barracks, Devonport (Division II) [HMS Vivid]

18.04.1926
-
(06.1928)
Accountant Officer, HMS Herald (surveying ship) (Australia)

11.01.1929
-
03.1932
Assistant Drafting Officer, RN Barracks, Devonport [HMS Vivid]

09.03.1932
-
22.05.1932
HMS President (to attend the victualling course part 2)

23.05.1932
-
(09.)1932
for miscellaneous service at Admiralty [HMS President]

01.09.1932
-
(11.1934)
Accountant Officer, HMS Berwick (cruiser) (China)

31.01.1935
-
(02.)1937
Accountant Officer, HMS Cyclops (depot ship) (Mediterranean) & as Flotilla Accountant Officer, 1st Submarine Flotilla

30.04.1937
-
1937
HMS Hawkins (cruiser)

(07.1937)

no appointment listed

01.10.1937
-
(02.)1939
Accountant Officer, HMS Defiance (torpedo school ship) (Devonport)

25.03.1939
-
24.05.1941
Accountant Officer, HMS Hood (battlecruiser) & as Squadron Accountant Officer, Battle Cruiser Squadron (killed in action)

Roe,
John Gordon
J.G. Roe ?
-
12.2002 still alive

Lt.
01.09.1942

Lt.Cdr.
01.09.1950 (retd)

?
-
(07.1945)
?

Roe,
Peter Frank Bassett
P.F.B. Roe ?
-
12.2002 still alive

Lt.
16.03.1944

Lt.Cdr.
16.03.1952 (retd)

?
-
(07.1945)
HMS Saga

Roe,
Robert Charles Thornber
R.C.T. Roe 01.02.1885
Hersham, Chertsey district, Surrey
-
04.03.1976

Lt.
14.10.1916

Lt.Cdr.
14.10.1924

Cdr. (retd)
01.02.1930

?
-
(07.1945)
no appointment listed

Roe,
Richard Edward
R.E. Roe ?
-
12.2002 still alive

Lt.
01.07.1940

Lt.Cdr.
01.07.1948

Cdr.
?

Capt.
31.12.1960 (retd)

CBE

?
-
(07.1945)
HMS Carron

Roe,
Robert Gordon Brabazon O'Neil
R.G.B.O. Roe (Photo courtesy of Mr Ian O'Neil Roe)
Son of Lt.Col. Charles Douglas Roe, DSO, OBE (1882-1960), Indian Army, and Daisy Blanche Marion Mackenzie-Kennedy (1883-1951).
Brother of Lt. (A) Richard John Owen O'Neill-Roe, RN.
Married (04.1934) Isabella Grace Farley; two sons.
15.12.1911
Ludhiana, Punjab, India
-
30.10.1997
Butleigh Hospital, Somerset

Cadet
01.01.1929

Midsh.
01.09.1929

A/S.Lt.
01.01.1932

S.Lt.
01.05.1932

Lt.
07.12.1933, seniority 01.06.1933

Lt.Cdr.
01.06.1941

Cdr. (L)
30.06.1948 (retd 15.12.1961)

A/Capt.
27.10.1958?

Hon. Capt.
15.12.1961

OBE
10.06.1961
HM's birthday 61

Abys M
-
-

39|45 St
-
-

Atl St
-
-

Pac St
-
-

BWM 39|45
-
-

UNSM
-
-

Education: Brittannia Royal Naval College (1925-1929)

05.01.1929
-
(08.1929)
HMS Rodney (battleship) (Atlantic Fleet)

04.01.1930
-
(02.)1931
HMS Kent (cruiser) (5th Cruiser Squadron, China)

1931
-
1931
HMS Cumberland (cruiser) (escorted Prince of Wales into exile in France)

31.12.1931
-
21.08.1932
promotion course, RN College, Greenwich [HMS President]

22.08.1932
-
(09.1932)
promotion course, Portsmouth (Robert Roxburgh Memorial Prize)

04.05.1933
-
(07.)1934
HMS Versatile (destroyer) (5th Flotilla, Home Fleet)

1934
-
1935
HMS Escort (destroyer)

17.06.1935
-
(07.)1935
HMS Scotsman (destroyer) (Reserve Fleet, Devonport)

23.08.1935
-
(02.)1936
HMS Thruster (destroyer) (19th Flotilla, Mediterranean)

11.06.1936
-
(02.)1937
HMS Wolfhound (destroyer (1st Anti-Submarine Flotilla. Portland)

29.04.1937
-
01.08.1937
qualifying for torpedo duties, RN College, Greenwich [HMS Vernon] (awarded Ogilvy Medal for Excellence on Torpedo Officers' Course)

02.08.1937
-
(06.)1938
qualifying for torpedo duties, HMS Vernon (torpedo school and experimental establishment, Portsmouth)

1938
-
1938
HMS Colombo (cruiser) (Reserve Fleet)

04.06.1938
-
(08.)1939
Electrical Department, HMS Vernon (torpedo school and experimental establishment, Portsmouth)

1939
-
1939
HMS Fiji (cruiser)

13.12.1939
-
08.1943
Electrical Department, HMS Vernon (torpedo school and experimental establishment, Portsmouth, later Brighton) (St Malo rescue operation of troops & Jutland)

03.08.1943
-
(07.1945)
Torpedo Officer, HMS Bermuda (cruiser) (shadowing Scharnhorst & Russian convoy duties & US 7th Fleet)

02.1946
-
(04.1946)
HMS Vernon (torpedo school and experimental establishment, Brighton) (for miscellaneous duties)

1946
-
1946
HMS Glenearn

1946
-
1947
HMS Collingwood (training establishment, Fareham, Hampshire)

(10.)1947
-
(07.1948)
Admiralty Gunnery Establishment, Teddington

?
-
(05.1949)
HMS President

19.09.1949
-
(05.1950)
HMS President (for service at the Naval Ordnance Department)

02.1952
-
(05.1953)
HMS Glory (Korean war)

1955
-
1962
Admiralty, Bath/Portland:

(04.1955)
-
(01.1956)
HMS President *

09.04.1956
-
(01.1957)
Naval Ordnance Department, Admiralty [HMS President]

27.10.1958
-
(07.1961)
Assistant Director (L), Underwater Weapons Division, Weapons Department, Admiralty [HMS President] (worked on underwater weapons and Seacat and Seaslug missiles with which the Fleet was equipped)

Rejoined Admiralty in Bath and AUWE Portland as a Naval Civil Servant, 1962-1972. MIEE.

Roe,
Thomas
T. Roe ?
-

Cd.Eng. (retd)
11.05.1941

?
-
(07.1945)
FS (French Ship) Paris

Rogers,
Daniel William
D.W. Rogers

$Peter Tarrant wrote about his uncle: "He was quite a character. He left school at age 13 years, a bright lad but there weren't any scholarships in those days. His dad (my grandfather) was a foreman at St. Pancras Station the old LMS Line and he got Dan a job in the office drawing up timetables for the trains. This was boring so in his lunch hours he would talk to the Engineers and learned how to operate the big steam locomotives. He actually took one for a joyride one day and got himself and his dad in deep doodoo !!! They kept him on when he promised to toe the line.However after a couple of years in the office, he'd had enough. He talked to an old sea captain on the Thames and had him sign as his dad, so he could join the navy. He was a Boxer, Gunnery Instructor and while showing some recruits how to load, some overly keen type shut the breach too quickly and caught Dans thumb which was ripped it off. He was apparently on the Warspite at the battle of Scapa Flow and was decorated for some reason. He was on a ship that docked in Halifax Canada in 1917 and slipped off the icy gangplank fracturing both arms and legs. While in hospital with both arms and legs in plaster, the Halifax Explosion occurred and he lost an eye when the glass roof of the hospital was blown apart. He was listed as killed, although he somehow crawled from the wreckage and was taken to another hospital where he recovered and was sent to England on leave, he actually delivered his own "Killed in the Explosion" telegram when he took it from the telegram boy who rode up on his bicycle just as Dan arrived on foot at his parents house in Hackney. He used to sign his letters "Cyclops" and told us to remember the words of Lord Nelson when going to pee, which were "Men with short guns should stand nearer the target."$ 30.01.1887 *
Hackney, Greater London
-
spring 1950
Barnstaple, Devon

* gave as date of birth 30.01.1886 when enlisting, being underaged

?
? [220481]

Lt.
15.02.1918 (retd 22.05.1922; own request)

Lt.Cdr. (retd)
15.02.1926 (reactivated 03.10.1939) (reverted to retd > 04.1946)

served in the ranks

(11.1908)

HMS Hyacinth (Bombay, India) (as Petty Officer in charge of Physical Education Department)

gunnery instructor, and served at HMS Warspite & HMS Lion

(06.1934)

Antioquia (destroyer) (Panama)

03.10.1939
-
(12.1941)
Boom Defence Depot, Aden [HMS Gloucester III, from 01.04.1940 HMS Sheba (RN base, Aden)]

(08.1942)
-
(02.1943)
no appointment listed

10.03.1943
-
(10.)1943
Boom Defence Depot, Lyness, Orkneys [HMS Pomona (boom defence depot, Crockness, Scapa Flow)]

01.10.1943
-
(10.1944)
Officer-in-Charge, Crockness Camp [HMS Pomona (boom defence depot, Crockness, Scapa Flow)]

02.05.1945
-
(04.1946)
Boom Defence Depot, Plymouth [HMS Drake IV (accounting base, Devonport)]

One-time boxing champion for the RN in India.

Rogers,
Hugh Hext
H.H. Rogers Photo courtesy of The Harwich Historical Society (A. Farnell)
27.10.1883
Carwinion, Falmouth
-
16.05.1955
[Mawnan Smith, Falmouth ?]

...
...

Lt.
1904

Cdr.
1916

Capt.
30.06.1924

R.Adm.
02.10.1935 (retd)

Cdre. RNR
1939 (reverted to retd 1944)

MVO
1920
?

OBE
1919
?

Humane Society bronze medal, 1913; Order of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia, 4th class (25.11.1947; services to Czech forces Harwich)
Education: The Old Ride, Bournemouth; HMS Britannia

1910
-
1912
served Persian Gulf operations in Philomel (medal)

1914

HMS Vanguard

1917
-
1919
HMS Birmingham

1919
-
1921
HMS Renown (including tours of Prince of Wales to Canada and Australasia)

1921
-
1923
Commander, Royal Naval College, Dartmouth

commanded HMS Weymouth, HMS Sandhurst, HMS London, HMS Frobisher, 4th Destroyer Flotilla, HMS Ganges

1939
-
1942
served as Commodore RNR for convoy duty

14.02.1942
-
01.03.1944
Flag Officer-in-Charge Harwich [HMS Badger]

JP (Cornwall), 1938

Rogers-Tillstone,
Benjamin John Legge Wilkinson
B.J.L.W. Rogers-Tillstone 30.03.1900
Steyning, Sussex
-
11.01.1973

A/S.Lt.
?

S.Lt.
15.09.1918

Lt.
15.08.1920

Lt.Cdr.
15.08.1928 (retd 07.03.1932; own request) (mobilized 24.08.1939)

Cdr. (retd)
30.03.1940

A/Capt. (retd)
01.07.1945? (reverted to retd 1946?)

28.01.1916

entered RN

21.11.1922
-
(08.1923)
HMS Emperor of India (battleship)

21.10.1924
-
(01.1925)
Acting Observer, HMS Argus (aircraft carrier) (Atlantic Fleet) [additional]

06.04.1926
-
(05.)1926
photographic course, RAF School of Photography, Farnborough

08.1926
-
(07.1927)
Observer, HMS Eagle (aircraft carrier) (Mediterranean)

12.06.1928
-
(08.)1929
Observer, HMS Furious (aircraft carrier) (Atlantic Fleet)

(04.1928)
-
(06.1928)
no appointment listed

12.12.1929
-
(04.1930)
Observer, HMS Hermes (aircraft carrier) (China)

05.01.1931
-
(02.1931)
tactical course, HM Dockyard, Portsmouth [HMS Victory]

(01.1932)

no appointment listed

24.08.1939
-
(04.)1940
HMS Peregrine (RN Air Station, Ford, Sussex)

31.08.1940
-
(08.)1942
instructional staff, HMS Condor (RN Air Station, Arbroath)

01.12.1942
-
(06.1944)
HMS Jackdaw (RN Air Station, Crail, Fife) [probably in charge of HMS Jackdaw II (RN Air Station, Dunino, Fife)]

(07.1945)

no appointment listed

01.07.1945
-
(04.1946)
Commanding Officer, HMS Nabsford (transportable aircraft maintenance yard (TAMY) No. 1) (Archerfield, Queensland, Australia)

Barrister & philatelist. Exhibited his Great Britain internationally, 1955-65. President Royal Philatelic Society London 1964-67 and largely responsible for Society’s Centenary History 1969. Contributed ‘Philatelic Appreciation’ to Philatelic Congess of Great Britiain (PCGB) Yearbook 1954. Co-author with LR Ray, of ‘Background to Philately’ [1953]. Chairman of Executive Committee PCGB 1956 and 1959. Congress Medal, 1967. Judge at London International Exhibition 1960. RDP 1970, and Chairman of Board of Election, 1957-60. President Brighton & Hove Philatelic Society of which he wrote a short history in 1956.

Romer,
Leslie Richard
L.R. Romer 18.06.1898
Barnet, Greater London