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Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Seagoing) (RANR(S)) 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. The (S) behind ranks of Australian officers indicates (Seagoing). More explanations can be found at the help page.


 
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Blamey,
Norman Harold
N.H. Blamey
Son of Harold A. Blamey, Kew, Vic.

02.10.1919
Brunswick, Vic.
-
Austr. Army:
 
Signalman
? [V 27667]
RANR:
 
Ord.Sea.
11.02.1942, seniority 19.12.1941 [PM 4154]
T/A/S.Lt. (on prob)
06.10.1942
T/A/S.Lt.
05.03.1943, seniority 06.10.1942
T/S.Lt. (provl)
05.03.1943
T/S.Lt.
27.10.1944, seniority 05.03.1943
T/Lt. (provl)
27.10.1944 (reld 09.07.1946)
10.08.1940


enlisted Australian Army
(1940?)
-
(1942?)
2nd Cavalry Divisional Signals
11.02.1942


enlisted RANR, Port Melbourne
11.02.1942
-
05.10.1942
HMAS Cerberus (RAN base, Williamstown, Victoria) [07.09.1942-18.09.1942 sea service at HMAS Bingera (minesweeper)]
06.10.1942
-
16.10.1942
HMAS Cerberus (RAN base, Williamstown, Victoria) (additional)
17.10.1942
-
13.01.1943
HMAS Assault (RAN Combined Operations base, Nelson's Bay, Port Stephens, NSW) [18.11.1942-09.12.1942 sea service at HMAS Westralia (armed merchant cruiser)]
14.01.1943
-
15.09.1945
HMAS Manoora (armed merchant cruiser, from 02.02.1943 landing ship, infantry)
[26.01.1944 passed aircraft recognition course of 5 days;
27.10.1944 modified Watchkeeping Certificate for signals on smaller vessels only]

16.09.1945
-
01.1946
Commanding Officer, HMAS Chinampa (stores lighter)
01.1946
-
02.1946
HMAS Carpentaria (RAN base staff, Thursday Island) (and for armament store accounting duties)
02.1946
-
23.06.1946
First Lieutenant, HMAS Carpentaria (RAN base staff, Thursday Island)
24.06.1946
-
09.07.1946
HMAS Lonsdale (RAN base staff, Port Melbourne & Williamstown) (additional; for discharge)
       

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Chapman,
Arthur Irwin
A.I. Chapman

11.01.1916
Malvern, Vic.
-
Lt.
17.12.1939
...
-
...
...
24.09.1942
-
04.05.1943
Commanding Officer, HMAS Abraham Crijnssen [based at HMAS Lonsdale, from 01.11.1942 HMAS Penguin, from 01.01.1943 HMAS Kuttabul]
...
-
...
...
       

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Forwood,
Percy William
P.W. Forwood
Son of Percival Henry Forwood (1875-?), and Mary Anne Deex (1864-?).
Husband of Rhoda Thusnelda Strauss (born 1904), of Tepko, South Australia; one son, one daughter.

22.01.1906
Woodville, South Australia
-
27.11.1941
(MPK) [age 35]
[Plymouth Naval Memorial, panel 60, column 2]
Midsh. (prob)
01.07.1924
Midsh.
1925?, seniority 01.07.1924
S.Lt. (prob)
01.04.1927
S.Lt.
1928, seniority 01.04.1927
Lt. (prob)
01.04.1929
Lt.
1930, seniority 01.04.1929
Lt.Cdr.
01.07.1941
12.03.1934
 
 
HMAS Canberra (additional; for 6 days' training)
19.02.1936
 
 
HMAS Stuart (additional; for 9 days' training)
17.05.1937
 
 
HMAS Yarra (additional; for 13 days' training)
31.05.1937
 
 
HMAS Yarra (additional; for 13 days' training)
30.08.1938
 
 
HMAS Yarra (additional; for 12 days' training)
16.04.1940


mobilized RANR
16.04.1940
-
18.04.1940
HMAS Cerberus IV
19.04.1940
-
03.05.1940
HMAS Penguin II
04.05.1940
-
27.11.1941
HMAS Parramatta (sloop) (East Indies, from 06.1941 Mediterranean) (missing, presumed killed when ship was torpedoed & sunk by U-559 northeast of Tobruk)
       

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Goller,
Gordon Melton James
G.M.J. Goller (Photo courtesy of Cdr. Greg Swinden, RAN)

25.02.1912
Ballarat, Vict.
-
Midsh. (prob)
01.05.1930
Midsh.
12.1930?, seniority 01.05.1930
A/S.Lt.
01.03.1933
S.Lt.
01.01.1935
Lt.
01.10.1939 (demobilized 27.03.1946)
Lt.Cdr.
01.10.1947 (retd 02.10.1947) (resigned from Retired List of Reserve Officers 30.11.1964)
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
1943?
?

Mentioned in Despatches

MID
07.03.1947
service in SW Pacific
09.09.1930
-
06.10.1930
HMAS Canberra (cruiser) (additional; for 28 days' training)
18.01.1933
-
14.02.1933
HMAS Australia (cruiser) (additional; for 28 days' training)
08.03.1934
-
03.04.1934
HMAS Australia (cruiser) (additional; for 27 days' training)
01.10.1939
-
12.06.1941
HMAS Sydney (light cruiser)
[notebable event sinking of Italian light cruiser "Bartelomeo Colleoni" 19.07.1940]
13.06.1941
-
17.11.1941
HMAS Torrens (base staff, South Australia) (for Naval Control Service)
18.11.1941
-
15.04.1943
HMAS Melville (base staff, Darwin) (as Naval Control Service & Defence Equipped Merchant Ships Staff Officer (and as S.T.?))
16.04.1943
-
08.10.1944
Naval Control Service, HMAS Leeuwin (base staffs, Fremantle, Albany, Geraldton and Port Hedland)
09.10.1944
-
(02?).1945
HMAS Ladava (base depot, Milne Bay & Forward Areas) (additional; for convoy routeing duties in Forward Areas & on staff of Commander Naval Base Northern Solomons)
(02?).1945
-
09.1945
HMAS Lursair?  (additional; Naval Control Service Officer Northern Solomons)
09.1945
-
20.03.1946
HMAS Lonsdale (base staff, Port Melbourne & Williamstown)
Gray,
Alan John
A.J. Gray (Photo courtesy of Cdr. Greg Swinden, RAN)

04.08.1912
Perth, West Australia
-
Sg.Lt.
01.03.1939 (demobilized 21.04.1941)
Sg.Lt.Cdr.
01.03.1945 (retd 26.11.1957)
Education: MB, BS
29.08.1939
-
04.04.1941
HMAS Sydney (light cruiser)
[notebable event sinking of Italian light cruiser "Bartelomeo Colleoni" 19.07.1940]
05.04.1941
-
21.04.1941
HMAS Penguin (RAN depot, Sydney, NSW)
30.08.1954
 
 
HMAS Albatross (additional; for two weeks' training)
17.09.1956
-
30.09.1956
HMAS Albatross (additional; for two weeks' training)
       

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Harrington,
Charles Frederick
C.F. Harrington
Son of native-born parents Hubert Ernest Harrington, solicitor, and his wife Laura Irene, née Barton.
Brother of R.Adm. Sir Wilfred Hastings "Arch" Harrington, RAN.

22.06.1914
Eagle Junction, Brisbane, Queensland
-
27.11.1941
(MPK) [age 27]
[Plymouth Naval Memorial, panel 60, column 2]
Sg.Lt.
05.10.1940, seniority 01.09.1939

Distinguished Service Cross

DSC
08.01.1942
withdrawal from Crete [decoration presented to next-of-kin]
Education: The King's School, Parramatta, NSW; University of Sydney, NSW (MB, BS 1938)
05.10.1940


joined RANR, Sydney
05.10.1940
-
01.01.1941
HMAS Wyrallah (auxiliary patrol vessel) [tender to HMAS Penguin (additional)]
02.01.1941
-
27.11.1941
HMAS Parramatta (sloop) (East Indies, from 06.1941 Mediterranean) (missing, presumed killed when ship was torpedoed & sunk by U-559 northeast of Tobruk)
Horner,
Frank Benson
F.B. Horner
Son of Arthur Horner.

28.10.1917
Malvern, Vic.
-
2004
Prob. A/S.Lt.
06.12.1943
A/S.Lt.
?, seniority 06.12.1943
S.Lt.
06.06.1944
12.04.1943


enlisted RANR
12.1943
-
(06.1944)
undergoing Fairmile course, HMAS Rushcutter
?
-
02.1945
HMA ML 431 (motor launch)
02.1945
-
03.1946
First Lieutenant [later CO?], HMA ML 811 (motor launch)
04.03.1946


discharged from HMAS Rushcutter
Published: Looking for LA Perouse : D'Entrecasteaux in Australia and the South Pacific 1792-1793 (Miegunyah Press, Series 2) (1995)

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Lenthall,
Edmund Terry
"Ned"
E.T. Lenthall (Photo courtesy of Mr E.T. Lenthall)
Son of P/O Frederick Arundel Lenthall, RAAF (1891-1972), and Kathleen E. Sadlier.
Married (22.11.1947, Pymble, NSW) Elaine "Betty" Hill (1926-); one son, one daughter.

12.11.1923
Roseville, NSW
-
04.2010 still alive
Trooper 15.12.1941 [NX78621]
Ord.Sea. 29.03.1943 [O/NS 8276]
T/A/S.Lt. (prob) 06.12.1943
T/S.Lt. 06.06.1944 (reld 25.03.1946)
S.Lt. RANVR 26.03.1946, seniority 06.06.1944
Lt. RANVR 06.06.1947 (reld 31.03.1958)
Order of Australia Medal OAM ? ?
15.12.1941 - 28.03.1943 7th Cavalry, then 2/7 Australian Armoured Regiment, Australian Imperial Force
29.03.1943 - 05.12.1943 enlisted service, HMAS Cerberus
06.12.1943     HMAS Cerberus (additional)
03.1944     HMAS Cerberus (additional; for passge to UK in SS Priam)
24.04.1944     HMS Irwell (trawler base, Birkenhead)
26.06.1944     HMS Lady Madeline (armed trawler)
21.07.1944     HMS Ayrshire (anti-submarine warfare trawler)
30.10.1944     HMS Elfin (submarine base, Blyth)
03.01.1945     HM LST 410 (landing ship, tank)
30.10.1945     HMAS Penguin (additional)
05.03.1946     HMAS Rushcutter (additional)
First president, Norfolk Island Rotary Club.
       

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Manton,
Mayne Mervyn Morris
M.M.S. Manton

25.11.1920
Hurstville, NSW
-
23.09.1988
London ?
S.Lt.
?
Lt.
25.05.1943 (reld 15.07.1946)

 

05.09.1939


joined RANR
11.10.1942
-
(02.1943)
HMAS Southern Cross (examination service yacht)
24.05.1943
-
(06.1944)
HMAS Ararat (K.34; minesweeping sloop)
10.1944
-
(04.1946)
HMAS Bundaberg (J.231; minesweeping sloop)

-
15.07.1946
discharged from HMAS Rushcutter * (RAN anti-submarine training establishment & reserve depot, Edgecliff, Sydney, NSW)
* another source gives HMAS Kuttabul (RAN depot, Sydney, NSW)
Left Australia after the war and came to the UK to become a lecturer in Photogrammetry & Survey at the City University in London.
Martin,
Joseph Richard
J.R. Martin

05.08.1905
Gisborne, North Island, New Zealand
-
30.09.1987
Prob. T/Eng.Lt.
03.03.1942
T/Eng.Lt.
10.1942, seniority 03.03.1942 (reld 20.02.1947)
Eng.Lt. RANVR
21.02.1947, seniority 03.03.1942 (retd 21.08.1963)
10.1941


applies for appointment as an Engineer Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (Seagoing)
03.03.1942


commissioned
16.03.1942


mobilised, assumes full-time service and is appointed to HMAS Rushcutter (base staff, Sydney), additional, for HMAS Lonsdale (base staff, Victoria)
02.04.1942


HMAS Lonsdale (base staff, Victoria)
08.06.1942


Assistant to the Base Engineering Officer for service with auxiliary vessels and small craft, HMAS Melville (base staff, Darwin)
31.05.1944


HMAS Townsville (minesweeper)
01.08.1946


HMAS Leeuwin (base staffs Fremantle, Albany & Broome)
23.08.1946


HMAS Cerberus (RAN base, Williamstown, Victoria)
11.02.1947


HMAS Rushcutter (base staff, Sydney) (for demobilisation)
McAuley,
Kenneth Douglas
K.D. McAuley

21.10.1921
Sydney, NSW
-
08.11.1974
Canberra
T/S.Lt.
14.05.1943 [S/4234]
Lt.
14.11.1945 (reld 22.02.1946)

 

01.07.1940


enlisted, Port Melbourne



training in the US, before serving in the UK (perhaps at HMS Proserpine, RN base, Scapa Flow))
15.11.1943
-
(06.1944)
HMS Oribi (destroyer)
20.03.1945
-
(07.1945)
HMS Camperdown (destroyer)
22.02.1946


discharged from HMAS Rushcutter (RAN anti-submarine training establishment & reserve depot, Edgecliff, Sydney, NSW)
McHugh,
Leo Dominic
L.D. McHugh

05.11.1899
London, UK
-
16.04.1978
Wellington, NSW
[Wellington Lawn Cemetery, Ang. F.23]
Prob. T/S.Lt. RNR 28.06.1940
T/Lt. RNR 28.09.1940
T/Lt. 15.06.1942, seniority 28.09.1940 (reld 04.01.1946)
Served Merchant Navy.
28.06.1940 - 31.101.1941 HMS Cricket (gunboat)
01.02.1941 - (12.1941) HMS Aberdare (minesweeper)
15.06.1942 - 12.07.1942 HMAS Themistocles [HMAS Rushcutter (RAN base, Sydney, NSW)]
13.07.1942 - ? HMAS Maitland (RAN base, Newcastle, NSW) (for examination service)
? - 01.06.1943 HMAS Maitland (RAN base, Newcastle, NSW) (for Naval Control Service)
01.06.1943 - 12.08.1944 HMAS Magnetic (RAN base, Townsville), from 01.10.1943 HMAS Platypus (RAN base, Cairns & Thursday Island) (as Naval Control Service Officer and Sea Transport Officer, Augusta)
13.08.1944 - 09.1944 Commanding Officer, HM HDML 1323 (harbour defence motor launch)
09.1944 - 12.10.1944 HMAS Magnetic (RAN base, Townsville)] (as Naval Control Service Officer and Sea Transport Officer, Merauke)
13.10.1944 - 04.1945 HMAS Moreton (RAN base, Brisbane) (for Naval Control Service)
04.1945 - 16.12.1945 HMAS Melville (RAN base, Darwin) (additional; for Naval Control Servie)
17.12.1945 - 04.01.1946 HMAS Rushcutter (additional; for release)
Melville,
Arthur Roland
A.R. Melville
Son of Rev. Charles Julian Melville, and Anna Stewart Chardler.
Married Violet Gladys Crisp; ... children (one son?).

21.06.1883
Jamaica
-
17.08.1959
Australia
T/Lt.
28.08.1939 (reld 03.05.1944; at own request)
29.11.1916
-
21.03.1919
Temporary Lt. RNR
28.08.1939
-
31.07.1940
joined RANR(S), HMAS Cerberus III (for base staff)
01.08.1940
-
08.11.1943
HMAS Lonsdale (base staff, Victoria)
09.11.1943
-
03.05.1944
HMAS Huon (base staff, Tasmania) (for examination service)

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Simpson,
James Houston
J.H. Simpson (Photo courtesy of Cdr. Greg Swinden, RAN) J.H. Simpson (Photo courtesy of Cdr. Greg Swinden, RAN)
J.H. Simpson J.H. Simpson

Married (1941, Mosman) Mrs Grace Evelyn Smith (née Taylor).

19.02.1905
Ayr, Scotland
-
17.09.1999
Midsh. (prob)
19.02.1923 (appointment terminated 30.06.1928)
Lt. (prob)
01.06.1934
Lt.
1935?, seniority 01.06.1934
A/Lt.Cdr.
22.10.1941
Lt.Cdr.
01.06.1942 (demobilized 30.10.1945) (retd 31.10.1948)
Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (pre-1941 model) RD
17.07.1944
?

Mentioned in Despatches

MID
27.12.1940
sinking of Italian light cruiser "Bartelomeo Colleoni"
06.07.1923
-
02.08.1923
training, HMAS Penguin (RAN depot, Sydney, NSW) (additional)
24.10.1934
-
20.11.1934
training, HMAS Vendetta (destroyer) (additional)
14.01.1936
-
10.02.1936
training, HMAS Cerberus (RAN base, flinders Naval Depot, Vict.) (additional)
08.08..1939
-
08.06.1941
HMAS Sydney (light cruiser)
[notebable event sinking of Italian light cruiser "Bartelomeo Colleoni" 19.07.1940]
09.06.1941
-
01.08.1941
HMAS Penguin (RAN depot, Sydney, NSW) (additional)
02.08.1941
-
18.08.1942
HMAS Adelaide (light cruiser) (for navigating duties)
19.08.1942
-
01.1945
Commanding Officer, HMAS Toowoomba (minesweeper) [based at HMS Leeuwin, from 27.11.1942 at HMAS Napier]
10.02.1945
-
12.05.1945
HMAS Penguin (RAN depot, Sydney, NSW) (additional)
13.05.1945
-
10.1945
HMAS Manoora (landing ship)
10.1945
-
30.10.1945
HMAS Rushcutter (RAN reserve depot, Edgecliff, Sydney, NSW) (additional)
       

 
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