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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V.J.H. Van der Byl  to  J.G.P. Vivian
Van der Byl, Voltelin James Howard Married; at least one daughter.	? - 21.09.1968	Cadet 15.01.1924 [1921?] Midsh. 15.05.1925 A/S.Lt. ? S.Lt. 01.04.1928 Lt. 01.11.1929 Lt.Cdr. 01.11.1937 Cdr. 30.06.1942 Capt. 31.12.1948 (retd 31.01.1958) DSC 28.06.1940 submarine service (HMS Taku)	09.1924 - (01.1925) HMS Marlborough (battleship) (Mediterranean) 18.03.1926 - (07.1927) HMS Lowestoft (cruiser) (Africa) 15.04.1929 - (02.1931) HMS Odin (submarine) (China) (01.1932) no appointment listed 15.03.1932 - (09.1932) HMS Shropshire (cruiser) (Mediterranean) 20.06.1933 - (01.1934) First Lieutenant, HMS Sturgeon (submarine) 24.10.1934 - (07.1935) First Lieutenant. HMS Rover (submarine) (China) (02.1936) no appointment listed 08.08.1936 - (07.)1937 CO HMS Salmon (submarine) (Mediterranean) 02.08.1937 - (09.1939) HMS Neptune (cruiser) (Africa) 24.02.1940 - (04.)1940 CO HMS Taku (submarine) 15.10.1940 - (02.1941) Staff Officer (Operations) (2) to Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet [HMS Nelson (battleship)] 25.07.1942 - (02.)1943 Staff Officer (M) to Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet [HMS Duke of York (battleship), later: HMS King George V (battleship)] 09.03.1943 - 01.07.1943 Anti-Submarine Warfare Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 01.07.1943 - (06.)1944 Anti-U-Boat Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 27.09.1944 - (07.1945) HMS Cyclops (for submarines) (04.1946) HMS Wolfe * 06.10.1946 - (07.1948) Staff Officer (Operations) to Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station [HMS Highflyer] 15.08.1949 - (05.1950) staff of Flag Officer (Air) (Home) [HMS Daedalus (RN Air Station, Lee-on-Solent] (05.1953) no appointment listed 08.10.1953 - (04.)1955 Second Naval Member, New Zealand Naval Board 04.11.1955 - (01.1956) CO HMS Forth 08.07.1957 - 07.01.1958 Naval ADC to the Queen * indexed, but not listed as such
Vanneck, Hon. [Sir] Peter Beckford Rutgers Youngest son of 5th Baron Huntingfield (William Charles Arcedeckne Vanneck), KCMG (1883-1969) and Margaret Eleanor (1884- 1943), daughter of Judge Ernest Crosby, NY. Married 1st (1943) Cordelia (marriage dissolved 1984), youngest daughter of Captain Reginald Hugh Errington, RN (retd); one daughter (and one daughter deceased). Married 2nd (1984) Mrs Elizabeth Lechmere Forbes (née Macaskie); one step son, one step daughter. Obituary (The Independent)	07.01.1922 London - 02.08.1999 London	Cadet 01.01.1940 Midsh. 01.09.1940 A/S.Lt. 01.05.1942 S.Lt. 10.10.1942, seniority 01.08.1941 Lt. 25.05.1943, seniority 01.12.1942 (resigned 24.05.1949) RAFVR: F/O 17.11.1949 [205378] R Aux A F: F/O 18.12.1950, seniority 09.10.1950 F/Lt. 04.09.1951, seniority 09.10.1950 Sq.Ldr. 01.07.1958 Gp.Capt. 1963 Air Cdre. 1967? GBE 18.10.1977 Lord Mayor of London OBE 01.01.1963 New Year 63 CB 02.06.1973 HM's birthday 73 AFC 09.06.1955 HM's birthday 55 AEA 1954 ? Hon. DSc City Univ. CStJ, 06.01.1959. KStJ, 11.01.1965 (former Mem., Chapter General). Commander, Legion of Honour (France), 1981; Grand Officer, Order of the Crown (Belgium), 1983	Education: Geelong Grammar School; Stowe School (Scholar); Trinity College, Cambridge (MA; DSc); Harvard; IEng; MIAgrE HMS Nelson (battleship) 01.10.1940 - (02.1941) upper gun range finder, HMS King George V (battleship) HMS Eskimo (destroyer) commanded a landing craft, 55th LCA Flotilla (North Africa) 01.05.1942 - (08.1942) promotion course, Portsmouth 19.12.1942 - (04.1944) HMS Wren (sloop) (06.1944) HMS Bee (Coastal Forces base, Holyhead) 08.1944 - (07.1945) CO MTB 696 30.09.1945 - (04.1946) FIS Church, Lawford [HMS Heron] pilot, 771 Squadron FAA 18.08.1947 - (07.1948) pilot, 807 Squadron FAA Cambridge University Air Squadron, 1949; 601 (County of London) Squadron RAuxAF, 1950-1957 (101 Sqdn Mass. Air Nat. Guard, 1953); No. 3619 (County of Suffolk) Fighter Control Unit, 1958-1961 (in command 28.06.1959-01.02.1961); No 1 Maritime HQ Unit, 1961-1963; Inspector RAuxAF, 1963-1973, Hon. Inspector­General 1974-1983; ADC to the Queen, 1963-1973; Hon. Air Cdre, No 1 (Co. Hertford) Maritime HQ Unit, RAuxAF, 1973-1987. Gentleman Usher to the Queen, 03.10.1967-1979. Mem., Stock Exchange Council, 1968-1979 (Dep. Chm., 1973-1975). Mem. (C) Cleveland, 1979-1984, Cleveland and Yorks N, 1984-1989, contested (C) Cleveland and Yorks N, 1989,  European Parliament; Member, Energy, Research and Technology Committee, 1979-1989; Vice­Chairman, Political Affairs Committee, 1984-1989. Prime Warden, Fishmongers' Co., 1981-1982; Past Master: Gunmakers' Co., 1977 and 1988; Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators, 1976-1977; Freeman, Watermen's and Lightermen's Co., 1978; Alderman of Cordwainer Ward, City of London, 1969-1979; Deputy Lieutenant, Greater London, 19.05.1970. Supernumerary Justice of the Peace, City of London. Sheriff, City of London, 1974-1975; Lord Mayor of London, 1977-1978. High Sheriff, Suffolk, 1979.
Vaux, Michael Philip	? - died between 08.1989 and 12.1998	Cadet 01.05.1939 Midsh. 01.09.1939 S.Lt. 01.04.1941 Lt. 01.08.1942 Lt.Cdr. 01.08.1950 (retd 18.12.1955; own request) DSC 03.04.1942 Operation Archery (raid on Vaagso Islands 27.12.41) MID 27.04.1943 convoy JW518 12.42	31.08.1939 - (04.)1940 HMS Norfolk (cruiser) 03.07.1940 - (02.1941) HMS Jervis (flotilla leader) 23.09.1941 - (02.)1943 HMS Onslow (destroyer) 10.04.1943 - (10.)1943 HMS Bulldog (destroyer) 05.12.1943 - (04.)1944 Preliminary Air Training Establishment, Gosport [HMS St Vincent] (for preliminary air training) (06.1944) no appointment listed 01.10.1944 - (07.1945) First Lieutenant, HMS Tumult (destroyer) (04.1946) no appointment listed 01.01.1948 - (07.1948) Damage Control School, Portsmouth [HMS Victory] 03.1950 - (05.1950) CO HMS Striker (05.1953) no appointment listed (04.1955) Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty [HMS President]
Vavasour, [Sir] Geoffrey William; 5th Baronet, of Haslewood, Yorkshire Son of Captain Sir Leonard Pius Vavasour, 4th Bt, RN, and Ellice Margaret Nelson. Succeeded father, 1961. Married 1st (23.01.1940) Joan Millicent Kirkland Robb (marriage dissolved 1947); two daughters. Married 2nd (1971) Marcia Christine, daughter of late Marshall Lodge, Batley, Yorks (marriage dissolved 1980).	05.09.1914 Queenstown, Co. Cork, Ireland - 28.07.1997 Wandsworth, Greater London	Cadet 01.01.1932 Midsh. 01.09.1932 A/S.Lt. 01.01.1935 S.Lt. 16.09.1935 Lt. 16.09.1937 ?, seniority 16.03.1937 Lt.Cdr. 16.03.1945 Cdr. 31.12.1949 (retd 17.02.1958) DSC 02.05.1944 operations Adriatic [investiture 11.05.45] MID 31.03.1942 attack battlecruisers 12.02.42 MID 23.05.1944 Operation Avalanche	Education: RN College, Dartmouth 04.01.1932 - (09.1932) HMS Hood (battlecruiser) (Home Fleet) 09.03.1933 - (07.1934) HMS Danae (cruiser) (America and West Indies) 03.01.1935 - 01.09.1935 promotion course, RN College, Greenwich [HMS President] 02.09.1935 - (02.)1936 promotion course, Portsmouth 12.1936 - (07.1937) HMS Hereward (destroyer) (Mediterranean) 04.01.1938 - (08.)1939 HMS Iron Duke (training ship) (Portsmouth) 22.08.1939 - (04.1940) HMS Wrestler (destroyer) (02.1941)     no appointment listed 01.09.1941 - (08.)1942 Gunnery Officer, HMS Mackay (destroyer) 10.09.1942 - (12.1943) Gunnery Officer, HMS Quilliam (destroyer) 22.02.1944 - (10.1944) Gunnery Officer, HMS Ferret (RN base, Londonderry) 31.01.1945 - (04.1946) Gunnery Officer, HMS Mauritius (cruiser) (07.1948)     HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth) * 18.12.1948 - (05.1949) HMS Belfast 28.03.1950 - (05.1950) HMS Drake (RN base, Devonport) (for miscellaneous duties) 29.07.1951 - (05.1953) Executive Officer, RN College, Dartmouth [HMS Britannia] 15.02.1954 - (07.1954) Commanding Officer, HMS Plucky (04.1955)     no appointment listed (01.1956)     no appointment listed (01.1957)     HMS Victory (RN base, Portsmouth) * A Director of W.M. Still & Sons, 1962-1980. Played First-Class cricket, 1947.
Veal, Stephen Ernest Married; at least one son.	26.07.1893 [Devonport?], district Stoke Damerel, Devon - died between 08.1973 and 08.1989	A/Gnr. 01.11.1918 Gnr. ?, seniority 28.09.1918 Cd.Gnr. 28.09.1928 Lt. 31.12.1933 Lt.Cdr. 31.12.1941 (retd 14.11.1942) MBE 01.01.1942 New Year 42 MID 30.01.1945 towing Mulberry harbour sections to France & rescue work during the invasion 06.44	(01.1919) no appointment listed 21.08.1922 - (08.1923) Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay [HMAS Franklin] [lent to Royal Australian Navy] 26.09.1924 - (01.1925) HMS P.31 (patrol boat) (Portland) 11.1925 - (07.1927) HMS Fermoy (twin-screw minesweeper) (Portland) 12.01.1929 - (04.1930) HMS Doon (fishery protection gunboat (trawler)) (Portland) 01.07.1930 - (09.1932) HMS Hastings (sloop) (Red Sea) [ship commissioned 27.11.1930] (01.1934) short course of instruction 18.05.1934 - (02.1936) CO HM Tug St. Issey (Mediterranean) 18.09.1936 - (02.1937) Gunnery School, Devonport [HMS Drake] 01.06.1937 - (07.1937) HM Dockyard Devonport [HMS Drake] 09.11.1937 - (04.1941) CO HM Tug Buccaneer 09.11.1941 - (04.1946) CO HM Tug (later HM Rescue Tug) Buccaneer
Veasey, Robert Francis Married; at least one daughter.	(06?).1883 Gosmore, Hitchin, Hertfordshire - 1964	A/S.Lt. 15.04.1902 S.Lt. 27.03.1903, seniority 15.04.1902 Lt. 30.06.1904 (retd 16.01.1912) [from 19193?: Lt.Cdr. (retd)] Cdr. (retd) 27.05.1923 (reverted to retd 1943) A/Capt. 1941?	1896 - 1912 served in RN 1914 - 1918 rejoined RN and attached to Government Steel Inspection Unit (01.1919) Assistant Inspector of Steel 1925 retired from RN and started a career in farming in Kenya > 04.1940 rejoined RN 10.06.1940 - (02.)1941 HMS Lanka (RN base, Colombo, Ceylon) ("also borne on the books of this ship") 1941 Naval Officer-in-Charge, Mogadishu, Somalia 08.06.1941 - (02.1943) Sea Transport Officer, later Divisional Sea Transport Officer, Aden [HMS Sheba] (06.1943) - (08.1943) Divisional Sea Transport Officer, Port Said, Egypt (10.1943) - (12.1943) no appointment listed
Vertue, Marcus Brooke Son of Charles Brooke Vertue and Maude Evelyn Vertue.	(06?).1901 Kingston, Middlesex - 12.02.1945 [age 43] [Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, naval reservation, grave 1650]	... ... Lt. 15.05.1923 Lt.Cdr. 15.05.1931 (retd 20.07.1934; own request) Cdr. (retd) 21.04.1941 PolMC 21.10.1941 good services in Polish ships	... - ... ... 12.1940 - (02.1941) First Lieutenant, HMS Tonbridge (corvette) (10.1941) British Naval Liaison Officer, ORP Błyskawica (Polish destroyer) 10.06.1942 - (04.)1944 Department of the Director of Boom Defences, Admiralty [HMS President] 03.04.1944 - 12.02.1945 for Naval Affairs on Staff of Press Division at Ministry of Information [HMS President]
Vian, Sir Philip Louis Son of late Alsager and Ada Vian, of Gilridge, Cowden Pound, Kent. Married (02.12.1929) Marjorie, daughter of late Col David Price Haig, OBE, Highfields Park, Withyham, Sussex; two daughters.	15.06.1894 London - 27.05.1968 Ashford Hill near Newbury, Berkshire [St. Paul's Cathedral, London]	Cadet 1911 Midsh. 1912 S.Lt. (1916) Lt. 05.07.1916 ?, seniority 15.02.1916 Lt.Cdr. 15.02.1924 Cdr. 30.06.1929 Capt. 31.12.1934 R.Adm. 08.07.1941 V.Adm. 08.05.1945 Adm. 26.09.1948 Adm. of the Fleet 01.06.1952 (retd 01.06.1952) GCB 01.01.1952 New Year 52 KCB 25.07.1944 Normandy landings CB 08.06.1944 HM's birthday 44 KBE 31.03.1942 Malta convoy DSO  12.04.1940 Altmark incident DSO  03.12.1940 Operation DN DSO  14.10.1941 Bismarck action MID 19.07.1940 withdrawal from Namsos MID 01.01.1943 New Year 43 MID 21.12.1943 Operation Husky MID 23.05.1944 Operation Avalanche MID 01.05.1945 Operation Meridian LegH ? liberation of France CdeG ? liberation of France LM 17.07.1945 Normandy landings DSM 13.08.1946 service with US 5th Fleet StOlav 20.07.1948 services to Norway Dbg - ?	Education: RN College Osborne (1907-...) & Dartmouth (...-1911) 1907 joined RN HMS Cornwall (training cruiser) HMS Lord Nelson (battleship) 1914 - 1918 served European War: 1914 HMS Argonaut (cruiser) (1916) HMS Morning Star (destroyer) (witnessed Battle of Jutland, 1916) - (1918?) First Lieutenant, HMS Ossory (destroyer) 05.08.1918 - (01.1919) qualifying for gunnery duties [HMS Excellent (gunnery school, Portsmouth)] First Lieutenant, HMS Sorceress (destroyer) Gunnery Officer, HMS Australia 12.01.1923 - (08.1923) Gunnery Officer, HMS Thunderer (battleship) 07.10.1924 - (01.)1925 Gunnery School, Devonport [HMS Vivid] 09.05.1925 - (05.1926) Gunnery Officer, HMS Emperor of India (battleship) (Atlantic) 17.02.1927 - (07.)1927 Gunnery Officer, HMS Royal Sovereign (battleship) (Mediterranean) 17.11.1927 - (08.1929) Gunnery Officer, HMS Kent (cruiser) (China) 01.03.1930 - (01.)1932 Staff, Training and Staff Duties Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 28.06.1932 - (09.1932) Director of Training and Staff Duties Division, Admiralty [HMS President] 31.03.1933 - (01.1934) CO HMS Active (destroyer) & Divisional Leader of 3rd Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) (07.1935) no appointment listed 07.10.1935 - 02.1936 CO HMS Douglas (submarine flotilla leader) & Captain (D), 19th Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) 1936 - 1936 Captain (D), 1st Destroyer Flotilla (Mediterranean) 12.10.1936 - (02.)1937 Senior Officers' War Course, RN War College, Greenwich 26.03.1937 - 30.06.1939 Flag Captain, HMS Arethusa (cruiser) & Chief Staff Officer to Rear-Admiral Commanding 3rd Cruiser Squadron 08.1939 - 09.1939 CO HMS Ganges (boys' training establishment, Shotley) 09.1939 - 12.1939 Captain (D) of a reserve Destroyer Flotilla [HMS Mackay] (Plymouth) 01.01.1940 - (07.)1941 CO HMS Cossack (destroyer) & Captain (D) 4th Destroyer Flotilla (temporarily HMS Alfridi from ... to 05.1940) (he led a daring rescue of 300 British seamen held on board the German supply ship Altmark (1940), and played a leading role in the destruction of the German battleship Bismarck (1941)) (07?).1941 09.1941 Commander Force K [HMS Nigeria] (Arctic) 15.10.1941 - 09.1942 Commanding 15th Cruiser Squadron [HMS Naiad (cruiser) till 03.1942, then HMS Cleopatra (cruiser)] (Mediterranean Fleet) (he distinguished himself with his skilful handling of escort forces in the hazardous convoy operations for the relief of Malta) 09.1942 - 04.1943 illness (02.1943) - (06.1944) no appointment listed: (07.1943) Commanding Amphibious Force (Sicily) (09.1943) CO Support Carrier Force (Force V / Task Force 88) [HMS Hilary] (Salerno) 11.1943 - 02.1944 Commander, Force J (for the Normandy invasion) 02.1944 - 30.06.1944 Naval Commander, Eastern Task Force (Normandy) 11.1944 - 1945 Commander, Carrier Task Force, Eastern Fleet 23.02.1945 - 1946 Flag Officer Commanding, 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron, British Pacific Fleet & Second-in- Command British Pacific Fleet [HMS Formidable] (04.1946) no appointment listed 23.09.1946 - 1950 a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Fifth Sea Lord for Air & 1947 Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Air) 12.01.1950 - 01.06.1952 Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet [HMS Vanguard, later HMS Implacable] Director, Midland Bank, since 1952; Director, North British and Mercantile Insurance Co.. Published: Action this day (1960)
Villar, George Married (1919) Monica Estelle Cook; one son (Capt. George Roger Villar, RN), two daughters.	30.05.1887 Cheltenham district, Gloucestershire - 18.04.1970	Eng.S.Lt. 01.08.1907 Eng.Lt. 01.05.1909 23.09.1910, seniority 01.08.1908 Eng.Lt.Cdr. 01.08.1916 Eng.Cdr. 31.12.1921 Eng. Capt. 31.12.1932 (retd 09.05.1939) CBE 01.01.1954 New Year 54: as General Manager, Southampton, and Director, John I. Thornycroft and Company, Ltd. OON 25.11.1947 ? MID 01.04.1919 ?	Education: RN Engineering