Royal Navy Chaplains - Revd. David Yougson
IN THE WAKE OF THE BIG FISHERMAN.
Revd David T Youngson.
Webmasters note: I have been given the very generous permission to publish David Youngson’s work. I have taken the liberty of amending the text to meet the style of the website and any ensuing errors must be laid at my door
Michael
A Directory of Chaplains of the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy who lost their lives.
1914-1919
1939-1946
O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go.
William Whiting
INTRODUCTION
The Royal Navy has a long history of Chaplains at sea and on shore bases. Commissions were not normally awarded until 1945 and no rank was worn on their uniform additionally they did not receive any decorations.
The Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service supports the spiritual, moral and social well-being of all personnel and dependents. This unique role of support in both the front line and on shore has created for the Chaplain a freedom from duties other than that of Chaplain. With access at all levels on matters relevant to the welfare of the service, it enables them to truly serve God and man. They are drawn from all denominations and are deployed around the world serving at sea and ashore.
During an in depth research of Army Chaplain Casualties of the First World War, (Greater Love published February 2008) several naval Chaplain casualties emerged. It seemed appropriate that a deeper investigation into the deaths suffered should be undertaken.
It has not been my purpose to write a history of The Royal Navy. References to such books are made where appropriate. In order to understand the nature and history of war at sea they are recorded in separate sections. The World War One section is detailed in chronological order. The WW2 Section distinguishes between those who served as Chaplains in the Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Brief notes to show the circumstances surrounding their death accompany each entry, to demonstrate the tragedy and futility of war at sea.
Although he does not fit into the research, mention must be made of The Revd John Craigie Leishman, Chaplain, Royal Navy from 1899. He drowned on the 16 March 1912 aboard the P&O Royal Mail Steamer Oceana following a collision with the German Barque Piagua in the English Channel near Beachy Head. He was bound for the RN Hospital and Dockyard at Gibraltar.
Revd David T Youngson.
June 2010
Chaplains listed in the Directory
WW1 1914-19
ALEXANDER, Philip George;
BACK, Hatfield Arthur William;
BROWNING, Guy Arnott;
CREED, Algernon Henry George;
DATHAN, Joseph Duncan;
DIXON- WRIGHT, Henry Dixon;
FORD, William Lewis;
GREIG, George Anthony;
GWYDIR, Robert Basil;
HALL, William;
HEWETSON, George Hayton;
KEWNEY, George Stanley;
LE PATOUREL, Wallace Mackenzie;
LEWIS, Ivor Morgan;
LYDALL, Cecil Wykeham;
MILNER, Dermond Ross;
MORGAN, George William Faulconer;
PHELAN, Stewart Joseph;
PITT, Arthur Henry John;
ROBINSON, George Brooke;
ROBSON, Edward Gledhall Uphill;
ROSS, Thomas Erskine;
SWEET, Algernon Sidney Osborne;
WALTON, Cyril Ambrose;
WEBBER, William Farel;
WW2 1939-45 Royal Navy
BAILEY, Reginald;
BIRD, John Minnitt;
BRADLEY, Thomas Frederick;
BRENNAN, Thomas Aidan;
CREE, James Douglas Becket;
EGAN, Michael Bernard;
HARRIS, Thomas;
KING, John Bernard;
LUSBY, Charles Joseph William;
PARKER, John Cartwright;
PARKER, Wilfred Graham;
STEWART, Robert James Patrick;
STUART, James Francis;
STUBBS, James;
THOMAS, David John OBE
WW2 1939-45
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
BONSEY, William;
BOTTING, Arthur Robert;
BURNETT, Frank;
COOK, Cyril;
DARLINGTON, Charles Arnold;
HOLMES, James Gordon;
JEFFERSON, Percy Taylor;
LABORDE, Edward Denzil Bickham;
LEE, Walter Granville Willoughby;
LEEKE, Alan Charles Herbert;
MANGER, Harold Charles Walter;
MITCHELL, William Heading;
MORIARTY, Thomas Henry George;
MUNBY, Peter Aldwin;
SHAW, Amyas George Fraser;
TANNER, Christopher Champain;
Royal Australian Navy.
BEVINGTON, Ronald Sutton;
STUBBS, George;
THOMPSON, Vivian Ward;
Royal Canadian Navy.
WHALLEY, Clement Kynnersley;
Royal New Zealand Navy.
WEBSTER, Claude Francis;
The Fallen in WW1
22 September 1914
The Revd Edward Gleadall Uphill ROBSON.
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Aboukir.
He was the son of Thomas and Ann Dean Uphill Robson, and studied at Clare College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1904 and an MA in 1913. Following Clergy Training at Leeds he was made a Deacon in 1912. He was ordained Priest by the Bishop of St. Albans in 1913, serving his Title as Curate of Malvern College Mission, Barking Road from 1912-14 and then at Hitchin.
He was killed in action on 22 September 1914 aged 32. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial 1.
Additional information
HMS Aboukir was a light cruiser built on the Clyde (Fairfield, Govan) and completed in April 1902. She was part of the 7th Cruiser Squadron, North Sea and was sunk by the German submarine U9 along with HMS Hogue and HMS Crecy in the area of the North Sea off the Dutch Coast, known as the Broad Fourteens. The patrol was known as the “live bait Squadron”. He was the first British Chaplain to lose his life during the Conflict. The Chaplains on the other two ships, the Revd George Henry Collier and the Revd Wilfred Frank Proffitt Ellis survived.
30 October 1914.
The Revd Fr. Canon Robert Basil GWYDIR OSB
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Rohilla
The son of Robert Clarke and Sarah Annie Gwydir (nee Jackson) of Cartron, Longford, Ireland he was born on 20 January 1867. He was educated at Breewood, County Stafford, Ireland and the English College, Douay 1878-87. He was a Priest of the OSB. He entered Douai Abbey, France, and was then at St Edmund’s where he was Clothed as a Novice on 3 September 1884 and made his Simple Profession on 7 September 1885, being Tonsured and ordained to the four minor Orders by Bishop John Cuthbert Hedley of Newport and Menvia in the pro-Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels at Cleome 1891. He was assistant Bursar at Douai until 1904 when he became Curate at Danygraig, St David’s, Swansea and Parish Priest shortly after. During his time at St David’s, he was involved with the Parish School – St David’s Mixed and Infant Schools. He was involved with the implications of the Balfour Act 1902–14 for Church Schools. He established the Presbytery and Chapel at Danygraig, St David’s Priory, and Swansea in 1913. He became a Canon of the Diocese of Newport 1914. He joined the Royal Navy in 1914 and served at Rosyth and Queensferry, Scotland.
He died on 30 October 1914. He was 47 and is buried in Belmont Abbey (St Michael) Roman Catholic Churchyard, Herefordshire, in the Old Monk’s Section.
Additional information
The hospital ship HMS Rohilla left Rosyth for Chatham carrying wounded seamen and Marines. It was wrecked in a storm off Whitby. Fr. Gwydir remained with the wounded and went down with the ship.
A stained glass memorial window and a plaque to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his death was placed in St David’s, Swansea. An ivory crucifix belonging to his mother hangs in the Sacristy at Douai Abbey.
The Church of England Chaplain, the Revd Roland Allen, who had survived, suffered shock and was physically unable to continue serving and resigned his commission on 23 December 1914.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was St David’s Priory, Rutland Street, Swansea
1 November 1914
The Revd Arthur Henry John PITT
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Good Hope
He studied at Edinburgh Theological College in 1896 and at Durham University in 1900. He was made a Deacon in 1898; Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Newcastle on Tyne in 1899, he served his Title as Curate of Amble, Northumberland 1898-1900; St Gabriel, Heaton, Newcastle on Tyne until 1902 and St Mary, Newcastle on Tyne until 1904. He was a Freemason and was initiated into Lodge of Perseverance No 1165, Hong Kong in 1908, he was a member of Navy Lodge No 2612, London 1909 and United Service Lodge No 3473, Dorset 1911 whilst serving on HMS Superb. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1904, serving on HMS Essex 1904–06; HMS Duke of Edinburgh 1906–07; HMS Flora 1907–09; HMS Superb 1909–13; HMS Prince of Wales 1913–14 and HMS Good Hope 1914.
He was killed in action at the Battle of Coronel and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 1. He was 41
Additional information
HMS Good Hope was an armoured cruiser manned by a crew of reservists and cadets and was the flag ship of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock commanding a squadron of ships in the South Pacific. She was sunk by the cruiser Scharnhorst at the Battle of Coronel in the South Pacific. There were no survivors.
A Memorial to Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock is to be found in York Minster.
MGA note
He left his estate to Mary Elizabeth Pitt, his widow.
26 November 1914.
The Revd George Hayton HEWETSON.
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Bulwark
The elder son of the late Revd John Hewetson, Vicar of Chadworth and Isabella Hewetson (nee Heslop), he was born at Chester on the 26 January 1877; educated at Bradfield, he was a Scholar of Worcester College, Oxford, where he obtained a 2nd cl. Cl. Mods. in 1897; 3rd cl. Lit. Hum in 1899 and a BA in 1901. He was made a Deacon in 1903 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwell in 1905. He was Assistant Master of Stancliffe Hall from 1899-1906 with Licence to Preach in the Diocese of Southwell 1903-06 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Britannia 1906–10; HMS Minotaur 1910–12 in the China Sea and at the RN Barracks Portsmouth 1912–14 On 3 February 1914 at Christchurch, High Harrogate, he married Lillian Mary Guy who was the sister of Lieut. Commander B J D Guy VC, DSO.
He died on 26 November 1914 and he is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 1. He was 37 and the husband of Lilian M Hewetson, Malmers Wells, High Wycombe.
Additional information
He was killed as the result of an internal explosion on HMS Bulwark, a Formidable Class battleship,off Sheerness. There was a powerful explosion on board on the 26 November 1914 at 07.50 hours while moored to a buoy in Kethole Reach, four miles west off Sheerness, in the Medway Estuary.
Out of a ship’s company of over 750 only 14 survived two died later, and the remainder were seriously injured. A subsequent enquiry decided that the explosion was due to “the accidental ignition of ammunition on board”.
1 January 1915
The Revd George Brooke ROBINSON
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Formidable
He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (Cam. Cl. Tr. Sch.) in 1894 and an MA in 1898. He became a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society in 1907. He was made a Deacon in 1895 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Worcester in 1897, serving his Title as Curate of Solihull from 1895 to 1897 and at Burton Bradstock until 1899, when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Theseus 1899–1902; RNE at College 1902-04; HMS Crescent 1904–07; HMS Imperieuse with RN Hospital, Portland 1907–09; HMS Mars 1909; HMS Terrible 1909–10; HMS Powerful 1910–12; HMS Vernon 1912.
He was the most senior Royal Naval Chaplain killed in action during WW1 and is remembered on Chatham Naval Memorial 9.
Additional information
HMS Formidable was attacked by the German submarine U24, 20 miles off Start Point in the English Channel. Out of a ship’s company of 750, only 199 survived.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 40 Bembridge Crescent, Southsea
He was the husband of Alice Irene Robinson
13 May 1915
The Revd Ivo Morgan LEWIS
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Goliath
He studied at Jesus College, Oxford, where he obtained a BA in 1911. He was made a Deacon in 1912 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1913, serving his Title as Curate of Uttoxeter, in the Diocese of Lichfield until 1914. He became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy and was the first Temporary Chaplain to lose his life.
He was killed in action, aged 26. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial 9. He was the son of the Revd David Lewis, Rector of Llanbedr and Caroline Lewis of Llanbedr Rectory, Ruthin, Denbighshire.
Additional information
HMS Goliath had a ship’s company of 682 men. In April 1915 she was part of the landings at Cape Helles in the Dardanelles and was sunk by three torpedoes from the Turkish torpedo boat Muavenet manned by a German crew. 570 men were lost.
30 December 1915
The Revd Algernon Sidney Osborne SWEET
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Natal
He trained for the Priesthood at Kelham Theological College, Newark in 1906 and was made a Deacon in 1911. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Winchester in 1912, he served his Title as Curate of Forton in the Diocese of Winchester until 1911 and at Gosport until 1914, when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Natal and was instrumental in setting up a ship’s newsletter using the pen name Buntyng.
He was killed following an internal explosion,. He is remembered on the
Chatham Naval Memorial, 9.
He was 26 and the son of the late Revd Algernon S O Sweet, sometime Vicar of Cowlinge, Suffolk, and Alice M Sweet, Travershes, Withycombe, Raleigh, Exmouth.
Additional information
HMS Natal was the last and finest of the Armed Cruisers built for the Royal Navy at Barrow in Furness in 1905. An account of the loss indicated that she was lying in the Cromarty Firth at Invergordon, with her Squadron. Shortly after 15.20 hours and without warning a series of violent explosions tore through the ship. Within five short minutes she capsized, a blazing wreck. 390 men, 11 women and children and 2 dockyard workers perished in the explosions and the freezing water.
It is said that some of the women were Nursing Officers from the shore base together with wives and families of the crew who were attending a film show. The Natal still lies in the Cromarty Firth and is a hazard to navigation, marked by a buoy.
The Roman Catholic Chaplain, Fr. William Driscoll, was not on board at the time of the explosion and survived.
MGA note
His address for Probate was Travershes, Exmouth
28 April 1916
The Revd George Anthony GREIG
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Russell
He was born at Perth and educated at Denstone College, Uttoxeter and Edinburgh Theological College in 1907. He studied at the University of Durham obtaining a Licentiate of Theology in 1910 and a BA in 1911.
He was made a Deacon in 1911 by the Bishop of St Andrews for Glasgow and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Glasgow in 1912. He was Curate of Christ Church, Glasgow from 1911-15 when he became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Russell.
He suffered gas poisoning in an explosion on the ship and died in hospital on the following day. He is buried in Malta, (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery Plot 44.
He was the son of Hunter H and Phoebe J Greig, 30 Luttrell Avenue, Putney, London,
Additional information
HMS Russell was a battleship built by Palmers at Jarrow and began service in 1903. At the time of his death, the ship was part of the 2nd detached Squadron based at Taranto to re-enforce the Italian Fleet in the Adriatic. She had been at Mudros and covered the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula and was mined off Malta on 27 April 1916.
THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND
31 May 1916
Much has been recorded and written about this battle. Suffice to say that Chaplains were involved and suffered casualties. They are listed in Alphabetical order. Of the nine Chaplains who lost their lives, those on the Lion and Chester were listed as killed in action. The Queen Mary, Indefatigable, Invincible, Defence and Black Prince were sunk in action, and the Chaplains were listed as lost at sea. The Chaplain of the Barham died of wounds on 1st June 1916. They are commemorated on the Memorial Tablet at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
The Revd Guy Arrott BROWNING
Chaplain and Naval Instructor, Royal Navy, HMS Indefatigable
He was a Late Scholar of St John’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a (Cl. Tr. Scholar Cambridge) BA in 1900; (Wrangler) 1900, and an MA in 1903. He was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Crediton in 1900 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Exeter in 1901. He served his Title as Curate of Dawlish from 1900, becoming a Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1903.
He served on HMS Exmouth 1903–04; HMS Prince of Wales 1904–05; HMS Implacable 1905–07; HMS King Edward VII 1907–08; HMS Dreadnought 1908–09; HMS Vanguard 1910–11; HMS Forte 1911–13; Chaplain and Naval Instructor HMS Hyacinth 1913–14; HMS Orion 1914–15 and HMS Inflexible 1915. He has been described as “zealous and of good judgement”.
He was lost at sea at the Battle of Jutland, aged 39 and is remembered on the Plymouth Memorial 10.
He was the son of Captain George A Browning, RN and Mary E Browning of Dawlish, South Devon
Additional information
HMS Indefatigable was a battle cruiser commissioned in February 1911 and was part of the First Cruiser Squadron. She was hit by shells from the German battleship Van Der Tann and sank so quickly that only two men were saved.
MGA notes
He was educated at Clapham, Dulwich College
His address for Probate was 11 Barton Terrace, Dawlish
The Revd George Stanley KEWNEY
Chaplain and Naval Instructor, Royal Navy, HMS Queen Mary
He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (June Opt) in 1895. He was made a Deacon in 1898 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Newcastle in 1899, serving his Title as Curate of Corbridge on Tyne until 1900 when he became a Chaplain and Naval Instructor to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Caledonia 1901; HMS Cambrian 1901–04; HMS Irresistible 1904; HMS Emerald 1904–05; HMS Commonwealth 1905–09; HMS Dreadnought 1909–11; HMS Formidable 1911; HMS Cumberland 1911–13 and HMS Highflyer 1913–15
Whilst serving on HMS Commonwealth he taught navigation. (See The Sea Chaplains – Gordon Taylor page 353ff.)
The son of Stanley Kewney (Solicitor) and Annie S Kewney, of Tynemouth, and the husband of Catherine Margaret Kewney of Splatton Cottage, South Brent, Devon. He was lost at sea aged 42. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 11.
Additional information
HMS Queen Mary was a battle cruiser who received a direct hit from the German ships Seydlitz and Derfflinger and blew up with the loss of 1266 crew with only nine survivors.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Norton, South Brent, Devon
The Revd Wallace Mackenzie Le PATOUREL
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Defence
He studied at Balliol College, Oxford where he obtained a BA (4th cl. Lit. Hum) in 1890 and an MA in 1895. He was made a Deacon in 1891 and ordained Priest by the Lord Bishop of London in 1892 serving his Title as Curate of Holy Trinity, Upper Chelsea 1891-1907. He was appointed Vicar of St Dunstan, East Acton in 1907 and became a Temporary Chaplain to The Royal Navy on 23 March 1916, joining HMS Defence.
He was the son of Mesurier and Elizabeth le Patourel of Guernsey and husband of Eva B le Patourel, High Chimneys, Hurst, Berkshire. He was aged 51 when he was lost at sea at the Battle of Jutland. He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial 10.
Additional information
HMS Defence was the Flag Ship of Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, she led the first Cruiser Squadron. She was attacking when hit in the after magazine, and within seconds she blew up after a second salvo hit her forward. The explosion was spectacular with the loss of the ship’s company of 903 men.
Editor’s Note
It was believed that she had been reduced to fragments by the explosion but she was discovered in 2001 by a diving team and was found to be largely intact.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was St Dunstan's Vicarage, East Acton
He was educated at Elizabeth College. He was advised to have a rest and change, so wishing to unite war service with his compulsory holiday, he volunteered for work with the Navy and was appointed to HMS Defence as Naval Chaplain.
The Revd Cecil Wykeham LYDALL
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Lion
He was a Late Exhib. of Worcester College, Oxford where he obtained a 2nd cl, Cl. Mods. 1891; BA (3rd cl. Lit. Hum.) 1896 and an MA in 1903. He was made a Deacon in 1905 and Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark in 1906 serving his Title as Curate of St Peter, Battersea 1905-06 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Minerva 1906–08; HMS Swiftsure 1908-12 and HMS Lion 1912.
He was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. The son of the late Wykeham Hawthorn and Sarah Lydall, Haslemere, Hatfield Street, Cape Town, South Africa, and a nephew of Lord French, he was due to be married on 5 June in London. He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial 10.
Additional information
HMS Lion was a Lion Class battle cruiser known as the “super cats” built at Devonport Dockyard in 1912. The Flag Ship of Admiral Sir David Beaty, she was severely damaged with the loss of 99 lives and 51 injured.
MGA notes
The executors of his Will were his siblings Ernest Wykeham Lydall and Rose Eleanor Lydall
The Revd George William Faulconer MORGAN
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Invincible
He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (June Opt.) in 1903 and trained for the Priesthood at Wells Theological College in 1903. He was made a Deacon in 1904 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Exeter in 1905 serving his Title as Curate of Stoke Damarel from 1904-06, when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Prince of Wales 1906–07; HMS Venus 1907–08; at the RN College, Osborne 1908-09 then HMS Berwick 1909 –10; HMS Challenger 1910–12; HMS Powerful 1912–13 and HMS Impregnable 1913–15.
The son of J H F and Amelia M Morgan, He was aged 38 when he was lost at sea at the Battle of Jutland and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 11.
Additional information
HMS Invincible was an Invincible Class battle cruiser built at Vickers Armstrong, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1909. The Flagship of Admiral Sir Horace Lambert Alexander Hood, she was sunk by SMS Derfflinger and Lutzow the latter being badly damaged by HMS Invincible. The entire ship’s company of 1026 were lost. (Some records indicate that there were six survivors.)
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Northam, Devonshire
The Revd Fr. Stewart Joseph PHELAN OMI. (Some records list him as Stuart)
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Black Prince
He was educated at Kilburn Junior School, London in 1893 and Belcamp Hall School, Raheny, Co Dublin, Ireland, he entered the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) as a Novice on 23 August 1896 at Belmont House, Stillorgan, and Dublin. He made his first vows on 27 September 1897. After Theological studies at Liege, Belgium where he made his final vows on 2 October 1898 he was ordained Priest in 1903. He was Chaplain to the Boys Reformatory School at Philipstown Daingean, Co. Offaly, Ireland. Some records say he was assigned to the Parish of Mount St Mary’s Leeds and then as Chaplain in St Conleth’s School, Philipstown, Co. Offaly. In 1914 he volunteered as a Chaplain to the Royal Navy and served on HMS Collingwood.
The son of Robert Phelan and Elizabeth Phelan (nee Ferguson), he was born at Dingle, Co Kerry, Ireland on 4 February 1879. He was 37, when he was listed as “missing presumed drowned” at the Battle of Jutland. (See OMI Oblates Missionary record 1916 pp 226-8). He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
The Revd William Farel WEBBER
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Black Prince
He studied at Jesus College, Oxford and was a Squire Scholar in 1905; 2nd cl. Cl Mod. 1906; 3rd cl. Lit. Hum. 1908; 3rd cl. Th. Hon. 1909 and obtained a BA in 1910. He was made a Deacon in 1910 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark in 1911, serving his Title as Curate of Christ Church, East Greenwich, until 1913 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Africa 1913–14 and HMS Black Prince 1914. His Admiral spoke of Webber as being, “greatly interested in the welfare of the men and ran the services very well”.
The son of Harry and Kathleen Webber, 86 Sandridge Road, St Albans. He was born in Paris. He was 31 when he was lost at sea at the Battle of Jutland 1916. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 11.
Additional information
HMS Black Prince was a Duke of Edinburgh armoured cruiser built at Thames Iron Works in 1906. She was sunk with the loss of all of the ship’s company.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 86 Sandridge Road, St Alban’s
The Revd Cyril Ambrose WALTON
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Chester
Educated at the Parochial Schools, Old Town, Clapham, he studied at Keble College, Oxford, where he obtained a BA in 1898 and an MA in 1902. He trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford and was made a Deacon in 1900, he was ordained Priest by the Bishop of Rochester in 1901. He served his Title as Curate of St Jude, Peckham 1900-05 and at Clapham, in the Diocese of Southwark, until 1915, when he became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Chester from April 1916.
He was the son of the Revd Thomas I and Barbara Walton, Ickleford Rectory, Hertfordshire and the husband of May Walton, School House, Old Town, Clapham. He was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland aged 39. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial 15.
Additional information
HMS Chester was built at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead and was a light cruiser of the Birkenhead Class. She suffered 17 direct hits during the Battle with the loss of 1 officer, 29 crew and the Chaplain. This was the ship on which Boy Seaman First Class, Jack Cornwell, aged 16, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. She was sold for scrap in 1921.
MGA note
His address for Probate was The School House, Old Town, Clapham
1 June 1916 – Ascension Day
The Revd Henry Dixon DIXON-WRIGHT MVO (Formerly known as Henry Dixon Wright)
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Barham
He studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he obtained a (3rd cl. Cl. Trip.) BA in 1892 and an MA in 1903. He was made an MVO 4th Class in 1912. He trained for the Priesthood at Ridley Hall, Cambridge in 1892. He was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Rochester in 1893, and ordained Priest by the Lord Bishop of London in 1894. He was Curate of St Stephen, South Lambeth 1893–94; St James, Paddington 1894–97; Stoke next Guildford 1897– 98 and Chaplain at Las Palmas, Grand Canary 1898–99. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1899, serving on HMS Resolution (Channel Squadron) 1899–1900; HMS Ramillies (Mediterranean) 1900–03; HMS Bedford (2nd Cruiser Squadron) 1903–06; HMS Egmont for Malta Hospital 1906–07; at the RN College, Dartmouth 1907; HMS Medina 1911 (Royal Yacht); at the RN College, Dartmouth 1915 and HMS Barham 1915.
While at Dartmouth he prepared the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) for Confirmation which was administered privately at Windsor on 24 June 1910. An eloquent preacher, it is recorded that as he lay dying with a shattered spine and leg, he was praying for victory. Interesting obituary notes are to be found in the Daily Graphic 27 June and The Times 9 June.
The son of Henry Wright of Wallington, Surrey and the husband of A. Louisa Dixon-Wright, 24 Stanley Street, Southsea, he died of wounds received at the Battle of Jutland, aged 46. He is buried in Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Orkney grave B5 and remembered on the Ridley Hall Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Barham was a Queen Elizabeth Class battleship built at John Brown Shipyard, Clydebank in 1914. In 1916 she was the Flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas (5th Battle Squadron), attached to Admiral Beatty’s Battle Cruiser Fleet at the Battle of Jutland where she received five hits. Following the Battle of Jutland she returned to Scapa Flow. HMS Barham continued in service, and after extensive modernization she served during WW2 in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Beaufort Lodge, Dartmouth
5 June 1916
The Revd Philip George ALEXANDER
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Hampshire
He studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1908. He was made a Deacon in 1908 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Bristol in 1909, serving his Title as Curate of Christ Church, Barton Hill, Bristol until 1910 and then at Downend until 1912. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy and served on HMS Blenheim 1912; HMS Falmouth 1912–13 and HMS Hampshire 1913.
He was lost following a mine explosion off the Orkneys. Aged 33, he was the husband of Fannie M Alexander, 10 Portland Place, Bath and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 11.
Additional information
HMS Hampshire took part in the Battle of Jutland. Immediately afterwards, she was directed to carry Lord Kitchener from Scapa Flow to Russia on a diplomatic mission. Sailing for Archangel in a gale, she struck a mine near Marwick Head on the 5 June 1916 and sank within minutes, with the loss of 643 lives. There were twelve survivors.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Fairfield, Overnhill Road, Staplehill, Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire
4 November 1916
The Revd William HALL
Chaplain and Naval Instructor, Royal Navy, HMS Venerable
Educated at Durham School he was a Late Scholar of King’s College, Cambridge and Abbotts University School in 1888, he obtained a BA (22nd Wrangler) in 1889. He was Assistant Master at Rossall School, Fleetwood, 1890-94. He was made a Deacon in 1893 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Manchester in 1894. He was Chaplain and Naval Instructor Royal Navy from 1894 on HMS Endymion; HMS Astraea 1895–98; HMS Raleigh 1899; HMS St George 1899–1902; HMS London 1902–04; HMS Aurora 1904– 05; HMS Highflyer 1905–06 and HMS Britannia 1906–09. In 1910, he was loaned to the Imperial Ottoman Navy. Returning to HMS Collingwood in 1910-12, he was then loaned to the Royal Australian Naval College, New South Wales returning to serve on HMS Agamemnon.
He was the inventor of the Nautical Slide Rule in 1902 and author of Ex-Meridian Altitude Tables 1896; Modern Navigation 1904, Model Sights 1905; Tables and Constants 1905 and contributed to Inman’s Nautical Tables 1906. In his book The Sea Chaplains, Gordon Taylor states “He died in tragic circumstances”. “The ship’s company of his ship, the battleship Agamemnon, were due for inoculation but it was not popular. Hall went round the lower deck encouraging the men and assuring them there was nothing in it and, as an example, offered himself as the first candidate at the sick bay. The following day he sickened, and later died of the effects, being the victim of a rare case of something going wrong”. Aged 49, he is buried in Ford Park Cemetery, (formerly Plymouth Old Cemetery) (Pennycomequick). Grave S14.
Additional information
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, he was serving on HMS Venerable at the time of his death. She was a Formidable-Class battleship. In May 1915, she was involved with the Dardanelles campaign for a short while and was then attached to the Italian Fleet at Taranto as a Depot ship. Some records indicate that she was at Gibraltar from October to December 1915 for a refit. The Revd Hall was a mathematician of some distinction and was involved in the development of navigational skills. There is a vast amount of technical data stemming from the work of this man which should be explored by anyone with an interest in early 20th century Navigation. Following his time with the Royal Australian Navy, there is no further record of his service apart from the CWGC record showing him as being part of the ship’s company of HMS Venerable.
21 May 1917
The Revd Algernon Henry George CREED
Acting Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Orvieto
He studied at Christ College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1887 and an MA in 1891. Assistant Master, Bolton Grammar School, 1888-89. He was made a Deacon in 1889 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Chichester in 1890, serving his Title as Curate of Ashington cum Buncton, Pulborough from 1889-93; Licenced to Preach in the Diocese of London from 1891-93 he was Curate of Old Shoreham from 1893–94; Chaplain and Assistant Master, Hazelwood School, Limpsfield 1894–96; Chaplain at Trinity College Glasgow 1896–1901. (Some records indicate that he was Chaplain and Assistant Master at Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perthshire 1896-1900). He was an acting Chaplain to the South African Field Force (medal and 5 clasps) 1901-02. He was Licenced to Preach in the Diocese of St Andrews 1902–03; Diocese of Winchester 1903–10 and the Diocese of Oxford 1906–10. He was appointed Vicar of Ewshot in the Diocese of Winchester in 1910
The son of the Revd Henry Keyworth Creed and Elizabeth Georgina Creed of Chedburgh Rectory, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk he was born on 7 June 1864 and died of a brain haemorrhage whilst on leave at Ewshot Vicarage on 21 May 1917, aged 52. He is buried on the north side of the Church of St Mary, Ewshot, Hampshire where there is a stained glass window in his Memory.
Additional information
His last entry in Crockfords Clerical Directory 1914 gives no indication of any service in the Royal Navy. Whilst in Scotland he was under the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Church of Scotland and their data tends to vary from Crockfords. Other sources indicate that he was an acting Chaplain in the Royal Navy serving on HMS Soudan (hospital ship) at Gallipoli in 1915. He was appointed Chaplain to the Flag Ship HMS Orvieto shortly before his death.
HMS Orvieto was built at Belfast in 1909 as a passenger ship owned by the Orient Steam Navigation Company. She was commissioned in 1914 as a mine layer and later converted into an armed merchant cruiser. She acted as an escort ship for Australian troops going to Gallipoli.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was The Vicarage, Ewshot, Hampshire
He was educated at Yarmouth Grammar School and Bedford
9 July 1917
The Revd Hatfield Arthur William BACK
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Vanguard.
After study at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1912. In April 1904, he donated £50 to the church of St Remigius, Hethersett, Norfolk. A further £50 was to be given from the family, (Ellen H Back and Mr & Mrs WH Back), to make up a peal of 8 bells made by George Day & Sons, Eye, Suffolk. He trained for the Priesthood at Leeds Clergy School and was made a Deacon in 1914. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Oxford in 1915 he served his Title at Thatcham in the Diocese of Oxford from 1914. He entered the Royal Navy in 1917.
The son of Ellen H Back, 5 Earlham Road, Norwich, and the late Revd Arthur J Back, sometime Rector of Carleton Rode, Norfolk. He was born at Worstead Vicarage, Norwich.
He died as a result of an internal explosion on HMS Vanguard at Scapa Flow, aged 26. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial, 20.
Additional information
HMS Vanguard was a St. Vincent Class battleship (Dreadnought) of the 1st Battle Squadron which had briefly been in action at Jutland. Built at Barrow and commissioned at Chatham in 1910, she blew up in Scapa Flow Harbour as the result of a magazine explosion in the midships turrets with the loss of over 800 lives. Only two survived the sinking. Despite an inquiry, the real cause of the explosion was not established. She was declared a War Grave in 1982.
MGA notes
He was born at Worstead Vicarage Norwich
His address for Probate was Carleton Rode Rectory
7 January 1918
The Revd Joseph Duncan DATHAN
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke
He studied at Cavendish College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1885 and an MA in 1889 and at Ridley Hall, Cambridge in 1888. He was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Norwich in 1889 and ordained Priest by Bishop Marsden for Norwich in 1890. He served his Title as Curate of St John, Ipswich until 1891 and was then Curate of Kinson, Dorset until 1895. In 1896 he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Endymion 1896; Particular Service Nile 1896–97; HMS Gibraltar 1897–99; HMS Sans Pareil Sheerness 1899; RM Depot Walmer 1899–1900; HMS Goliath 1900–03; HMS Venus 1903–04; HMS Hercules 1904–05; RN Barracks, Portsmouth 1905–06; HMS Monmouth 1906–08; RN Dockyard, Bermuda 1908–13; HMS Formidable 1913; HMS Russell 1914; RM Chatham 1914 and HMS Implacable 1914–15.
He died in January 1918 and is buried in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery Naval 27 1415 and he is remembered on the Ridley Hall Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Pembroke was a shore based establishment at Chatham. Built on the site of Chatham convict prison in 1897, it provided accommodation and training facilities for men of the Reserve Fleet while waiting to be appointed to ships. It was named after a hulk which was formerly housed on the site.
MGA notes
He died on 7 January 1918 at the Naval Hospital, Chatham.
He was the husband of Alicia K Dathan
He was educated at Cavendish High School.
His address for Probate was Holmwood, Manor Road, Chatham
9 May 1918
The Revd William Lewis FORD
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Suffolk
He studied at Selwyn College, Dunedin, New Zealand and was made a Deacon in 1912, ordained Priest by the Bishop of Dunedin, New Zealand in 1913. He was Curate of Bluff in the Diocese of Dunedin until 1912; Vicar of Stewart Island, New Zealand from 1912–14; Curate of St. Thomas, North Sydney, Australia 1914–15 and Shoalhaven 1915–16. He became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1916 serving on HMS Swiftsure. He was accidentally shot at Vladivostok, Russia.
He is buried in Pokrovskaya Cemetery, Vladivostok, Russia and remembered on the Vladivostok Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Suffolk was a Monmouth Class armoured cruiser and was built in 1903 and scrapped in 1920. She was part of the North Russian Expeditionary Force in 1918–19.
13 July 1918
The Revd Thomas Erskine ROSS
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Exmouth.
He studied at Keble College, Oxford where he obtained a BA (3rd cl. Mod. Hist.) in 1903. He trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford, and was made a Deacon in 1905. He was ordained Priest by The Lord Bishop of London in 1906 and was Curate of St Mary, Johnson Street, Stepney until 1908. He was Assistant Master of St John’s School, Leatherhead until 1911 and Curate of St. Agatha’s, Sparkbrook, Birmingham until 1914. In 1915, he became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Exmouth.
He was invalided out of the Royal Navy in 1917 and died of pneumonia at Conway, North Wales on 13 July 1918. He was 36 and the son of the late Honourable H T Ross, ICS and Mrs Ross.
He is not listed by the CWGC as a War Casualty but is remember on the Cuddesdon College Memorial. His obituary appears in The Times of 16 July 1918.
Additional information
HMS Exmouth was a Duncan Class Battleship and Flag Ship of Admiral Nicholson. She supported landings at Kephalo in the Dardanelles. From November 1915 she was part of a detached squadron at Salonika and returned home in 1917, going into Reserve.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Gyffin Rectory, Conway
17 September 1919
The Revd Dermond Ross MILNER
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HM Hospital Ship Garth Castle
He was a Late Open Exhib. of St Catherine’s College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1912. He was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Bangor for St Asaph in 1914 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of St Asaph in 1915. He was Chaplain and Assistant Master of Oswestry Grammar School, Shropshire from 1914-16. He was a Freemason and a member of St Oswald Lodge no. 1124 being initiated on 23 July 1918 and there is no record of any further advancement. He became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Astroea from 1916.
He was accidentally killed at the age of 29 by the explosion of a bomb on board ship. He is buried in Archangel Allied Cemetery, Russian Federation B14. He was the son of the Revd J Milner, MA, Chilton Rectory, Sudbury, Suffolk
Additional information
HM Hospital Ship Garth Castle was built by Barclay Curle and Company of Glasgow in 1910 for the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company. She was commissioned in November 1914. She was part of the North Russian Expeditionary Force in 1918–19.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Chilton Rectory, Chilton, Suffolk
The Fallen in WW2
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
14 October 1939
The Revd James Douglas Becket CREE
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Royal Oak
He studied at King’s College, London where he obtained an AKC in 1930. He was made a Deacon in 1930 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark in 1931 serving his Title as Curate of Plumstead 1931-33; Penworth until 1936 when he became a chaplain to The Royal Navy serving at RN Barracks, Chatham 1936.
He died at the age of 39 and is remembered on the Portsmouth Memorial Panel 33, Column 1. He was the son of The late William and of Ruth Cree,
Additional information
HMS Royal Oak was a Sovereign Class battleship built at Devonport Dockyard and commissioned in 1916. She was the first battleship to be lost in WW2. Moored at Scapa Flow she was attacked by a German submarine U47 which had penetrated the defences. She blew up with the loss of over 833 Officers and men. She is a designated war grave.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Latham House Hotel, Eastbourne
8 June 1940
The Revd John Bernard KING
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Glorious
He studied at the University of Durham in 1933 and at Chichester Theological College in 1935. He was made a Deacon in 1936 by the Archbishop of York and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Portsmouth in 1937. He was Curate of St Paul, Sculcoates 1936-37 and St John Baptist, Rudmore, Portsea until 1939. He became a Chaplain to The Royal Navy serving at HMS Pembroke and then HMS Glorious
He is remembered on The Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 36, Column 2
Additional information
HMS Glorious was an aircraft carrier. She was intercepted with her escorts HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent in the Norwegian Sea, 100 miles west of Narvik, by the German battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst as they were evacuating from that theatre of war. The three British ships were sunk by gunfire in just over two hours with the loss of over 1,500 officers and men. It is said that the enemy made no attempt to rescue survivors.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 95 Beach Grove, Whitley Bay
22 May 1941
The Revd William BONSEY
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Gloucester
He studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1933. After training for the Priesthood at Ely Theological College, he was made a Deacon in 1935. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Winchester in 1936, he was Curate of Weeke, Hampshire until 1937; Moordown until 1939 when he became Chaplain RNVR.
During the attack, when the order was given to abandon ship, he was seen comforting the wounded and securing them to rescue rafts. He was posted “missing” until 1945.
He died at the age of 29 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval memorial Panel 61, Column 3. He was the son of the Revd William H Bonsey MA and Ernestine C L Bonsey of Groton Suffolk.
A memorial for students of Ely Theological College is now in the King’s School, Ely.
Additional information
HMS Gloucester was a light cruiser built at Scots Shipbuilding, Greenock. Launched by the Duchess of Gloucester and completed in 1939, she joined the 7th Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria in May 1940. She was involved in escort duties and was nicknamed the “Fighting G”. In May 1941, she was involved in preventing a German seaborne landing on the island of Crete. She was finally destroyed by German JU 88’s dive bombers in the Antikythera Channel on 22 May 1941, with the loss of 694 officers and men.
23 May 1941
The Revd Christopher Champain TANNER Albert Medal
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Fiji
He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1932. He trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford in 1933 and was made a Deacon in 1935. Ordained by the Bishop of Oxford in 1936, he was Curate of Farnham Royal until 1937; St Mary de Lode, Gloucester until 1939 and Haslemere from 1939.
He died at the age of 32 and he is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 60, Column 3. He is further remembered on Cuddesdon College Memorial and on a memorial near the chapel of Cheltenham College. He was born on the 24 June 1908. He was educated at Cheltenham College. He was a Cambridge Rugby “blue” in 1930 and played as a wing for Richmond and Gloucestershire. He was capped five times for England - 1930 v Scotland; 1932 v Scotland, Ireland, Wales and South Africa. RFU Records credit him with having scored a try. He played for the Barbarians 6 times.
Additional information
The following notes have been gathered from several sources.
At the outbreak of war 'Kit' Tanner volunteered as a Naval Chaplain and was posted to the cruiser HMS Fiji and he was aboard in 1941 when she joined the Mediterranean Fleet which had the task of preventing a German seaborne landing on Crete. The entire force was under constant air attack, being bombed by Junkers and Stukas. The destroyer HMS Juno was hit by a whole stick of bombs and sank within two minutes. The destroyer HMS Greyhound was sunk by six dive bombers which swooped upon her like vultures. The cruiser HMS Gloucester ablaze from end to end, went down with her anti-aircraft guns still firing. Then it was Fiji's turn.
Midshipman Blockley was the Captain's secretary and was at his elbow on the bridge during the bombing. He kept an accurate record of the number of bombs aimed at Fiji. He counted 370 during the day.
The duties of a Ship's Chaplain during a naval action are not easily defined. Captain Powlett gave no orders to Kit Tanner. He entrusted him with a roving commission to make himself useful in every way possible. Wherever danger was most acute, Tanner was there. His cheerful influence infected the bridge and, ‘by God, I needed cheering up,' said the Captain, as well as the galley where the cooks toiled to provide hot cocoa and bully beef sandwiches. It permeated to the engine room where sweating stokers laboured in a foul atmosphere which could at any moment become a shambles of death. The crews of the anti-aircraft guns, who were firing their guns red hot, knew that Kit Tanner would be along with the sweets, cigarettes, cups of cocoa and the type of inconsequential humour to be found in Portsmouth music halls. There was hardly a let-up in the bombing. ‘It seemed,' said the navigating officer, ‘that Stukas were breeding in the sky.’ Great holes were torn in F decks. Anti-aircraft ammunition was all but exhausted. Fiji ‘Threw everything except her anchor at the swarming dive bombers'. Such a one-sided contest could only have one end. A bomb wiped out the port side watch in the after engine room, with the exception of Stoker Tubby Strange, who counted himself the luckiest sailor alive. Other bombs destroyed every gun except one pom-pom. Then three bombs hit Fiji amidships and astern. Now she was listing at 30 degrees and her speed dropped. A single ME109 dealt the final blow. The aircraft appeared alone and dropped one bomb. Fiji flopped over on her side, her only pom-pom still firing. There was only one order left to give, ‘Abandon ship'.
At that point, Kit Tanner knew he had one duty which took precedence above all others. In the sick bay were 60 wounded men. Tanner personally supervised their removal to the one whaler left in service. ‘He was untiring in his ministrations', said Captain Powlett, ‘and forgot nobody'. When the time came for him to jump into the sea he found that he had a new parish, approximately half a square mile of choppy Mediterranean. Some of Fiji's men, glad to be free of the bombing, took to the sea immediately. A handful of strong swimmers, led by the water polo team, struck out for the destroyers HMS Kandahar and HMS Kingston, which had closed in to see Fiji's last moments afloat. There were a number of vintage seamen aboard who had been in the ‘drink’ before. They made wry jokes about compulsory bathing and exhorted their comrades to ‘come in, it's lovely and warm'. When the men in the sea saw the two destroyers withdraw into the gathering darkness, some of them lost heart and drowned. There were stokers, many stripped to the waist and glad to be out of the stifling heat of the boiler-rooms, who succumbed to the cold as night wore on. There were teenage boys who saw no hope of rescue. There were men who could barely swim and others who could not swim at all. It was these less resilient souls who became Kit Tanner's special concern.
Fiji's serviceable life-saving equipment had been reduced to one whaler and two Carly floats; the rest had been jettisoned for HMS Gloucester's survivors. Of the survivors, 9 were in a desperate plight. The whaler was crammed with wounded, and the Carly floats were designed to take only 20 men each. In the water, Kit Tanner was a constant tower of strength. He helped men too far gone to help themselves to the floats. He administered the life saver's shock treatment - a shrewdly delivered right hook to the jaw to a young seaman in the grip of terrible panic. He successfully dissuaded a Marine from swimming to Crete (there were Marines still fighting on the island and this man was determined to join them). He assisted a seaman with his arm blown off, who subsequently survived. He led men in singing and soon the strains of ‘Roll out the barrel' hit the night. There were other songs many of which he had heard sung in the bar of the Gloucester Rugby Football Club. After four hours in the water, most of the time in darkness, only the more determined singers, Kit Tanner amongst them, were still in full voice. Then, shortly after midnight, cheering started and torches were frantically flashed. A dark shape looming out of the blackness, closely followed by another, told the men in the water that HMS Kandahar and HMS Kingston had come back for them. Aboard HMS Kandahar, there were blankets, hot drinks and cigarettes for Fiji's survivors. In the warmth of the wardroom and mess-decks, the rescued men began to talk of survivors' leave. Kit Tanner was brought aboard HMS Kandahar. But for him, rescue did not mean comfort and cheerful anticipation. There were still men in the sea, who were too far gone through exhaustion to grasp the ropes lowered to them from the destroyer. Tanner made these men his special responsibility. Thirty-four officers and 500 men were saved out of Fiji's total complement of 700. Nearly 30 of these men owed their lives to Tanner. No accurate count was possible of the number of times he dived from HMS Kandahar bringing in yet another man. At length, only one man remained to be brought across. Despite his exhaustion Mr Tanner made a last effort to save him. He brought him across and saw him safely on board but when hauled up himself, he died within a few minutes from exhaustion.
For these acts of bravery he was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal.
Note
The Albert Medal, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1866 for saving life at sea, was one of the rarer awards of the war. It has been worn by officers and men of the Royal and Merchant Navy; by lifeboat men and policemen and by one clergyman - The Revd Kit Tanner. There is a curious sequel to the story of this gallant Chaplain. Some years later, a dealer was offered an Albert Medal with Tanner’s name on it. It transpired that the Albert Medal had been stolen in a burglary and was being touted round the dealers. Happily, it was eventually recovered and restored to its rightful owner. Only 45 Albert Medals were awarded during WW2.
MGA notes
He was the husband of Eleanor M C Champion who he had married in 1937
His address for Probate was Glebe Cottage, Derby Road, Haslemere
24 May 1941
The Revd Robert James Patrick STEWART
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Hood
He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (3rd cl. Engl. Trip. pt.i) in 1931 and an MA in 1935. He trained for the Priesthood at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and was made a Deacon in 1933. Ordained Priest by The Bishop of Portsmouth in 1934, serving his title at St Mary, Portsea until 1936, when he became a Chaplain to The Royal Navy.
He served on HMS Amphion 1936-38; HMS President 1938-40; HMS Badger 1940.
He died at the age of 31 and is remembered of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 45, Column 2 and on the Ridley Hall Memorial.
He was the son of Surgeon Rear-Admiral Robert William Glennan Stewart, OBE and Mabel Stewart of Bayswater.
Additional information
HMS Hood was a battle cruiser which was involved in the search for the German Battleship Bismarck and engaged her in the Denmark Strait. Within minutes a gigantic explosion ripped her in two and she disappeared within ten minutes. There were three survivors.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Foicks House, RN Base Parkestone Quarry, Harwich
25 November 1941
The Revd Frank BURNETT
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Barham
He studied at The University of Leeds, where he obtained a BA in 1929 and trained for the Priesthood at the College of The Resurrection, Mirfield in 1929. He was made a Deacon in 1931 and ordained Priest by The Bishop of Norwich in 1932. He was Curate of St Peter, Parmentergate with St. Julian, Norwich until 1939 when he became a Chaplain RNVR.
He is remembered on The Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 60, Column 3.
HMS Barham was a battleship which had been damaged in the operations off Crete and had been sent to Durban for repairs. Rejoining the Mediterranean Fleet in July she was on patrol between Crete and Cyrenaica when she was struck by three torpedoes from the German submarine U331. As she rolled over on to her beam end, the main magazine blew up and she sank with the loss of 862 officers and men.
Additional information
Mention is made of his hymn writing with particular reference of a hymn for confirmation with the first line, “To Thee O Lord our hearts we raise”. Exhaustive searches in several hymn books of the period have not produced any hymns with his authorship. The hymn, “To Thee O Lord”, was written by W. Chatterton Dix 1837-1898.
The Royal Yacht, HMS Medina was a converted P & O Liner which conveyed King George V and Queen Mary to India for the Delhi Durbar in December 1911. For his services during this voyage he was made an MVO.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 6 Greyfriars Road, Norwich
10 December 1941
The Revd Wilfred Graham PARKER
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Prince of Wales
He studied at The University of New Zealand where he obtained a BA in 1927, and an MA (2nd cl. Phil.) in 1928; and studied at St Johns Theological College, Auckland; New Zealand Board of Theological Studies, Licentiate of Theology in 1930. He was made a Deacon in 1928, and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Wellington in 1929. He was Curate of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Wellington until 1931; Wrangthorn, Leeds until 1933; St John Baptist, Hove, Sussex until 1935 when he became a Chaplain to The Royal Navy. He served on HMS Medway 1935-8; HMS Wildfire 1938-39; RN Air Station Lee-on–Solent 1939–41; HMS Prince of Wales on Commissioning in March 1941.
He died at the age of 36 and is remembered on The Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 44, Column 3.
He was the son of James and Hylda May Parker of Paeroa, Auckland, New Zealand. He was born at Wellington, New Zealand on 30 November 1905. A memorial in his home parish church - St Paul’s, Paeroa, New Zealand was erected in 1996.
Additional information
An article in ‘The Volunteers’ Volume 24, No 1 records that “a Seaman observed in the shaft below that the Padre was attending wounded. He told the Chaplain that he was about to secure the hatch….the Padre refused to leave his parishioners and the hatch was sealed.”
HMS Prince of Wales was a King George V battleship built at Birkenhead and completed in March 1941. Although not fully operational, she was involved with the attack on Bismarck in May 1941. Following repairs she carried the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, to Newfoundland for the Atlantic Charter Conference. She went to the Mediterranean and saw active duty off Malta before going to the Far East with the battle cruiser HMS Repulse. Returning to Singapore after attacks in North Malaya she was attacked by Japanese high level bombers and torpedo planes. Without air cover both ships were hit several times. HMS Repulse was sunk. HMS Prince of Wales capsized and sank with loss of 327 Officers and men.
Editor’s Note
Chaplain Parker was prominent during the attack on the Bismarck.
See The Sea Chaplains page 401ff; Bucknill Report which has been available to the public since 1974.
15 December 1941
The Revd Arthur Robert BOTTING
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Galatea
He studied at Hertford College, Oxford where he obtained a BA (2nd cl. Phil. Pol. and Econ.) in 1933; Ellerton Th. Essay Prize 1935 and an MA in 1937. He trained for the Priesthood at Westcott House, Cambridge, and was made a Deacon in 1935 by The Bishop of Portsmouth. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Ripon for Portsmouth in 1936, he served his Title at St Mary, Portsea until 1937; Chapel Allerton, Leeds until 1939; Christ Church, Harrogate and Chaplain RNVR 1940.
He died age 29 and is remembered on The Plymouth Memorial, Panel 61, Column 3
He was the son of Frank Charles and Ada Marion Botting, 88 Newmarket Road, Norwich and the husband of Beryl M Botting, Grove House, Clare Valley, The Park, Nottingham
Additional information
HMS Galatea was an Arethusa Class cruiser built by Scotts of Greenock and completed in 1935. She had been on active service in various events and was assigned to the Mediterranean in May 1941. She was attacked by the German submarine U557 west of Alexandria and sank within three minutes with the loss of 470 officers and men.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 88 Newmarket Road, Norwich
19 December 1941
The Revd Thomas HARRIS
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Neptune
The son of John S and Emma Harris of Exeter, he studied at Exeter College, Oxford where he obtained a BA in 1934 and an MA in 1937. He trained for the Priesthood at Ripon Hall, Oxford and was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Southwark in 1935. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Chichester in 1936, he served his Title at Battersea until 1936 and at Preston, Sussex until 1937 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served at HMS Pembroke 1937 and then on HMS Neptune.
He died at the age of 29 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, panel 44, column 3.
Additional information
HMS Neptune was leading a Cruiser Squadron, Force K, to destroy German and Italian convoys carrying troops and supplies to Libya in support of Rommel’s Army. She struck a mine and, going full astern, hit another mine which brought her to a standstill. Despite attempts by other ships in the Squadron to render assistance, she struck another mine and slowly sank. 764 officers and men were lost.
Editor’s Note:
There was a Memorial Fire screen at Ripon Hall, Oxford which it is believed now to be part of the property of Ripon Hall College, Cuddesdon.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 6 Herschell Road, Exeter
19 January 1942
The Revd Amyas George Fraser SHAW
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Despatch
He studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (3rd. cl. Cl. Trip. pt i.) in 1933 and a (3rd cl. Th. Trip. pt i.) in 1934. Some records show him as being an MA. He trained for the Priesthood at Westcott House, Cambridge and was made a Deacon in 1936. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Salisbury (Sarum) in 1937, he served his Title at Melksham until 1940 when he became a Chaplain RNVR. After some months at the Royal Navy Coastal Forces Base at Gosport (HMS Hornet) he was appointed to the cruiser HMS Despatch which was at Talara in Peru and arrived at Lagos, Nigeria in March. It is suggested that he crossed the Atlantic to join his ship but the movements did not enable him to do so. He returned to England in the 7,988 tons Canadian National Steamship Company passenger/cargo liner SS Lady Hawkins which was torpedoed by the German submarine U66 and sank with the loss of over 200 lives in the North Atlantic between Cape Hatteras and the Bermudas when sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
He was 29 and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 71, Column 2. He was the son of the late Engr. Captain James F Shaw, RN, and of Patricia T Shaw
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Lamorna, 13 Lower Camden, Chislehurst.
9 March 1942
The Revd Reginald BAILEY
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Afrikander IV
He died on 9 March 1942, aged 57 and is buried in grave F.264, Stellawood Cemetery, Durban, South Africa,.
HMS Afrikander IV was a Naval Base at Simonstown, South Africa.
5 April 1942
The Revd John Minnitt BIRD
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Cornwall
He was an AKC in 1932 and was at Westcott House, Cambridge. He was made a Deacon in 1933 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark in 1934 serving his Title at St Peter, Dulwich Common until 1936 and Purney until 1938 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Drake 1938-39 and HMS Cornwall.
He died at the age of 36 and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial 51.1.
The son of Edward William and Emily Alice Bird of Sanderstead
Additional information
HMS Cornwall was a cruiser which was attacked in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Ceylon by 50 plus Japanese dive bombers from an aircraft carrier along with HMS Dorsetshire. She sank within twenty minutes. There were 198 men lost.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 61 Mayfield Road, Sanderstead
5 April 1942 (Easter Sunday)
The Revd Edward Denzil Bickham LABORDE
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Dorsetshire
A late Exhib. of St Catherine’s College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (2nd cl. Hist. Trip. pt. i) in 1934, (3rd cl. Th. Trip. pt. i.) in 1935 and an MA in 1938. He trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford in 1935 and was made a Deacon in 1936. Ordained Priest by the Lord Bishop of London in 1937, he served his Title at St Gabriel, Warwick Square, Pimlico, until 1940 and was Chaplain of Aldenham School, Elstree, from 1940.
He was the son of Dr Edward and of Hilda G Laborde and the husband of Alice H Laborde of Harrow on the Hill. He was 29. He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 76, Column 3 and the Cuddesdon College War Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Dorsetshire was a cruiser which was involved with the sinking of the Bismarck on the 27 May 1940. Later she was attacked in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Ceylon by 50 plus Japanese dive bombers from an aircraft carrier. Along with HMS Cornwall, she sank within twenty minutes. 227 men were lost.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Slade Cornwood, Ivybridge
9 April 1942
The Revd Alan Charles Herbert LEEKE
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Hermes
He studied at Clare College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1930, and an MA in 1935. He trained for the Priesthood at Westcott House, Cambridge, and was made a Deacon in 1935. Ordained Priest by The Bishop of Ely in 1936, he was Chaplain of Clare College, Cambridge until 1938. He was then Organising Secretary for The Cambridge Mission to Delhi, and Curate of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster until 1939, when he became a Chaplain.
He was 32 and is remembered on The Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 76, Column 3.
He was the son of the late Henry A and of Catherine H Leeke, of Seaford
Additional information
HMS Hermes was an aircraft carrier based at Ceylon in the Indian Ocean. Following a Japanese air attack at Trincomalee, she came under a heavy air attack being hit by 40 bombs in ten minutes and quickly sank along with a corvette and a destroyer. A hospital ship in the vicinity was able to rescue some survivors but the Chaplain was lost.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Southdown Cottage, Seaford
11 March 1943
The Revd John Cartwright PARKER
Chaplain, Royal Navy
He studied at Christ College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (Cl. Tr. Sch.) in 1907. He was made a Deacon in 1909 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Truro in 1910 serving his Title at Launceston until 1912 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Blake 1912-13 and HMS Berwick 1913-16. There are no further entries in Crockford’s Clerical Directory.
He died on the 11 March 1943, aged 59 and is buried in Skirton Cemetery, Lancaster, section B. (Church of England), grave 654.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was The Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Lancaster
2 July 1943
The Revd Fr. Thomas Frederick BRADLEY CSSR
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Resolution
He served with the army during WW1 when he was Chaplain with 7 Battalion, The Royal West Kent Regiment at Purfleet. His Father Provincial persuaded the War Office for him to be returned to Orders duty in February 1915. He next appears as a Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Lion at the Battle of Jutland where he was slightly wounded. Returning to the Royal Navy in 1940 after service at home, he was sent to the East African Base at Kilindini near Mombasa, Kenya. Having been granted leave he resolved to visit sailors on Madagascar calling at Mauritius. Embarking on the SS Hoihow, a 2198 tons steamer bound for Tamotavi, Madagascar, it was struck by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. There were only four survivors out of a ship’s compliment of 196 passengers and crew. Correspondence found in The Cross on the Sword pp 61ff would seem to indicate that he was unclear as to the ethos and role of Naval Chaplains. His last church was St Mary, Clapham.
He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 78, Column 1. He was the son of Thomas J and Maria H Bradley. He was a Roman Catholic Priest (Redemptorist).
23 October 1943
The Revd William Heading MITCHELL
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Charybdis
He studied at the University of Birmingham in 1921 and at St Stephen’s House, Oxford in 1926 and was made a Deacon in 1928. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1928 he served his Title at St Mary, Hurst Hill, Sedgley until 1930; Wolstanton until 1933; St Paul, Burton on Trent until 1935 then Rector of Salwarpe in the Diocese of Worcester.
He was posted as “missing presumed killed on active service” when his ship unsuccessfully attempted to intercept the former blockade runner Munsterland off the north coast of France and was torpedoed by German destroyers in her escort.
He is buried in Île de Bréhat Communal Cemetery, France Row 1 Grave 10. The son of William Frederick and Elizabeth Mitchell (nee Lotka), He was 39 and the husband of Muriel M Mitchell Amblecote Vicarage, Stourbridge.
Editor’s Note
Île de Bréhat is a small island off the French coast. Presumably his body was washed ashore at that place.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Salwarpe Rectory
5 November 1943
The Revd Charles Arnold DARLINGTON
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Drake
He studied at Trinity College, Dublin where he obtained a BA in 1935. Some records show him as an MA (Dublin) Trinity College. He was made a Deacon in 1936 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Down in 1937. He was Curate of Trinity College Mission, Belfast until 1939.
The son of Charles Horace John and Frances Ellen Darlington of Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, He was 30 and he is buried in Plymouth (Western Mill Cemetery) Section C Cons grave 18139.
Additional information
HMS Drake was a Barracks at Plymouth
18 December 1943
The Revd James STUBBS
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Victory
The son of Edward and Violet Lily Stubbs, Kendray, Barnsley. He died at the age of 32 and is buried in Arnos Vales Cemetery Bristol sec TTT grave 951.
HMS Victory is the Flag Ship of the Second Sea Lord, Commander in Chief Naval Home Command at Portsmouth
Editor’s Note
CWGC records indicate that he was a BA
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 2 Birk Avenue, Kendray, Barnsley which also records that he was last seen alive on 18 December 1943 and his body was found in the river Avon near Bristol on 16 January 1944
18 February 1944
The Revd Peter Aldwin MUNBY
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Penelope
He was at Bishop’s College, Cheshunt, in 1934, and studied at the University of London in 1938. He was made a Deacon in 1937 and ordained Priest by The Bishop of Worcester in 1938. He served his Title as Curate of Rainbow Hill, Worcester from 1937 to 1939 and was Vicar of Wribbenhall, Bewdley from 1940.
The son of Lt.–Col Aldwin M Munby, The Border Regiment, and of Evelyn M Munby and the husband of Ruth S Munby of Haywards Heath. Mentioned in Despatches, he is remembered on The Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 88, and column 2.
Additional information
HMS Penelope was a celebrated cruiser. Having survived many disasters in the Mediterranean, she was sunk by three torpedoes from the German submarine U410 during a voyage back to Naples from the Anzio beachhead.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Wribbenhall Vicarage, Bewdley
21 March 1944
The Revd Harold Charles Walter MANGER
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Excellent II
He studied at the University of London, where he obtained a BA in 1938. He trained for the Priesthood at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and was made a Deacon in 1939. Ordained Priest by The Bishop of Liverpool in 1940, he served his Title at St Helens from 1939. He was the Chaplain to 42 (RM) Commando and died of grenade wounds while serving in the Arakan in Burma after having been Mentioned in Despatches. He is buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma), grave 3f 12. Records would indicate that he was the last RN Chaplain to lose his life through enemy action during WW2.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 10 Cheriston Gardens, Kensington
He was the husband of Kathleen Amy Manger
23 May 1944
The Revd Fr. Charles Joseph William LUSBY
Chaplain, Royal Navy
A Roman Catholic Priest he was an Oblate Father. He attended the Oblate Juniorate at Belcamp Hall, Raheny, Dublin and was received as a Novice at Belmont House Stillorgan, Dublin on 1 October 1919. He made his final vow at Belmont House on the 1 November 1923 and was ordained at All Hallows, Dublin on 20 June 1926. Until 1933, he was at the House of Retreat, Inchicore, Dublin. He was then at Holy Cross Parish, Liverpool, until 1938. The next three years were spent at Our Lady of Lourdes, Bristol and he became a Royal Naval Chaplain in 1941.
The son of George and Julia Lusby, he was born on 15 June 1900 at Waterford City, Ireland.
He died at Liverpool on the 23 May 1944, aged 43 and is buried in Liverpool (Ford) West Derby Roman Catholic Cemetery, Section 1 Grave 114
MGA notes
His address for Probate was The Presbytery, Hanham Road, Kingswood Bristol
29 June 1944
The Revd Fr. Thomas Aidan BRENNAN
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Ukussa
He studied at Ushaw College, Durham and was ordained Priest on 27 July 1937. 1940-41 he was a Priest at Sacred Heart and St Edward, Darwen in the diocese of Salford; St. Edward’s, Rusholme 1941-42. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy and was lost while taking passage on the SS Nellore on 29 June 1944.
He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 81, Column 1.
Additional information
HMS Ukussa was a Royal Naval Air Station in Ceylon.
The SS Nellore (6942 GRT) was built at Caird & Co. Greenock, Scotland in 1913 was a passenger vessel. She was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the Indian Ocean on a voyage from India to Australia, some 200 miles East from Diego Garcia, a small atoll south of the Indian and Sri Lanka southern coast.
15 October 1944
The Revd Cyril COOK
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Victory
He trained for the Priesthood at Kelham Theological College, Newark in 1928 and was made a Deacon in 1932. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Glasgow in 1934 he was Curate of St. Chad, Ladyburn, until 1934 and St. Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow, until 1937, Rector of St. John Evangelist, Lanarkshire until 1940 when he became a Chaplain RNVR.
He was the son of William A A and Ethel Cook and the husband of Edith Cook, of Westbourne, Bournemouth. He died at the age of 37. He is buried in grave H 13 4 Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.
Additional information
HMS Victory is the Flag Ship of the Second Sea Lord, Commander in Chief Naval Home Command at Portsmouth
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 8 King Street, Emsworth and it also records that he died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport
4 November 1944
The Revd Walter Granville Willoughby LEE
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Marlborough
He studied at The University of London, where he obtained a BA in 1909 and a BD in 1923. He trained for the Priesthood at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and was made a Deacon in 1912. Ordained Priest by The Lord Bishop of London in 1913, he served his Title at St Matthew, Bayswater until 1915. He then became Tutor at St Aidan’s College, Birkenhead in 1915; Lecturer 1916–19; Chaplain to the training ship Indefatigable, New Ferry, Cheshire 1916–20. He was Licensed to Preach in the Diocese of Cheshire 1916–20 and the Diocese of Liverpool 1917–20. He was Vicar of Hadnall, in the Diocese of Lichfield from 1929, and was Proctor in Convocation from 1931.
He died on 4 November 1944, aged 55, and is buried in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Naval Reservation, Grave 1589 and remembered on the Ridley Hall, Cambridge Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Marlborough was the name applied, during WW2 to a detachment at Eastbourne College.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Hadnall Hall, Shrewsbury and it also records that he died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gillingham.
20 April 1945
The Revd James Gordon HOLMES
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Stopford.
he studied at The University of London where he obtained a BSc 1919; BA 1922 and BD 1938. He trained for the Priesthood at Wells Theological College in 1939 when he was made a Deacon. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1940, he served his Title at Weston super Mare from 1939.
He was the son of James and Sara M Holmes and the husband of Eve G Holmes of Harrogate. He was 53. He is buried in grave 154 Naval Reservation, Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham.
Additional information
HMS Stopford was a major landing craft base for working up craft prior to operations and was also a Passive Defence and Balloon School at Bo’ness, West Lothian.
Editor’s Note:
There was a Memorial at Wells Theological College which is now in the safe keeping at Salisbury College (Sarum), The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was St Andrew’s Manse, Bolness, West Lothian and it also records that he died at The Admiralty, Queen Anne’s Mansions, St James Park, London.
31 October 1945
The Revd Percy Taylor JEFFERSON MiD
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Nightjar
He studied at St. Augustine College, Canterbury in 1914, and St. Edmund’s Hall, Oxford, where he obtained a BA in 1921, and an MA in 1926. He served in WW1 in Palestine as a Lieutenant in The Royal Army Service Corps, and was Mentioned in Despatches. He was a Candidate Scholar at Lincoln Theological College, and was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Lincoln for Colonies. Ordained Priest in 1922 by the Bishop of Kimberley, he was Curate of St Paul, De Aur until 1924; Rector of Prieska and Upington until 1928. Beaconsfield 1928–32; Christ Church, Fordsburg 1932–35 (South Africa), then Vicar of St Andrew, Bugthorpe in the Archdiocese of York 1935.
He was the son of Matthew and Mary E Jefferson and the husband of Constance E (Eve) Jefferson, Mowbreck Hall, Kirkham, Lancashire. He was 52. He is buried in grave 416, Christ Church Churchyard, Wesham Lancashire.
Editor’s Note:
His son, Lieutenant (A) Charles E H Jefferson RNVR (HMS Stalker) died on 21 August 1944, and is buried in St. Remy-De Provence Old Communal Cemetery, France.
HMS Nightjar was a Naval Operational Training Unit at the RN Air Station at Inskip Lanarkshire.
MGA notes
His Probate records state that he died in RAF Hospital RAF Weeton Kirkham
18 July 1946
The Revd James Francis STUART
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Dolphin
He studied at Keble College, Oxford, where he obtained a BA in 1931 and an MA in 1936. He trained for the Priesthood at Wells Theological College and was made a Deacon in 1932. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Winchester in 1933, he served his Title at St Andrews, Bournemouth, until 1936 when he became Chaplain to the Royal Navy at Portsmouth. He served on HMS Ramillies 1936-38 and HMS Manchester 1938.
He died on 18 July 1946 aged 38 in Haslar Hospiyal, Portsmouth and is buried in the Churchyard to the north west of St. Lawrence Church, Westbury–sub–Mendip. He was the son of the Revd Canon James S Stuart, MA and Mrs Stuart and the husband of Ellen E Stuart of Sutton Montis, Somerset.
Additional information
HMS Dolphin was a submarine base and the Royal Navy submarine school at Forth Blockhouse, Gosport, Hampshire from 1904 to 1999
Editor’s Note:
There was a Memorial at Wells Theological College which is now in the safe keeping at Salisbury College (Sarum), The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 40 Anglesey Road, Alverstoke, Hampshire
23 July 1946
The Revd David John THOMAS OBE
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke
he was a late Butler and W.D. Llewellyn Senior School of St. Deiniol’s College, Lampeter in 1923. He obtained a BA (2nd Cl) in 1924; Candidate Scholar Lincoln 1926. Some records show him as having a BD. He was made a Deacon in 1926, and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Peterborough in 1927. He served his Title at of St Michael and All Angels, Northampton in 1929 when he became a Chaplain in the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Malaya 1929-31; HMS Centaur 1931-32; HMS Cairo 1932-34; RN Barracks, Chatham 1934-38 and HMS St Angelo 1938.
He was the son of the Revd W D Thomas and Mrs Thomas and the husband of Mary Irene Thomas of Northampton. He died at the age of 44 and is buried in Billing Road Cemetery, Northampton in Screen Wall, grave 1799.
Additional information
HMS Pembroke was a shore based establishment at Chatham. Built on the site of Chatham convict prison in 1897, it provided accommodation and training facilities for men of the Reserve Fleet while waiting to be appointed to ships. It was named after a hulk which was formerly housed on the site.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 48 Billing Road, Northampton and also states that he died in RN Auxiliary Hospital, Woolton, Lancashire
25 September 1946
The Revd Fr. Michael Bernard EGAN
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke
He was a RC Secular Priest of Nottingham Diocese based at Chatham.
He died age of 50 on 25 September 1946. He is buried in the Naval Reservation grave 133 RC, Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham. He was the son of Michael and Elizabeth Egan,
Additional information
HMS Pembroke was a shore based establishment at Chatham. Built on the site of Chatham convict prison in 1897 it provided accommodation and training facilities for men of the Reserve Fleet while waiting to be appointed to ships. It was named after a hulk which was formerly housed on the site.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 4 Palace Court, Rainham Road, Chatham and states that he died in Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham
22 November 1946
The Revd Fr. Thomas Henry George MORIARTY
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Victory
He attended the Christian Brothers North College and then was at school at Haulbowline and Portsmouth Dockyards. After an apprenticeship he went to sea with the Royal Naval Auxiliary and eventually took a First Class Marine Certificate. From 1933-36 he attended the Obligates late Vocations College at Glencreem, Co, Wicklow and entered the Noviciate at Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick on 7 September 1934. He took his first vows there on 8 September 1935 and went to the Scholasticate of Daingean, Co. Offaly. His final vows were taken there on 29 September 1938 and he was ordained on 23 June 1940. He held the Chairs of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Eloquence and Plainchant at Our Lady’s Scholasticate, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. He became a Royal Naval Chaplain in December 1942, stationed at the Royal Marine Barracks, Ipswich and was transferred to Sydney, Australia in early 1945.
After surgery in 1946, he was flown back from Malta and died at Chatham Naval Hospital on 22 November 1946, aged 42. He was the son of John and Jane Moriarty and he was born in Cork City, on 31 May 1904. He is buried in grave 42, the Oblates Cemetery, Inchicore, Dublin.
Royal Australian Navy
20 November 1941
The Revd George STUBBS
Chaplain, HMAS Sydney
He studied at the University of Durham, where he obtained a Licentiate of Theology.
He was the son of John and Georgina Stubbs and the husband of Ethel Maud Stubbs of Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia; he was 57. He is remembered on Panel 56 Column 2 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Additional information
HMAS Sydney was a modified Leander Class light cruiser. In the early part of the war, she had a great success but controversy and mystery surrounds her loss. She sank with all hands and represents the greatest loss of life on an Australian warship. She fought the German cruiser HSK Kormoran in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. Both ships were lost. The 645 crew of HMAS Sydney were lost and some 315 survivors of the Kormoran were rescued by the British, Shell Tanker Trocas, 120 miles NNW of Carnarvon and became prisoners of war. In March 2008, the wrecks of HMAS Sydney and the Kormoran were found on the ocean bed.
MGA note
Photo on http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?p=524362
1 March 1942
The Revd Ronald Sutton BEVINGTON
Chaplain, HMAS Perth
He was an Anglican Priest with an MA (Cantab).
He died at the age of 30 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 72 Column 2. He was the son of Reginald and Netta Ethel Bevington of Bournemouth.
Additional information
HMAS Perth was a modified Leander Class light cruiser built at the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard and commissioned as HMS Amphion in 1936. Purchased by the Australian Government in 1939, she was torpedoed by the Japanese during the battle of Sunda Strait and was the heaviest loss during the period 1941-42
Editor’s Note
The loss of Sydney and Perth amounted to 926 members of The Royal Australian Navy, accounting for half of the Navy losses during the war.
MGA note
Photo at http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?p=524240
9 January 1943
The Revd Vivian Ward THOMPSON
Chaplain, HMAS Penguin
He was the son of the Revd Gustavus and Miriam E W Thompson and the husband of Edith Phyllis Thompson of Mosman, New South Wales, he died at the age of 57 of natural causes. He was a BA. He was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, New South Wales, Australia, and is remembered on the Florentine Wall Niche 46CC.
Additional information
HMAS Penguin was an RNAS Depot established in 1941 at Garden Island, Sydney Harbour, housing the Balmoral Naval Hospital and a shore based barrack.
Royal Canadian Navy
21 May 1945
The Revd. Clement Kynnersley WHALLEY
Chaplain, HMCS Protector
The husband of Muriel E Whalley, of Sydney, Nova Scotia, he died at the age of 60. He is buried in Sydney (Hardwood Hill) Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Div Y, Range 2, Lot 3.
Additional information
HMCS Protector was a Naval Base at Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The Royal New Zealand Navy
13 November 1944
The Revd Claude Francis WEBSTER
Chaplain, HMS Achilles
He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and trained for the Priesthood at Wescott House, Cambridge.” He emigrated to New Zealand in the late 1930s “serving on a backblocks parish. In 1940-41 he was Chaplain to NZ Mounted Rifles (Home Defence), in September 1941 he became a temporary Chaplain RNZNVR serving on the light cruiser HMNZS “Leander”. His ship was involved in the night battle of Kolombangara 13 July 1943 in the Soloman Islands. His ship was badly damaged and he conducted burials at sea of those who died. He was subsequently appointed to the light cruiser HMS Achilles.
The Author of “Men of Faith and Courage”, J. Bryant Haigh, states that “he was born on 2 September 1910 in Yorkshire. He later became the stepson of Sir Bedford Dorman and was educated at Rugby School.
“He contracted meningitis and died on the hospital ship No. 3 at the age of 33 on the 13 November 1944 “and is buried in Trincomalee War Cemetery, (Ceylon) Sri Lanka, Grave 2 C 15.
Additional information
A tribute to the Rev. Webster appeared in the London ‘Times’ with the initials of the “Leander’s” former Captains (R H Bekam and C A L Mansergh) (Rear Admiral) the last sentence states “No better Chaplain ever wore naval uniform and by his passing the youngest Dominion Navy has lost an outstanding and inspiring personality.”
HMNZS Achilles was a Leander Class light cruiser built by the Cammell Laird Company at Birkenhead and was on loan to the New Zealand Navy for ten years from 1936 but was renamed HMNZS Achilles in September 1941. She was involved in the Battle of the River Plate and was then part of the ANZAC Squadron in the South West Pacific. She was hit by a bomb in January 1943, and was at Portsmouth until May 1944. She joined the Eastern Fleet and was part of the British Pacific Fleet Task Force in May 1945.
EPILOGUE
It should be remembered that many other Chaplains carried out their duties with courage and devotion and survived. The final words are those chosen by Rudyard Kipling who, like thousands of others, mourned. They are to be found on some CWGC headstones across the world.
Their Glory shall not be blotted out
Ecclesiasticus 44:13.
David Youngson is Blind and the Author of, The Search for a Scottish Soldier
Privately published for his family 1993
The Cleveland Way – A guide for the Visually Impaired published by the North Yorks National Park 1998
Stockton’s longest serving Rector published 2005
Greater Love - A directory of Army Chaplain Casualties of World War One published February 2008
Lest We Forget (Durham Masonic Roll of Honour)
Published November 2008
Masonic Roll of Honour Provinces of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol & Buckinghamshire
Published May 2010
Lived Respected and Died Regretted
Masonic Roll of Honour 1914 –1918; 1939 – 1946 Province of Norfolk
Published June 2010
Cemeteries and Memorials of those listed in the Directory
Australia.
Northern Suburbs Crematorium, New South Wales, Australia.
THOMPSON, Vivian Ward;
Royal Australian Navy.
Grave Florentine Wall Niche 46CC.
Canada.
Sydney (Hardwood Hill) Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Canada.
WHALLEY, Clement Kynnersley;
Royal Canadian Navy.
Grave Div. Y. Range 2. Lot 3.
France.
Ile-De Brehat Communal Cemetery, Cotes-d'Armor.
MITCHELL, William Heading;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave Row 1. Grave 10.
Ireland, (Republic of).
Inchicore (Oblate Fathers Community) Catholic Cemetery, County Dublin.
MORIARTY, Thomas Henry George;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave Grave 42.
Malta.
Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery.
GREIG, George Anthony;
Royal Navy.
Grave Plot. 44.
Myanmar (Burma).
Taukkyan War Cemetery.
MANGER, Harold Charles Walter;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave 3.F.12.
Russian Federation.
Archangel Allied Cemetery.
MILNER, Dermond Ross;
Royal Navy.
Grave B.14.
Vladivostock Memorial.
FORD, William;
Royal Navy.
Buried in Pokrovskaya Cemetery, Vladivostok.
South Africa.
Durban (Stellawood) Cemetery, Kwazulu, Natal.
BAILEY, Reginald;
Royal Navy.
Grave Block F. Grave 264.
Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
Trincomalee War Cemetery.
WEBSTER, Claude Francis;
Royal New Zealand Navy.
Grave 2. C. 15.
United Kingdom.
Belmont Abbey (St Michael) Roman Catholic Churchyard, Herefordshire.
GWYDIR, Robert Basil;
Royal Navy.
Old Monks Section.
Bristol (Arnos Vale) Cemetery, Gloucestershire.
STUBBS, James;
Royal Navy.
Grave Section. TTT. 951.
Chatham Naval Memorial..
BACK, Hatfield Arthur William;
Royal Navy. 20.
BIRD, John Minnitt;
Royal Navy. 51.1.
LEWIS, Ivor Morgan;
Royal Navy. 9.
ROBINSON, George Brooke;
Royal Navy. 9.
ROBSON, Edward Gledhall Uphill;
Royal Navy. 1.
SWEET, Algernon Sidney;
Royal Navy. 9.
WALTON, Cyril Ambrose;
Royal Navy. 15.
Ewshott (St. Mary) Churchyard, Hampshire.
CREED, Algernon Henry George;
Royal Navy. Grave North side of Church.
Ford Park Cemetery
(Formerly Plymouth Old Cemetery) (Pennycomequick), Devon.
HALL, William;
Royal Navy. Grave Church S. 1. 4.
Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery..
DATHAN, Joseph Duncan;
Royal Navy. Grave Naval. 27. 1415.
EGAN, Michael Bernard;
Royal Navy.
Grave Naval Reservation. Grave 133. R.C.
HOLMES, James Gordon;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave . Naval Reservation. Grave 154.
LEE, Walter Granville Willoughby;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave Naval Reservation. Grave 1589.
Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire.
COOK, Cyril;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Grave H. 13. 4.
Lancaster (Skerton) Cemetery, Lancashire.
PARKER, John Cartwright;
Royal Navy. Grave Section B, C. of E. Grave 654.
Liverpool (Ford) Roman Catholic Cemetery.
LUSBY, Charles Joseph William;
Royal Navy. Grave Section 1 Grave 114.
Lyness Royal Navy Cemetery, Orkney.
DIXON-WRIGHT, Henry Dixon, M.V.O.;
Royal Navy. Grave B.5.
Northampton (Billing Road) Cemetery, Northamptonshire.
THOMAS, David John, O. B. E.;
Royal Navy. Grave Screen Wall. Grave 1799.
Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
BEVINGTON, Ronald Sutton;
Royal Australian Navy. Panel 72, Column 2.
BONSEY, William;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 61, Column 3.
BOTTING, Arthur Robert;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 61, Column 3.
BRADLEY, Thomas Frederick;
Royal Navy. Panel 78, Column 1.
BROWNING, Guy Arnott;
Royal Navy. 10.
HARRIS, Thomas;
Royal Navy. Panel 44, Column 3.
KING, John Bernard;
Royal Navy. Panel 36, Column 2.
LABORDE, Edward Denzil Bickham;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 76, Column 3.
LE PATOUREL, Wallace Mackenzie;
Royal Navy. 10.
LEEKE, Alan Charles Herbert;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 76, Column 3.
LYDALL, Cecil Wykeham;
Royal Navy. 10.
PARKER, Wilfred Graham;
Royal Navy. Panel 44, Column 3.
STUBBS, George;
Royal Australian Navy. Panel 56, Column 2.
Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery, Devon.
DARLINGTON, Charles Arnold;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave Section C. Cons. Grave 18139.
Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
ALEXANDER, Philip George;
Royal Navy. 11.
BRENNAN, Thomas Aidan;
Royal Navy. Panel 81, Column 1.
BURNETT, Frank;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Panel 60, Column 3.
CREE, James Douglas Becket;
Royal Navy. Panel 33, Column 1.
HEWETSON, George Hayton;
Royal Navy. 1.
KEWNEY, George Stanley;
Royal Navy. 11.
MORGAN, George William Faulconer;
Royal Navy. 11.
MUNBY, Peter Aldwin;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 88, Column 2.
PHELAN, Stewart Joseph;
Royal Navy.
PITT, Arthur Henry John;
Royal Navy. 1.
SHAW, Amyas George;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 71, Column 2.
STEWART, Robert James Patrick;
Royal Navy. Panel 45, Column 2.
TANNER, Christopher Champain, ALBERT MEDAL.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 60, Column 3.
WEBBER, William Farel;
Royal Navy. 11.
Wesham (Christ Church) Churchyard, Lancashire.
JEFFERSON, Percy Taylor;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Grave 416.
Westbury (Wesbury-Sub-Mendip) (St Lawrence) Churchyard, Somerset.
STUART, James Francis;
Royal Navy. Grave North West of Church.
Acknowledgements
Abbot of Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
John Davis, Archivist Cuddesdon Theological College Oxford
Kay Day, Bishopric of the Forces
Durham University Library
Mrs Bea Ewart
J. Bryant Haigh
Fr. Richard Haslam OMI
Fr. Ignatius Fennessy OFM
Peter Keat DGNCS Archivist
Lambeth Palace Library
Middlesbrough Library
Revd David T Youngson.
Webmasters note: I have been given the very generous permission to publish David Youngson’s work. I have taken the liberty of amending the text to meet the style of the website and any ensuing errors must be laid at my door
Michael
A Directory of Chaplains of the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy who lost their lives.
1914-1919
1939-1946
O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go.
William Whiting
INTRODUCTION
The Royal Navy has a long history of Chaplains at sea and on shore bases. Commissions were not normally awarded until 1945 and no rank was worn on their uniform additionally they did not receive any decorations.
The Royal Navy Chaplaincy Service supports the spiritual, moral and social well-being of all personnel and dependents. This unique role of support in both the front line and on shore has created for the Chaplain a freedom from duties other than that of Chaplain. With access at all levels on matters relevant to the welfare of the service, it enables them to truly serve God and man. They are drawn from all denominations and are deployed around the world serving at sea and ashore.
During an in depth research of Army Chaplain Casualties of the First World War, (Greater Love published February 2008) several naval Chaplain casualties emerged. It seemed appropriate that a deeper investigation into the deaths suffered should be undertaken.
It has not been my purpose to write a history of The Royal Navy. References to such books are made where appropriate. In order to understand the nature and history of war at sea they are recorded in separate sections. The World War One section is detailed in chronological order. The WW2 Section distinguishes between those who served as Chaplains in the Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Brief notes to show the circumstances surrounding their death accompany each entry, to demonstrate the tragedy and futility of war at sea.
Although he does not fit into the research, mention must be made of The Revd John Craigie Leishman, Chaplain, Royal Navy from 1899. He drowned on the 16 March 1912 aboard the P&O Royal Mail Steamer Oceana following a collision with the German Barque Piagua in the English Channel near Beachy Head. He was bound for the RN Hospital and Dockyard at Gibraltar.
Revd David T Youngson.
June 2010
Chaplains listed in the Directory
WW1 1914-19
ALEXANDER, Philip George;
BACK, Hatfield Arthur William;
BROWNING, Guy Arnott;
CREED, Algernon Henry George;
DATHAN, Joseph Duncan;
DIXON- WRIGHT, Henry Dixon;
FORD, William Lewis;
GREIG, George Anthony;
GWYDIR, Robert Basil;
HALL, William;
HEWETSON, George Hayton;
KEWNEY, George Stanley;
LE PATOUREL, Wallace Mackenzie;
LEWIS, Ivor Morgan;
LYDALL, Cecil Wykeham;
MILNER, Dermond Ross;
MORGAN, George William Faulconer;
PHELAN, Stewart Joseph;
PITT, Arthur Henry John;
ROBINSON, George Brooke;
ROBSON, Edward Gledhall Uphill;
ROSS, Thomas Erskine;
SWEET, Algernon Sidney Osborne;
WALTON, Cyril Ambrose;
WEBBER, William Farel;
WW2 1939-45 Royal Navy
BAILEY, Reginald;
BIRD, John Minnitt;
BRADLEY, Thomas Frederick;
BRENNAN, Thomas Aidan;
CREE, James Douglas Becket;
EGAN, Michael Bernard;
HARRIS, Thomas;
KING, John Bernard;
LUSBY, Charles Joseph William;
PARKER, John Cartwright;
PARKER, Wilfred Graham;
STEWART, Robert James Patrick;
STUART, James Francis;
STUBBS, James;
THOMAS, David John OBE
WW2 1939-45
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
BONSEY, William;
BOTTING, Arthur Robert;
BURNETT, Frank;
COOK, Cyril;
DARLINGTON, Charles Arnold;
HOLMES, James Gordon;
JEFFERSON, Percy Taylor;
LABORDE, Edward Denzil Bickham;
LEE, Walter Granville Willoughby;
LEEKE, Alan Charles Herbert;
MANGER, Harold Charles Walter;
MITCHELL, William Heading;
MORIARTY, Thomas Henry George;
MUNBY, Peter Aldwin;
SHAW, Amyas George Fraser;
TANNER, Christopher Champain;
Royal Australian Navy.
BEVINGTON, Ronald Sutton;
STUBBS, George;
THOMPSON, Vivian Ward;
Royal Canadian Navy.
WHALLEY, Clement Kynnersley;
Royal New Zealand Navy.
WEBSTER, Claude Francis;
The Fallen in WW1
22 September 1914
The Revd Edward Gleadall Uphill ROBSON.
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Aboukir.
He was the son of Thomas and Ann Dean Uphill Robson, and studied at Clare College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1904 and an MA in 1913. Following Clergy Training at Leeds he was made a Deacon in 1912. He was ordained Priest by the Bishop of St. Albans in 1913, serving his Title as Curate of Malvern College Mission, Barking Road from 1912-14 and then at Hitchin.
He was killed in action on 22 September 1914 aged 32. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial 1.
Additional information
HMS Aboukir was a light cruiser built on the Clyde (Fairfield, Govan) and completed in April 1902. She was part of the 7th Cruiser Squadron, North Sea and was sunk by the German submarine U9 along with HMS Hogue and HMS Crecy in the area of the North Sea off the Dutch Coast, known as the Broad Fourteens. The patrol was known as the “live bait Squadron”. He was the first British Chaplain to lose his life during the Conflict. The Chaplains on the other two ships, the Revd George Henry Collier and the Revd Wilfred Frank Proffitt Ellis survived.
30 October 1914.
The Revd Fr. Canon Robert Basil GWYDIR OSB
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Rohilla
The son of Robert Clarke and Sarah Annie Gwydir (nee Jackson) of Cartron, Longford, Ireland he was born on 20 January 1867. He was educated at Breewood, County Stafford, Ireland and the English College, Douay 1878-87. He was a Priest of the OSB. He entered Douai Abbey, France, and was then at St Edmund’s where he was Clothed as a Novice on 3 September 1884 and made his Simple Profession on 7 September 1885, being Tonsured and ordained to the four minor Orders by Bishop John Cuthbert Hedley of Newport and Menvia in the pro-Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels at Cleome 1891. He was assistant Bursar at Douai until 1904 when he became Curate at Danygraig, St David’s, Swansea and Parish Priest shortly after. During his time at St David’s, he was involved with the Parish School – St David’s Mixed and Infant Schools. He was involved with the implications of the Balfour Act 1902–14 for Church Schools. He established the Presbytery and Chapel at Danygraig, St David’s Priory, and Swansea in 1913. He became a Canon of the Diocese of Newport 1914. He joined the Royal Navy in 1914 and served at Rosyth and Queensferry, Scotland.
He died on 30 October 1914. He was 47 and is buried in Belmont Abbey (St Michael) Roman Catholic Churchyard, Herefordshire, in the Old Monk’s Section.
Additional information
The hospital ship HMS Rohilla left Rosyth for Chatham carrying wounded seamen and Marines. It was wrecked in a storm off Whitby. Fr. Gwydir remained with the wounded and went down with the ship.
A stained glass memorial window and a plaque to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of his death was placed in St David’s, Swansea. An ivory crucifix belonging to his mother hangs in the Sacristy at Douai Abbey.
The Church of England Chaplain, the Revd Roland Allen, who had survived, suffered shock and was physically unable to continue serving and resigned his commission on 23 December 1914.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was St David’s Priory, Rutland Street, Swansea
1 November 1914
The Revd Arthur Henry John PITT
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Good Hope
He studied at Edinburgh Theological College in 1896 and at Durham University in 1900. He was made a Deacon in 1898; Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Newcastle on Tyne in 1899, he served his Title as Curate of Amble, Northumberland 1898-1900; St Gabriel, Heaton, Newcastle on Tyne until 1902 and St Mary, Newcastle on Tyne until 1904. He was a Freemason and was initiated into Lodge of Perseverance No 1165, Hong Kong in 1908, he was a member of Navy Lodge No 2612, London 1909 and United Service Lodge No 3473, Dorset 1911 whilst serving on HMS Superb. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1904, serving on HMS Essex 1904–06; HMS Duke of Edinburgh 1906–07; HMS Flora 1907–09; HMS Superb 1909–13; HMS Prince of Wales 1913–14 and HMS Good Hope 1914.
He was killed in action at the Battle of Coronel and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 1. He was 41
Additional information
HMS Good Hope was an armoured cruiser manned by a crew of reservists and cadets and was the flag ship of Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock commanding a squadron of ships in the South Pacific. She was sunk by the cruiser Scharnhorst at the Battle of Coronel in the South Pacific. There were no survivors.
A Memorial to Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock is to be found in York Minster.
MGA note
He left his estate to Mary Elizabeth Pitt, his widow.
26 November 1914.
The Revd George Hayton HEWETSON.
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Bulwark
The elder son of the late Revd John Hewetson, Vicar of Chadworth and Isabella Hewetson (nee Heslop), he was born at Chester on the 26 January 1877; educated at Bradfield, he was a Scholar of Worcester College, Oxford, where he obtained a 2nd cl. Cl. Mods. in 1897; 3rd cl. Lit. Hum in 1899 and a BA in 1901. He was made a Deacon in 1903 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwell in 1905. He was Assistant Master of Stancliffe Hall from 1899-1906 with Licence to Preach in the Diocese of Southwell 1903-06 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Britannia 1906–10; HMS Minotaur 1910–12 in the China Sea and at the RN Barracks Portsmouth 1912–14 On 3 February 1914 at Christchurch, High Harrogate, he married Lillian Mary Guy who was the sister of Lieut. Commander B J D Guy VC, DSO.
He died on 26 November 1914 and he is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 1. He was 37 and the husband of Lilian M Hewetson, Malmers Wells, High Wycombe.
Additional information
He was killed as the result of an internal explosion on HMS Bulwark, a Formidable Class battleship,off Sheerness. There was a powerful explosion on board on the 26 November 1914 at 07.50 hours while moored to a buoy in Kethole Reach, four miles west off Sheerness, in the Medway Estuary.
Out of a ship’s company of over 750 only 14 survived two died later, and the remainder were seriously injured. A subsequent enquiry decided that the explosion was due to “the accidental ignition of ammunition on board”.
1 January 1915
The Revd George Brooke ROBINSON
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Formidable
He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (Cam. Cl. Tr. Sch.) in 1894 and an MA in 1898. He became a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society in 1907. He was made a Deacon in 1895 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Worcester in 1897, serving his Title as Curate of Solihull from 1895 to 1897 and at Burton Bradstock until 1899, when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Theseus 1899–1902; RNE at College 1902-04; HMS Crescent 1904–07; HMS Imperieuse with RN Hospital, Portland 1907–09; HMS Mars 1909; HMS Terrible 1909–10; HMS Powerful 1910–12; HMS Vernon 1912.
He was the most senior Royal Naval Chaplain killed in action during WW1 and is remembered on Chatham Naval Memorial 9.
Additional information
HMS Formidable was attacked by the German submarine U24, 20 miles off Start Point in the English Channel. Out of a ship’s company of 750, only 199 survived.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 40 Bembridge Crescent, Southsea
He was the husband of Alice Irene Robinson
13 May 1915
The Revd Ivo Morgan LEWIS
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Goliath
He studied at Jesus College, Oxford, where he obtained a BA in 1911. He was made a Deacon in 1912 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1913, serving his Title as Curate of Uttoxeter, in the Diocese of Lichfield until 1914. He became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy and was the first Temporary Chaplain to lose his life.
He was killed in action, aged 26. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial 9. He was the son of the Revd David Lewis, Rector of Llanbedr and Caroline Lewis of Llanbedr Rectory, Ruthin, Denbighshire.
Additional information
HMS Goliath had a ship’s company of 682 men. In April 1915 she was part of the landings at Cape Helles in the Dardanelles and was sunk by three torpedoes from the Turkish torpedo boat Muavenet manned by a German crew. 570 men were lost.
30 December 1915
The Revd Algernon Sidney Osborne SWEET
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Natal
He trained for the Priesthood at Kelham Theological College, Newark in 1906 and was made a Deacon in 1911. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Winchester in 1912, he served his Title as Curate of Forton in the Diocese of Winchester until 1911 and at Gosport until 1914, when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Natal and was instrumental in setting up a ship’s newsletter using the pen name Buntyng.
He was killed following an internal explosion,. He is remembered on the
Chatham Naval Memorial, 9.
He was 26 and the son of the late Revd Algernon S O Sweet, sometime Vicar of Cowlinge, Suffolk, and Alice M Sweet, Travershes, Withycombe, Raleigh, Exmouth.
Additional information
HMS Natal was the last and finest of the Armed Cruisers built for the Royal Navy at Barrow in Furness in 1905. An account of the loss indicated that she was lying in the Cromarty Firth at Invergordon, with her Squadron. Shortly after 15.20 hours and without warning a series of violent explosions tore through the ship. Within five short minutes she capsized, a blazing wreck. 390 men, 11 women and children and 2 dockyard workers perished in the explosions and the freezing water.
It is said that some of the women were Nursing Officers from the shore base together with wives and families of the crew who were attending a film show. The Natal still lies in the Cromarty Firth and is a hazard to navigation, marked by a buoy.
The Roman Catholic Chaplain, Fr. William Driscoll, was not on board at the time of the explosion and survived.
MGA note
His address for Probate was Travershes, Exmouth
28 April 1916
The Revd George Anthony GREIG
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Russell
He was born at Perth and educated at Denstone College, Uttoxeter and Edinburgh Theological College in 1907. He studied at the University of Durham obtaining a Licentiate of Theology in 1910 and a BA in 1911.
He was made a Deacon in 1911 by the Bishop of St Andrews for Glasgow and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Glasgow in 1912. He was Curate of Christ Church, Glasgow from 1911-15 when he became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Russell.
He suffered gas poisoning in an explosion on the ship and died in hospital on the following day. He is buried in Malta, (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery Plot 44.
He was the son of Hunter H and Phoebe J Greig, 30 Luttrell Avenue, Putney, London,
Additional information
HMS Russell was a battleship built by Palmers at Jarrow and began service in 1903. At the time of his death, the ship was part of the 2nd detached Squadron based at Taranto to re-enforce the Italian Fleet in the Adriatic. She had been at Mudros and covered the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula and was mined off Malta on 27 April 1916.
THE BATTLE OF JUTLAND
31 May 1916
Much has been recorded and written about this battle. Suffice to say that Chaplains were involved and suffered casualties. They are listed in Alphabetical order. Of the nine Chaplains who lost their lives, those on the Lion and Chester were listed as killed in action. The Queen Mary, Indefatigable, Invincible, Defence and Black Prince were sunk in action, and the Chaplains were listed as lost at sea. The Chaplain of the Barham died of wounds on 1st June 1916. They are commemorated on the Memorial Tablet at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
The Revd Guy Arrott BROWNING
Chaplain and Naval Instructor, Royal Navy, HMS Indefatigable
He was a Late Scholar of St John’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a (Cl. Tr. Scholar Cambridge) BA in 1900; (Wrangler) 1900, and an MA in 1903. He was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Crediton in 1900 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Exeter in 1901. He served his Title as Curate of Dawlish from 1900, becoming a Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1903.
He served on HMS Exmouth 1903–04; HMS Prince of Wales 1904–05; HMS Implacable 1905–07; HMS King Edward VII 1907–08; HMS Dreadnought 1908–09; HMS Vanguard 1910–11; HMS Forte 1911–13; Chaplain and Naval Instructor HMS Hyacinth 1913–14; HMS Orion 1914–15 and HMS Inflexible 1915. He has been described as “zealous and of good judgement”.
He was lost at sea at the Battle of Jutland, aged 39 and is remembered on the Plymouth Memorial 10.
He was the son of Captain George A Browning, RN and Mary E Browning of Dawlish, South Devon
Additional information
HMS Indefatigable was a battle cruiser commissioned in February 1911 and was part of the First Cruiser Squadron. She was hit by shells from the German battleship Van Der Tann and sank so quickly that only two men were saved.
MGA notes
He was educated at Clapham, Dulwich College
His address for Probate was 11 Barton Terrace, Dawlish
The Revd George Stanley KEWNEY
Chaplain and Naval Instructor, Royal Navy, HMS Queen Mary
He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (June Opt) in 1895. He was made a Deacon in 1898 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Newcastle in 1899, serving his Title as Curate of Corbridge on Tyne until 1900 when he became a Chaplain and Naval Instructor to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Caledonia 1901; HMS Cambrian 1901–04; HMS Irresistible 1904; HMS Emerald 1904–05; HMS Commonwealth 1905–09; HMS Dreadnought 1909–11; HMS Formidable 1911; HMS Cumberland 1911–13 and HMS Highflyer 1913–15
Whilst serving on HMS Commonwealth he taught navigation. (See The Sea Chaplains – Gordon Taylor page 353ff.)
The son of Stanley Kewney (Solicitor) and Annie S Kewney, of Tynemouth, and the husband of Catherine Margaret Kewney of Splatton Cottage, South Brent, Devon. He was lost at sea aged 42. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 11.
Additional information
HMS Queen Mary was a battle cruiser who received a direct hit from the German ships Seydlitz and Derfflinger and blew up with the loss of 1266 crew with only nine survivors.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Norton, South Brent, Devon
The Revd Wallace Mackenzie Le PATOUREL
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Defence
He studied at Balliol College, Oxford where he obtained a BA (4th cl. Lit. Hum) in 1890 and an MA in 1895. He was made a Deacon in 1891 and ordained Priest by the Lord Bishop of London in 1892 serving his Title as Curate of Holy Trinity, Upper Chelsea 1891-1907. He was appointed Vicar of St Dunstan, East Acton in 1907 and became a Temporary Chaplain to The Royal Navy on 23 March 1916, joining HMS Defence.
He was the son of Mesurier and Elizabeth le Patourel of Guernsey and husband of Eva B le Patourel, High Chimneys, Hurst, Berkshire. He was aged 51 when he was lost at sea at the Battle of Jutland. He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial 10.
Additional information
HMS Defence was the Flag Ship of Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, she led the first Cruiser Squadron. She was attacking when hit in the after magazine, and within seconds she blew up after a second salvo hit her forward. The explosion was spectacular with the loss of the ship’s company of 903 men.
Editor’s Note
It was believed that she had been reduced to fragments by the explosion but she was discovered in 2001 by a diving team and was found to be largely intact.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was St Dunstan's Vicarage, East Acton
He was educated at Elizabeth College. He was advised to have a rest and change, so wishing to unite war service with his compulsory holiday, he volunteered for work with the Navy and was appointed to HMS Defence as Naval Chaplain.
The Revd Cecil Wykeham LYDALL
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Lion
He was a Late Exhib. of Worcester College, Oxford where he obtained a 2nd cl, Cl. Mods. 1891; BA (3rd cl. Lit. Hum.) 1896 and an MA in 1903. He was made a Deacon in 1905 and Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark in 1906 serving his Title as Curate of St Peter, Battersea 1905-06 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Minerva 1906–08; HMS Swiftsure 1908-12 and HMS Lion 1912.
He was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. The son of the late Wykeham Hawthorn and Sarah Lydall, Haslemere, Hatfield Street, Cape Town, South Africa, and a nephew of Lord French, he was due to be married on 5 June in London. He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial 10.
Additional information
HMS Lion was a Lion Class battle cruiser known as the “super cats” built at Devonport Dockyard in 1912. The Flag Ship of Admiral Sir David Beaty, she was severely damaged with the loss of 99 lives and 51 injured.
MGA notes
The executors of his Will were his siblings Ernest Wykeham Lydall and Rose Eleanor Lydall
The Revd George William Faulconer MORGAN
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Invincible
He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (June Opt.) in 1903 and trained for the Priesthood at Wells Theological College in 1903. He was made a Deacon in 1904 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Exeter in 1905 serving his Title as Curate of Stoke Damarel from 1904-06, when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Prince of Wales 1906–07; HMS Venus 1907–08; at the RN College, Osborne 1908-09 then HMS Berwick 1909 –10; HMS Challenger 1910–12; HMS Powerful 1912–13 and HMS Impregnable 1913–15.
The son of J H F and Amelia M Morgan, He was aged 38 when he was lost at sea at the Battle of Jutland and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 11.
Additional information
HMS Invincible was an Invincible Class battle cruiser built at Vickers Armstrong, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1909. The Flagship of Admiral Sir Horace Lambert Alexander Hood, she was sunk by SMS Derfflinger and Lutzow the latter being badly damaged by HMS Invincible. The entire ship’s company of 1026 were lost. (Some records indicate that there were six survivors.)
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Northam, Devonshire
The Revd Fr. Stewart Joseph PHELAN OMI. (Some records list him as Stuart)
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Black Prince
He was educated at Kilburn Junior School, London in 1893 and Belcamp Hall School, Raheny, Co Dublin, Ireland, he entered the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) as a Novice on 23 August 1896 at Belmont House, Stillorgan, and Dublin. He made his first vows on 27 September 1897. After Theological studies at Liege, Belgium where he made his final vows on 2 October 1898 he was ordained Priest in 1903. He was Chaplain to the Boys Reformatory School at Philipstown Daingean, Co. Offaly, Ireland. Some records say he was assigned to the Parish of Mount St Mary’s Leeds and then as Chaplain in St Conleth’s School, Philipstown, Co. Offaly. In 1914 he volunteered as a Chaplain to the Royal Navy and served on HMS Collingwood.
The son of Robert Phelan and Elizabeth Phelan (nee Ferguson), he was born at Dingle, Co Kerry, Ireland on 4 February 1879. He was 37, when he was listed as “missing presumed drowned” at the Battle of Jutland. (See OMI Oblates Missionary record 1916 pp 226-8). He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
The Revd William Farel WEBBER
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Black Prince
He studied at Jesus College, Oxford and was a Squire Scholar in 1905; 2nd cl. Cl Mod. 1906; 3rd cl. Lit. Hum. 1908; 3rd cl. Th. Hon. 1909 and obtained a BA in 1910. He was made a Deacon in 1910 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark in 1911, serving his Title as Curate of Christ Church, East Greenwich, until 1913 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Africa 1913–14 and HMS Black Prince 1914. His Admiral spoke of Webber as being, “greatly interested in the welfare of the men and ran the services very well”.
The son of Harry and Kathleen Webber, 86 Sandridge Road, St Albans. He was born in Paris. He was 31 when he was lost at sea at the Battle of Jutland 1916. He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 11.
Additional information
HMS Black Prince was a Duke of Edinburgh armoured cruiser built at Thames Iron Works in 1906. She was sunk with the loss of all of the ship’s company.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 86 Sandridge Road, St Alban’s
The Revd Cyril Ambrose WALTON
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Chester
Educated at the Parochial Schools, Old Town, Clapham, he studied at Keble College, Oxford, where he obtained a BA in 1898 and an MA in 1902. He trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford and was made a Deacon in 1900, he was ordained Priest by the Bishop of Rochester in 1901. He served his Title as Curate of St Jude, Peckham 1900-05 and at Clapham, in the Diocese of Southwark, until 1915, when he became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Chester from April 1916.
He was the son of the Revd Thomas I and Barbara Walton, Ickleford Rectory, Hertfordshire and the husband of May Walton, School House, Old Town, Clapham. He was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland aged 39. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial 15.
Additional information
HMS Chester was built at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead and was a light cruiser of the Birkenhead Class. She suffered 17 direct hits during the Battle with the loss of 1 officer, 29 crew and the Chaplain. This was the ship on which Boy Seaman First Class, Jack Cornwell, aged 16, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. She was sold for scrap in 1921.
MGA note
His address for Probate was The School House, Old Town, Clapham
1 June 1916 – Ascension Day
The Revd Henry Dixon DIXON-WRIGHT MVO (Formerly known as Henry Dixon Wright)
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Barham
He studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he obtained a (3rd cl. Cl. Trip.) BA in 1892 and an MA in 1903. He was made an MVO 4th Class in 1912. He trained for the Priesthood at Ridley Hall, Cambridge in 1892. He was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Rochester in 1893, and ordained Priest by the Lord Bishop of London in 1894. He was Curate of St Stephen, South Lambeth 1893–94; St James, Paddington 1894–97; Stoke next Guildford 1897– 98 and Chaplain at Las Palmas, Grand Canary 1898–99. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1899, serving on HMS Resolution (Channel Squadron) 1899–1900; HMS Ramillies (Mediterranean) 1900–03; HMS Bedford (2nd Cruiser Squadron) 1903–06; HMS Egmont for Malta Hospital 1906–07; at the RN College, Dartmouth 1907; HMS Medina 1911 (Royal Yacht); at the RN College, Dartmouth 1915 and HMS Barham 1915.
While at Dartmouth he prepared the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) for Confirmation which was administered privately at Windsor on 24 June 1910. An eloquent preacher, it is recorded that as he lay dying with a shattered spine and leg, he was praying for victory. Interesting obituary notes are to be found in the Daily Graphic 27 June and The Times 9 June.
The son of Henry Wright of Wallington, Surrey and the husband of A. Louisa Dixon-Wright, 24 Stanley Street, Southsea, he died of wounds received at the Battle of Jutland, aged 46. He is buried in Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Orkney grave B5 and remembered on the Ridley Hall Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Barham was a Queen Elizabeth Class battleship built at John Brown Shipyard, Clydebank in 1914. In 1916 she was the Flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas (5th Battle Squadron), attached to Admiral Beatty’s Battle Cruiser Fleet at the Battle of Jutland where she received five hits. Following the Battle of Jutland she returned to Scapa Flow. HMS Barham continued in service, and after extensive modernization she served during WW2 in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Beaufort Lodge, Dartmouth
5 June 1916
The Revd Philip George ALEXANDER
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Hampshire
He studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1908. He was made a Deacon in 1908 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Bristol in 1909, serving his Title as Curate of Christ Church, Barton Hill, Bristol until 1910 and then at Downend until 1912. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy and served on HMS Blenheim 1912; HMS Falmouth 1912–13 and HMS Hampshire 1913.
He was lost following a mine explosion off the Orkneys. Aged 33, he was the husband of Fannie M Alexander, 10 Portland Place, Bath and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial 11.
Additional information
HMS Hampshire took part in the Battle of Jutland. Immediately afterwards, she was directed to carry Lord Kitchener from Scapa Flow to Russia on a diplomatic mission. Sailing for Archangel in a gale, she struck a mine near Marwick Head on the 5 June 1916 and sank within minutes, with the loss of 643 lives. There were twelve survivors.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Fairfield, Overnhill Road, Staplehill, Mangotsfield, Gloucestershire
4 November 1916
The Revd William HALL
Chaplain and Naval Instructor, Royal Navy, HMS Venerable
Educated at Durham School he was a Late Scholar of King’s College, Cambridge and Abbotts University School in 1888, he obtained a BA (22nd Wrangler) in 1889. He was Assistant Master at Rossall School, Fleetwood, 1890-94. He was made a Deacon in 1893 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Manchester in 1894. He was Chaplain and Naval Instructor Royal Navy from 1894 on HMS Endymion; HMS Astraea 1895–98; HMS Raleigh 1899; HMS St George 1899–1902; HMS London 1902–04; HMS Aurora 1904– 05; HMS Highflyer 1905–06 and HMS Britannia 1906–09. In 1910, he was loaned to the Imperial Ottoman Navy. Returning to HMS Collingwood in 1910-12, he was then loaned to the Royal Australian Naval College, New South Wales returning to serve on HMS Agamemnon.
He was the inventor of the Nautical Slide Rule in 1902 and author of Ex-Meridian Altitude Tables 1896; Modern Navigation 1904, Model Sights 1905; Tables and Constants 1905 and contributed to Inman’s Nautical Tables 1906. In his book The Sea Chaplains, Gordon Taylor states “He died in tragic circumstances”. “The ship’s company of his ship, the battleship Agamemnon, were due for inoculation but it was not popular. Hall went round the lower deck encouraging the men and assuring them there was nothing in it and, as an example, offered himself as the first candidate at the sick bay. The following day he sickened, and later died of the effects, being the victim of a rare case of something going wrong”. Aged 49, he is buried in Ford Park Cemetery, (formerly Plymouth Old Cemetery) (Pennycomequick). Grave S14.
Additional information
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, he was serving on HMS Venerable at the time of his death. She was a Formidable-Class battleship. In May 1915, she was involved with the Dardanelles campaign for a short while and was then attached to the Italian Fleet at Taranto as a Depot ship. Some records indicate that she was at Gibraltar from October to December 1915 for a refit. The Revd Hall was a mathematician of some distinction and was involved in the development of navigational skills. There is a vast amount of technical data stemming from the work of this man which should be explored by anyone with an interest in early 20th century Navigation. Following his time with the Royal Australian Navy, there is no further record of his service apart from the CWGC record showing him as being part of the ship’s company of HMS Venerable.
21 May 1917
The Revd Algernon Henry George CREED
Acting Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Orvieto
He studied at Christ College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1887 and an MA in 1891. Assistant Master, Bolton Grammar School, 1888-89. He was made a Deacon in 1889 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Chichester in 1890, serving his Title as Curate of Ashington cum Buncton, Pulborough from 1889-93; Licenced to Preach in the Diocese of London from 1891-93 he was Curate of Old Shoreham from 1893–94; Chaplain and Assistant Master, Hazelwood School, Limpsfield 1894–96; Chaplain at Trinity College Glasgow 1896–1901. (Some records indicate that he was Chaplain and Assistant Master at Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perthshire 1896-1900). He was an acting Chaplain to the South African Field Force (medal and 5 clasps) 1901-02. He was Licenced to Preach in the Diocese of St Andrews 1902–03; Diocese of Winchester 1903–10 and the Diocese of Oxford 1906–10. He was appointed Vicar of Ewshot in the Diocese of Winchester in 1910
The son of the Revd Henry Keyworth Creed and Elizabeth Georgina Creed of Chedburgh Rectory, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk he was born on 7 June 1864 and died of a brain haemorrhage whilst on leave at Ewshot Vicarage on 21 May 1917, aged 52. He is buried on the north side of the Church of St Mary, Ewshot, Hampshire where there is a stained glass window in his Memory.
Additional information
His last entry in Crockfords Clerical Directory 1914 gives no indication of any service in the Royal Navy. Whilst in Scotland he was under the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Church of Scotland and their data tends to vary from Crockfords. Other sources indicate that he was an acting Chaplain in the Royal Navy serving on HMS Soudan (hospital ship) at Gallipoli in 1915. He was appointed Chaplain to the Flag Ship HMS Orvieto shortly before his death.
HMS Orvieto was built at Belfast in 1909 as a passenger ship owned by the Orient Steam Navigation Company. She was commissioned in 1914 as a mine layer and later converted into an armed merchant cruiser. She acted as an escort ship for Australian troops going to Gallipoli.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was The Vicarage, Ewshot, Hampshire
He was educated at Yarmouth Grammar School and Bedford
9 July 1917
The Revd Hatfield Arthur William BACK
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Vanguard.
After study at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1912. In April 1904, he donated £50 to the church of St Remigius, Hethersett, Norfolk. A further £50 was to be given from the family, (Ellen H Back and Mr & Mrs WH Back), to make up a peal of 8 bells made by George Day & Sons, Eye, Suffolk. He trained for the Priesthood at Leeds Clergy School and was made a Deacon in 1914. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Oxford in 1915 he served his Title at Thatcham in the Diocese of Oxford from 1914. He entered the Royal Navy in 1917.
The son of Ellen H Back, 5 Earlham Road, Norwich, and the late Revd Arthur J Back, sometime Rector of Carleton Rode, Norfolk. He was born at Worstead Vicarage, Norwich.
He died as a result of an internal explosion on HMS Vanguard at Scapa Flow, aged 26. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial, 20.
Additional information
HMS Vanguard was a St. Vincent Class battleship (Dreadnought) of the 1st Battle Squadron which had briefly been in action at Jutland. Built at Barrow and commissioned at Chatham in 1910, she blew up in Scapa Flow Harbour as the result of a magazine explosion in the midships turrets with the loss of over 800 lives. Only two survived the sinking. Despite an inquiry, the real cause of the explosion was not established. She was declared a War Grave in 1982.
MGA notes
He was born at Worstead Vicarage Norwich
His address for Probate was Carleton Rode Rectory
7 January 1918
The Revd Joseph Duncan DATHAN
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke
He studied at Cavendish College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1885 and an MA in 1889 and at Ridley Hall, Cambridge in 1888. He was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Norwich in 1889 and ordained Priest by Bishop Marsden for Norwich in 1890. He served his Title as Curate of St John, Ipswich until 1891 and was then Curate of Kinson, Dorset until 1895. In 1896 he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Endymion 1896; Particular Service Nile 1896–97; HMS Gibraltar 1897–99; HMS Sans Pareil Sheerness 1899; RM Depot Walmer 1899–1900; HMS Goliath 1900–03; HMS Venus 1903–04; HMS Hercules 1904–05; RN Barracks, Portsmouth 1905–06; HMS Monmouth 1906–08; RN Dockyard, Bermuda 1908–13; HMS Formidable 1913; HMS Russell 1914; RM Chatham 1914 and HMS Implacable 1914–15.
He died in January 1918 and is buried in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery Naval 27 1415 and he is remembered on the Ridley Hall Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Pembroke was a shore based establishment at Chatham. Built on the site of Chatham convict prison in 1897, it provided accommodation and training facilities for men of the Reserve Fleet while waiting to be appointed to ships. It was named after a hulk which was formerly housed on the site.
MGA notes
He died on 7 January 1918 at the Naval Hospital, Chatham.
He was the husband of Alicia K Dathan
He was educated at Cavendish High School.
His address for Probate was Holmwood, Manor Road, Chatham
9 May 1918
The Revd William Lewis FORD
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Suffolk
He studied at Selwyn College, Dunedin, New Zealand and was made a Deacon in 1912, ordained Priest by the Bishop of Dunedin, New Zealand in 1913. He was Curate of Bluff in the Diocese of Dunedin until 1912; Vicar of Stewart Island, New Zealand from 1912–14; Curate of St. Thomas, North Sydney, Australia 1914–15 and Shoalhaven 1915–16. He became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy in 1916 serving on HMS Swiftsure. He was accidentally shot at Vladivostok, Russia.
He is buried in Pokrovskaya Cemetery, Vladivostok, Russia and remembered on the Vladivostok Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Suffolk was a Monmouth Class armoured cruiser and was built in 1903 and scrapped in 1920. She was part of the North Russian Expeditionary Force in 1918–19.
13 July 1918
The Revd Thomas Erskine ROSS
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Exmouth.
He studied at Keble College, Oxford where he obtained a BA (3rd cl. Mod. Hist.) in 1903. He trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford, and was made a Deacon in 1905. He was ordained Priest by The Lord Bishop of London in 1906 and was Curate of St Mary, Johnson Street, Stepney until 1908. He was Assistant Master of St John’s School, Leatherhead until 1911 and Curate of St. Agatha’s, Sparkbrook, Birmingham until 1914. In 1915, he became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Exmouth.
He was invalided out of the Royal Navy in 1917 and died of pneumonia at Conway, North Wales on 13 July 1918. He was 36 and the son of the late Honourable H T Ross, ICS and Mrs Ross.
He is not listed by the CWGC as a War Casualty but is remember on the Cuddesdon College Memorial. His obituary appears in The Times of 16 July 1918.
Additional information
HMS Exmouth was a Duncan Class Battleship and Flag Ship of Admiral Nicholson. She supported landings at Kephalo in the Dardanelles. From November 1915 she was part of a detached squadron at Salonika and returned home in 1917, going into Reserve.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Gyffin Rectory, Conway
17 September 1919
The Revd Dermond Ross MILNER
Temporary Chaplain, Royal Navy, HM Hospital Ship Garth Castle
He was a Late Open Exhib. of St Catherine’s College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1912. He was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Bangor for St Asaph in 1914 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of St Asaph in 1915. He was Chaplain and Assistant Master of Oswestry Grammar School, Shropshire from 1914-16. He was a Freemason and a member of St Oswald Lodge no. 1124 being initiated on 23 July 1918 and there is no record of any further advancement. He became a Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Astroea from 1916.
He was accidentally killed at the age of 29 by the explosion of a bomb on board ship. He is buried in Archangel Allied Cemetery, Russian Federation B14. He was the son of the Revd J Milner, MA, Chilton Rectory, Sudbury, Suffolk
Additional information
HM Hospital Ship Garth Castle was built by Barclay Curle and Company of Glasgow in 1910 for the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company. She was commissioned in November 1914. She was part of the North Russian Expeditionary Force in 1918–19.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Chilton Rectory, Chilton, Suffolk
The Fallen in WW2
The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
14 October 1939
The Revd James Douglas Becket CREE
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Royal Oak
He studied at King’s College, London where he obtained an AKC in 1930. He was made a Deacon in 1930 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark in 1931 serving his Title as Curate of Plumstead 1931-33; Penworth until 1936 when he became a chaplain to The Royal Navy serving at RN Barracks, Chatham 1936.
He died at the age of 39 and is remembered on the Portsmouth Memorial Panel 33, Column 1. He was the son of The late William and of Ruth Cree,
Additional information
HMS Royal Oak was a Sovereign Class battleship built at Devonport Dockyard and commissioned in 1916. She was the first battleship to be lost in WW2. Moored at Scapa Flow she was attacked by a German submarine U47 which had penetrated the defences. She blew up with the loss of over 833 Officers and men. She is a designated war grave.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Latham House Hotel, Eastbourne
8 June 1940
The Revd John Bernard KING
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Glorious
He studied at the University of Durham in 1933 and at Chichester Theological College in 1935. He was made a Deacon in 1936 by the Archbishop of York and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Portsmouth in 1937. He was Curate of St Paul, Sculcoates 1936-37 and St John Baptist, Rudmore, Portsea until 1939. He became a Chaplain to The Royal Navy serving at HMS Pembroke and then HMS Glorious
He is remembered on The Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 36, Column 2
Additional information
HMS Glorious was an aircraft carrier. She was intercepted with her escorts HMS Acasta and HMS Ardent in the Norwegian Sea, 100 miles west of Narvik, by the German battle cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst as they were evacuating from that theatre of war. The three British ships were sunk by gunfire in just over two hours with the loss of over 1,500 officers and men. It is said that the enemy made no attempt to rescue survivors.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 95 Beach Grove, Whitley Bay
22 May 1941
The Revd William BONSEY
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Gloucester
He studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1933. After training for the Priesthood at Ely Theological College, he was made a Deacon in 1935. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Winchester in 1936, he was Curate of Weeke, Hampshire until 1937; Moordown until 1939 when he became Chaplain RNVR.
During the attack, when the order was given to abandon ship, he was seen comforting the wounded and securing them to rescue rafts. He was posted “missing” until 1945.
He died at the age of 29 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval memorial Panel 61, Column 3. He was the son of the Revd William H Bonsey MA and Ernestine C L Bonsey of Groton Suffolk.
A memorial for students of Ely Theological College is now in the King’s School, Ely.
Additional information
HMS Gloucester was a light cruiser built at Scots Shipbuilding, Greenock. Launched by the Duchess of Gloucester and completed in 1939, she joined the 7th Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria in May 1940. She was involved in escort duties and was nicknamed the “Fighting G”. In May 1941, she was involved in preventing a German seaborne landing on the island of Crete. She was finally destroyed by German JU 88’s dive bombers in the Antikythera Channel on 22 May 1941, with the loss of 694 officers and men.
23 May 1941
The Revd Christopher Champain TANNER Albert Medal
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Fiji
He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA in 1932. He trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford in 1933 and was made a Deacon in 1935. Ordained by the Bishop of Oxford in 1936, he was Curate of Farnham Royal until 1937; St Mary de Lode, Gloucester until 1939 and Haslemere from 1939.
He died at the age of 32 and he is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 60, Column 3. He is further remembered on Cuddesdon College Memorial and on a memorial near the chapel of Cheltenham College. He was born on the 24 June 1908. He was educated at Cheltenham College. He was a Cambridge Rugby “blue” in 1930 and played as a wing for Richmond and Gloucestershire. He was capped five times for England - 1930 v Scotland; 1932 v Scotland, Ireland, Wales and South Africa. RFU Records credit him with having scored a try. He played for the Barbarians 6 times.
Additional information
The following notes have been gathered from several sources.
At the outbreak of war 'Kit' Tanner volunteered as a Naval Chaplain and was posted to the cruiser HMS Fiji and he was aboard in 1941 when she joined the Mediterranean Fleet which had the task of preventing a German seaborne landing on Crete. The entire force was under constant air attack, being bombed by Junkers and Stukas. The destroyer HMS Juno was hit by a whole stick of bombs and sank within two minutes. The destroyer HMS Greyhound was sunk by six dive bombers which swooped upon her like vultures. The cruiser HMS Gloucester ablaze from end to end, went down with her anti-aircraft guns still firing. Then it was Fiji's turn.
Midshipman Blockley was the Captain's secretary and was at his elbow on the bridge during the bombing. He kept an accurate record of the number of bombs aimed at Fiji. He counted 370 during the day.
The duties of a Ship's Chaplain during a naval action are not easily defined. Captain Powlett gave no orders to Kit Tanner. He entrusted him with a roving commission to make himself useful in every way possible. Wherever danger was most acute, Tanner was there. His cheerful influence infected the bridge and, ‘by God, I needed cheering up,' said the Captain, as well as the galley where the cooks toiled to provide hot cocoa and bully beef sandwiches. It permeated to the engine room where sweating stokers laboured in a foul atmosphere which could at any moment become a shambles of death. The crews of the anti-aircraft guns, who were firing their guns red hot, knew that Kit Tanner would be along with the sweets, cigarettes, cups of cocoa and the type of inconsequential humour to be found in Portsmouth music halls. There was hardly a let-up in the bombing. ‘It seemed,' said the navigating officer, ‘that Stukas were breeding in the sky.’ Great holes were torn in F decks. Anti-aircraft ammunition was all but exhausted. Fiji ‘Threw everything except her anchor at the swarming dive bombers'. Such a one-sided contest could only have one end. A bomb wiped out the port side watch in the after engine room, with the exception of Stoker Tubby Strange, who counted himself the luckiest sailor alive. Other bombs destroyed every gun except one pom-pom. Then three bombs hit Fiji amidships and astern. Now she was listing at 30 degrees and her speed dropped. A single ME109 dealt the final blow. The aircraft appeared alone and dropped one bomb. Fiji flopped over on her side, her only pom-pom still firing. There was only one order left to give, ‘Abandon ship'.
At that point, Kit Tanner knew he had one duty which took precedence above all others. In the sick bay were 60 wounded men. Tanner personally supervised their removal to the one whaler left in service. ‘He was untiring in his ministrations', said Captain Powlett, ‘and forgot nobody'. When the time came for him to jump into the sea he found that he had a new parish, approximately half a square mile of choppy Mediterranean. Some of Fiji's men, glad to be free of the bombing, took to the sea immediately. A handful of strong swimmers, led by the water polo team, struck out for the destroyers HMS Kandahar and HMS Kingston, which had closed in to see Fiji's last moments afloat. There were a number of vintage seamen aboard who had been in the ‘drink’ before. They made wry jokes about compulsory bathing and exhorted their comrades to ‘come in, it's lovely and warm'. When the men in the sea saw the two destroyers withdraw into the gathering darkness, some of them lost heart and drowned. There were stokers, many stripped to the waist and glad to be out of the stifling heat of the boiler-rooms, who succumbed to the cold as night wore on. There were teenage boys who saw no hope of rescue. There were men who could barely swim and others who could not swim at all. It was these less resilient souls who became Kit Tanner's special concern.
Fiji's serviceable life-saving equipment had been reduced to one whaler and two Carly floats; the rest had been jettisoned for HMS Gloucester's survivors. Of the survivors, 9 were in a desperate plight. The whaler was crammed with wounded, and the Carly floats were designed to take only 20 men each. In the water, Kit Tanner was a constant tower of strength. He helped men too far gone to help themselves to the floats. He administered the life saver's shock treatment - a shrewdly delivered right hook to the jaw to a young seaman in the grip of terrible panic. He successfully dissuaded a Marine from swimming to Crete (there were Marines still fighting on the island and this man was determined to join them). He assisted a seaman with his arm blown off, who subsequently survived. He led men in singing and soon the strains of ‘Roll out the barrel' hit the night. There were other songs many of which he had heard sung in the bar of the Gloucester Rugby Football Club. After four hours in the water, most of the time in darkness, only the more determined singers, Kit Tanner amongst them, were still in full voice. Then, shortly after midnight, cheering started and torches were frantically flashed. A dark shape looming out of the blackness, closely followed by another, told the men in the water that HMS Kandahar and HMS Kingston had come back for them. Aboard HMS Kandahar, there were blankets, hot drinks and cigarettes for Fiji's survivors. In the warmth of the wardroom and mess-decks, the rescued men began to talk of survivors' leave. Kit Tanner was brought aboard HMS Kandahar. But for him, rescue did not mean comfort and cheerful anticipation. There were still men in the sea, who were too far gone through exhaustion to grasp the ropes lowered to them from the destroyer. Tanner made these men his special responsibility. Thirty-four officers and 500 men were saved out of Fiji's total complement of 700. Nearly 30 of these men owed their lives to Tanner. No accurate count was possible of the number of times he dived from HMS Kandahar bringing in yet another man. At length, only one man remained to be brought across. Despite his exhaustion Mr Tanner made a last effort to save him. He brought him across and saw him safely on board but when hauled up himself, he died within a few minutes from exhaustion.
For these acts of bravery he was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal.
Note
The Albert Medal, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1866 for saving life at sea, was one of the rarer awards of the war. It has been worn by officers and men of the Royal and Merchant Navy; by lifeboat men and policemen and by one clergyman - The Revd Kit Tanner. There is a curious sequel to the story of this gallant Chaplain. Some years later, a dealer was offered an Albert Medal with Tanner’s name on it. It transpired that the Albert Medal had been stolen in a burglary and was being touted round the dealers. Happily, it was eventually recovered and restored to its rightful owner. Only 45 Albert Medals were awarded during WW2.
MGA notes
He was the husband of Eleanor M C Champion who he had married in 1937
His address for Probate was Glebe Cottage, Derby Road, Haslemere
24 May 1941
The Revd Robert James Patrick STEWART
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Hood
He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (3rd cl. Engl. Trip. pt.i) in 1931 and an MA in 1935. He trained for the Priesthood at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and was made a Deacon in 1933. Ordained Priest by The Bishop of Portsmouth in 1934, serving his title at St Mary, Portsea until 1936, when he became a Chaplain to The Royal Navy.
He served on HMS Amphion 1936-38; HMS President 1938-40; HMS Badger 1940.
He died at the age of 31 and is remembered of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 45, Column 2 and on the Ridley Hall Memorial.
He was the son of Surgeon Rear-Admiral Robert William Glennan Stewart, OBE and Mabel Stewart of Bayswater.
Additional information
HMS Hood was a battle cruiser which was involved in the search for the German Battleship Bismarck and engaged her in the Denmark Strait. Within minutes a gigantic explosion ripped her in two and she disappeared within ten minutes. There were three survivors.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Foicks House, RN Base Parkestone Quarry, Harwich
25 November 1941
The Revd Frank BURNETT
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Barham
He studied at The University of Leeds, where he obtained a BA in 1929 and trained for the Priesthood at the College of The Resurrection, Mirfield in 1929. He was made a Deacon in 1931 and ordained Priest by The Bishop of Norwich in 1932. He was Curate of St Peter, Parmentergate with St. Julian, Norwich until 1939 when he became a Chaplain RNVR.
He is remembered on The Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 60, Column 3.
HMS Barham was a battleship which had been damaged in the operations off Crete and had been sent to Durban for repairs. Rejoining the Mediterranean Fleet in July she was on patrol between Crete and Cyrenaica when she was struck by three torpedoes from the German submarine U331. As she rolled over on to her beam end, the main magazine blew up and she sank with the loss of 862 officers and men.
Additional information
Mention is made of his hymn writing with particular reference of a hymn for confirmation with the first line, “To Thee O Lord our hearts we raise”. Exhaustive searches in several hymn books of the period have not produced any hymns with his authorship. The hymn, “To Thee O Lord”, was written by W. Chatterton Dix 1837-1898.
The Royal Yacht, HMS Medina was a converted P & O Liner which conveyed King George V and Queen Mary to India for the Delhi Durbar in December 1911. For his services during this voyage he was made an MVO.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 6 Greyfriars Road, Norwich
10 December 1941
The Revd Wilfred Graham PARKER
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Prince of Wales
He studied at The University of New Zealand where he obtained a BA in 1927, and an MA (2nd cl. Phil.) in 1928; and studied at St Johns Theological College, Auckland; New Zealand Board of Theological Studies, Licentiate of Theology in 1930. He was made a Deacon in 1928, and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Wellington in 1929. He was Curate of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Wellington until 1931; Wrangthorn, Leeds until 1933; St John Baptist, Hove, Sussex until 1935 when he became a Chaplain to The Royal Navy. He served on HMS Medway 1935-8; HMS Wildfire 1938-39; RN Air Station Lee-on–Solent 1939–41; HMS Prince of Wales on Commissioning in March 1941.
He died at the age of 36 and is remembered on The Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 44, Column 3.
He was the son of James and Hylda May Parker of Paeroa, Auckland, New Zealand. He was born at Wellington, New Zealand on 30 November 1905. A memorial in his home parish church - St Paul’s, Paeroa, New Zealand was erected in 1996.
Additional information
An article in ‘The Volunteers’ Volume 24, No 1 records that “a Seaman observed in the shaft below that the Padre was attending wounded. He told the Chaplain that he was about to secure the hatch….the Padre refused to leave his parishioners and the hatch was sealed.”
HMS Prince of Wales was a King George V battleship built at Birkenhead and completed in March 1941. Although not fully operational, she was involved with the attack on Bismarck in May 1941. Following repairs she carried the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, to Newfoundland for the Atlantic Charter Conference. She went to the Mediterranean and saw active duty off Malta before going to the Far East with the battle cruiser HMS Repulse. Returning to Singapore after attacks in North Malaya she was attacked by Japanese high level bombers and torpedo planes. Without air cover both ships were hit several times. HMS Repulse was sunk. HMS Prince of Wales capsized and sank with loss of 327 Officers and men.
Editor’s Note
Chaplain Parker was prominent during the attack on the Bismarck.
See The Sea Chaplains page 401ff; Bucknill Report which has been available to the public since 1974.
15 December 1941
The Revd Arthur Robert BOTTING
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Galatea
He studied at Hertford College, Oxford where he obtained a BA (2nd cl. Phil. Pol. and Econ.) in 1933; Ellerton Th. Essay Prize 1935 and an MA in 1937. He trained for the Priesthood at Westcott House, Cambridge, and was made a Deacon in 1935 by The Bishop of Portsmouth. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Ripon for Portsmouth in 1936, he served his Title at St Mary, Portsea until 1937; Chapel Allerton, Leeds until 1939; Christ Church, Harrogate and Chaplain RNVR 1940.
He died age 29 and is remembered on The Plymouth Memorial, Panel 61, Column 3
He was the son of Frank Charles and Ada Marion Botting, 88 Newmarket Road, Norwich and the husband of Beryl M Botting, Grove House, Clare Valley, The Park, Nottingham
Additional information
HMS Galatea was an Arethusa Class cruiser built by Scotts of Greenock and completed in 1935. She had been on active service in various events and was assigned to the Mediterranean in May 1941. She was attacked by the German submarine U557 west of Alexandria and sank within three minutes with the loss of 470 officers and men.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 88 Newmarket Road, Norwich
19 December 1941
The Revd Thomas HARRIS
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Neptune
The son of John S and Emma Harris of Exeter, he studied at Exeter College, Oxford where he obtained a BA in 1934 and an MA in 1937. He trained for the Priesthood at Ripon Hall, Oxford and was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Southwark in 1935. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Chichester in 1936, he served his Title at Battersea until 1936 and at Preston, Sussex until 1937 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served at HMS Pembroke 1937 and then on HMS Neptune.
He died at the age of 29 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, panel 44, column 3.
Additional information
HMS Neptune was leading a Cruiser Squadron, Force K, to destroy German and Italian convoys carrying troops and supplies to Libya in support of Rommel’s Army. She struck a mine and, going full astern, hit another mine which brought her to a standstill. Despite attempts by other ships in the Squadron to render assistance, she struck another mine and slowly sank. 764 officers and men were lost.
Editor’s Note:
There was a Memorial Fire screen at Ripon Hall, Oxford which it is believed now to be part of the property of Ripon Hall College, Cuddesdon.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 6 Herschell Road, Exeter
19 January 1942
The Revd Amyas George Fraser SHAW
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Despatch
He studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (3rd. cl. Cl. Trip. pt i.) in 1933 and a (3rd cl. Th. Trip. pt i.) in 1934. Some records show him as being an MA. He trained for the Priesthood at Westcott House, Cambridge and was made a Deacon in 1936. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Salisbury (Sarum) in 1937, he served his Title at Melksham until 1940 when he became a Chaplain RNVR. After some months at the Royal Navy Coastal Forces Base at Gosport (HMS Hornet) he was appointed to the cruiser HMS Despatch which was at Talara in Peru and arrived at Lagos, Nigeria in March. It is suggested that he crossed the Atlantic to join his ship but the movements did not enable him to do so. He returned to England in the 7,988 tons Canadian National Steamship Company passenger/cargo liner SS Lady Hawkins which was torpedoed by the German submarine U66 and sank with the loss of over 200 lives in the North Atlantic between Cape Hatteras and the Bermudas when sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
He was 29 and is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 71, Column 2. He was the son of the late Engr. Captain James F Shaw, RN, and of Patricia T Shaw
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Lamorna, 13 Lower Camden, Chislehurst.
9 March 1942
The Revd Reginald BAILEY
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Afrikander IV
He died on 9 March 1942, aged 57 and is buried in grave F.264, Stellawood Cemetery, Durban, South Africa,.
HMS Afrikander IV was a Naval Base at Simonstown, South Africa.
5 April 1942
The Revd John Minnitt BIRD
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Cornwall
He was an AKC in 1932 and was at Westcott House, Cambridge. He was made a Deacon in 1933 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Southwark in 1934 serving his Title at St Peter, Dulwich Common until 1936 and Purney until 1938 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Drake 1938-39 and HMS Cornwall.
He died at the age of 36 and is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial 51.1.
The son of Edward William and Emily Alice Bird of Sanderstead
Additional information
HMS Cornwall was a cruiser which was attacked in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Ceylon by 50 plus Japanese dive bombers from an aircraft carrier along with HMS Dorsetshire. She sank within twenty minutes. There were 198 men lost.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 61 Mayfield Road, Sanderstead
5 April 1942 (Easter Sunday)
The Revd Edward Denzil Bickham LABORDE
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Dorsetshire
A late Exhib. of St Catherine’s College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (2nd cl. Hist. Trip. pt. i) in 1934, (3rd cl. Th. Trip. pt. i.) in 1935 and an MA in 1938. He trained for the Priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford in 1935 and was made a Deacon in 1936. Ordained Priest by the Lord Bishop of London in 1937, he served his Title at St Gabriel, Warwick Square, Pimlico, until 1940 and was Chaplain of Aldenham School, Elstree, from 1940.
He was the son of Dr Edward and of Hilda G Laborde and the husband of Alice H Laborde of Harrow on the Hill. He was 29. He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 76, Column 3 and the Cuddesdon College War Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Dorsetshire was a cruiser which was involved with the sinking of the Bismarck on the 27 May 1940. Later she was attacked in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Ceylon by 50 plus Japanese dive bombers from an aircraft carrier. Along with HMS Cornwall, she sank within twenty minutes. 227 men were lost.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Slade Cornwood, Ivybridge
9 April 1942
The Revd Alan Charles Herbert LEEKE
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Hermes
He studied at Clare College, Cambridge, where he obtained a BA in 1930, and an MA in 1935. He trained for the Priesthood at Westcott House, Cambridge, and was made a Deacon in 1935. Ordained Priest by The Bishop of Ely in 1936, he was Chaplain of Clare College, Cambridge until 1938. He was then Organising Secretary for The Cambridge Mission to Delhi, and Curate of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster until 1939, when he became a Chaplain.
He was 32 and is remembered on The Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 76, Column 3.
He was the son of the late Henry A and of Catherine H Leeke, of Seaford
Additional information
HMS Hermes was an aircraft carrier based at Ceylon in the Indian Ocean. Following a Japanese air attack at Trincomalee, she came under a heavy air attack being hit by 40 bombs in ten minutes and quickly sank along with a corvette and a destroyer. A hospital ship in the vicinity was able to rescue some survivors but the Chaplain was lost.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Southdown Cottage, Seaford
11 March 1943
The Revd John Cartwright PARKER
Chaplain, Royal Navy
He studied at Christ College, Cambridge where he obtained a BA (Cl. Tr. Sch.) in 1907. He was made a Deacon in 1909 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Truro in 1910 serving his Title at Launceston until 1912 when he became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Blake 1912-13 and HMS Berwick 1913-16. There are no further entries in Crockford’s Clerical Directory.
He died on the 11 March 1943, aged 59 and is buried in Skirton Cemetery, Lancaster, section B. (Church of England), grave 654.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was The Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Lancaster
2 July 1943
The Revd Fr. Thomas Frederick BRADLEY CSSR
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Resolution
He served with the army during WW1 when he was Chaplain with 7 Battalion, The Royal West Kent Regiment at Purfleet. His Father Provincial persuaded the War Office for him to be returned to Orders duty in February 1915. He next appears as a Chaplain to the Royal Navy serving on HMS Lion at the Battle of Jutland where he was slightly wounded. Returning to the Royal Navy in 1940 after service at home, he was sent to the East African Base at Kilindini near Mombasa, Kenya. Having been granted leave he resolved to visit sailors on Madagascar calling at Mauritius. Embarking on the SS Hoihow, a 2198 tons steamer bound for Tamotavi, Madagascar, it was struck by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. There were only four survivors out of a ship’s compliment of 196 passengers and crew. Correspondence found in The Cross on the Sword pp 61ff would seem to indicate that he was unclear as to the ethos and role of Naval Chaplains. His last church was St Mary, Clapham.
He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Panel 78, Column 1. He was the son of Thomas J and Maria H Bradley. He was a Roman Catholic Priest (Redemptorist).
23 October 1943
The Revd William Heading MITCHELL
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Charybdis
He studied at the University of Birmingham in 1921 and at St Stephen’s House, Oxford in 1926 and was made a Deacon in 1928. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Lichfield in 1928 he served his Title at St Mary, Hurst Hill, Sedgley until 1930; Wolstanton until 1933; St Paul, Burton on Trent until 1935 then Rector of Salwarpe in the Diocese of Worcester.
He was posted as “missing presumed killed on active service” when his ship unsuccessfully attempted to intercept the former blockade runner Munsterland off the north coast of France and was torpedoed by German destroyers in her escort.
He is buried in Île de Bréhat Communal Cemetery, France Row 1 Grave 10. The son of William Frederick and Elizabeth Mitchell (nee Lotka), He was 39 and the husband of Muriel M Mitchell Amblecote Vicarage, Stourbridge.
Editor’s Note
Île de Bréhat is a small island off the French coast. Presumably his body was washed ashore at that place.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Salwarpe Rectory
5 November 1943
The Revd Charles Arnold DARLINGTON
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Drake
He studied at Trinity College, Dublin where he obtained a BA in 1935. Some records show him as an MA (Dublin) Trinity College. He was made a Deacon in 1936 and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Down in 1937. He was Curate of Trinity College Mission, Belfast until 1939.
The son of Charles Horace John and Frances Ellen Darlington of Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, He was 30 and he is buried in Plymouth (Western Mill Cemetery) Section C Cons grave 18139.
Additional information
HMS Drake was a Barracks at Plymouth
18 December 1943
The Revd James STUBBS
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Victory
The son of Edward and Violet Lily Stubbs, Kendray, Barnsley. He died at the age of 32 and is buried in Arnos Vales Cemetery Bristol sec TTT grave 951.
HMS Victory is the Flag Ship of the Second Sea Lord, Commander in Chief Naval Home Command at Portsmouth
Editor’s Note
CWGC records indicate that he was a BA
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 2 Birk Avenue, Kendray, Barnsley which also records that he was last seen alive on 18 December 1943 and his body was found in the river Avon near Bristol on 16 January 1944
18 February 1944
The Revd Peter Aldwin MUNBY
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Penelope
He was at Bishop’s College, Cheshunt, in 1934, and studied at the University of London in 1938. He was made a Deacon in 1937 and ordained Priest by The Bishop of Worcester in 1938. He served his Title as Curate of Rainbow Hill, Worcester from 1937 to 1939 and was Vicar of Wribbenhall, Bewdley from 1940.
The son of Lt.–Col Aldwin M Munby, The Border Regiment, and of Evelyn M Munby and the husband of Ruth S Munby of Haywards Heath. Mentioned in Despatches, he is remembered on The Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 88, and column 2.
Additional information
HMS Penelope was a celebrated cruiser. Having survived many disasters in the Mediterranean, she was sunk by three torpedoes from the German submarine U410 during a voyage back to Naples from the Anzio beachhead.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Wribbenhall Vicarage, Bewdley
21 March 1944
The Revd Harold Charles Walter MANGER
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Excellent II
He studied at the University of London, where he obtained a BA in 1938. He trained for the Priesthood at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and was made a Deacon in 1939. Ordained Priest by The Bishop of Liverpool in 1940, he served his Title at St Helens from 1939. He was the Chaplain to 42 (RM) Commando and died of grenade wounds while serving in the Arakan in Burma after having been Mentioned in Despatches. He is buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma), grave 3f 12. Records would indicate that he was the last RN Chaplain to lose his life through enemy action during WW2.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 10 Cheriston Gardens, Kensington
He was the husband of Kathleen Amy Manger
23 May 1944
The Revd Fr. Charles Joseph William LUSBY
Chaplain, Royal Navy
A Roman Catholic Priest he was an Oblate Father. He attended the Oblate Juniorate at Belcamp Hall, Raheny, Dublin and was received as a Novice at Belmont House Stillorgan, Dublin on 1 October 1919. He made his final vow at Belmont House on the 1 November 1923 and was ordained at All Hallows, Dublin on 20 June 1926. Until 1933, he was at the House of Retreat, Inchicore, Dublin. He was then at Holy Cross Parish, Liverpool, until 1938. The next three years were spent at Our Lady of Lourdes, Bristol and he became a Royal Naval Chaplain in 1941.
The son of George and Julia Lusby, he was born on 15 June 1900 at Waterford City, Ireland.
He died at Liverpool on the 23 May 1944, aged 43 and is buried in Liverpool (Ford) West Derby Roman Catholic Cemetery, Section 1 Grave 114
MGA notes
His address for Probate was The Presbytery, Hanham Road, Kingswood Bristol
29 June 1944
The Revd Fr. Thomas Aidan BRENNAN
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Ukussa
He studied at Ushaw College, Durham and was ordained Priest on 27 July 1937. 1940-41 he was a Priest at Sacred Heart and St Edward, Darwen in the diocese of Salford; St. Edward’s, Rusholme 1941-42. He became a Chaplain to the Royal Navy and was lost while taking passage on the SS Nellore on 29 June 1944.
He is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 81, Column 1.
Additional information
HMS Ukussa was a Royal Naval Air Station in Ceylon.
The SS Nellore (6942 GRT) was built at Caird & Co. Greenock, Scotland in 1913 was a passenger vessel. She was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in the Indian Ocean on a voyage from India to Australia, some 200 miles East from Diego Garcia, a small atoll south of the Indian and Sri Lanka southern coast.
15 October 1944
The Revd Cyril COOK
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Victory
He trained for the Priesthood at Kelham Theological College, Newark in 1928 and was made a Deacon in 1932. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Glasgow in 1934 he was Curate of St. Chad, Ladyburn, until 1934 and St. Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow, until 1937, Rector of St. John Evangelist, Lanarkshire until 1940 when he became a Chaplain RNVR.
He was the son of William A A and Ethel Cook and the husband of Edith Cook, of Westbourne, Bournemouth. He died at the age of 37. He is buried in grave H 13 4 Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.
Additional information
HMS Victory is the Flag Ship of the Second Sea Lord, Commander in Chief Naval Home Command at Portsmouth
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 8 King Street, Emsworth and it also records that he died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, Gosport
4 November 1944
The Revd Walter Granville Willoughby LEE
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Marlborough
He studied at The University of London, where he obtained a BA in 1909 and a BD in 1923. He trained for the Priesthood at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and was made a Deacon in 1912. Ordained Priest by The Lord Bishop of London in 1913, he served his Title at St Matthew, Bayswater until 1915. He then became Tutor at St Aidan’s College, Birkenhead in 1915; Lecturer 1916–19; Chaplain to the training ship Indefatigable, New Ferry, Cheshire 1916–20. He was Licensed to Preach in the Diocese of Cheshire 1916–20 and the Diocese of Liverpool 1917–20. He was Vicar of Hadnall, in the Diocese of Lichfield from 1929, and was Proctor in Convocation from 1931.
He died on 4 November 1944, aged 55, and is buried in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Naval Reservation, Grave 1589 and remembered on the Ridley Hall, Cambridge Memorial.
Additional information
HMS Marlborough was the name applied, during WW2 to a detachment at Eastbourne College.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was Hadnall Hall, Shrewsbury and it also records that he died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Gillingham.
20 April 1945
The Revd James Gordon HOLMES
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Stopford.
he studied at The University of London where he obtained a BSc 1919; BA 1922 and BD 1938. He trained for the Priesthood at Wells Theological College in 1939 when he was made a Deacon. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1940, he served his Title at Weston super Mare from 1939.
He was the son of James and Sara M Holmes and the husband of Eve G Holmes of Harrogate. He was 53. He is buried in grave 154 Naval Reservation, Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham.
Additional information
HMS Stopford was a major landing craft base for working up craft prior to operations and was also a Passive Defence and Balloon School at Bo’ness, West Lothian.
Editor’s Note:
There was a Memorial at Wells Theological College which is now in the safe keeping at Salisbury College (Sarum), The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was St Andrew’s Manse, Bolness, West Lothian and it also records that he died at The Admiralty, Queen Anne’s Mansions, St James Park, London.
31 October 1945
The Revd Percy Taylor JEFFERSON MiD
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Nightjar
He studied at St. Augustine College, Canterbury in 1914, and St. Edmund’s Hall, Oxford, where he obtained a BA in 1921, and an MA in 1926. He served in WW1 in Palestine as a Lieutenant in The Royal Army Service Corps, and was Mentioned in Despatches. He was a Candidate Scholar at Lincoln Theological College, and was made a Deacon by the Bishop of Lincoln for Colonies. Ordained Priest in 1922 by the Bishop of Kimberley, he was Curate of St Paul, De Aur until 1924; Rector of Prieska and Upington until 1928. Beaconsfield 1928–32; Christ Church, Fordsburg 1932–35 (South Africa), then Vicar of St Andrew, Bugthorpe in the Archdiocese of York 1935.
He was the son of Matthew and Mary E Jefferson and the husband of Constance E (Eve) Jefferson, Mowbreck Hall, Kirkham, Lancashire. He was 52. He is buried in grave 416, Christ Church Churchyard, Wesham Lancashire.
Editor’s Note:
His son, Lieutenant (A) Charles E H Jefferson RNVR (HMS Stalker) died on 21 August 1944, and is buried in St. Remy-De Provence Old Communal Cemetery, France.
HMS Nightjar was a Naval Operational Training Unit at the RN Air Station at Inskip Lanarkshire.
MGA notes
His Probate records state that he died in RAF Hospital RAF Weeton Kirkham
18 July 1946
The Revd James Francis STUART
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Dolphin
He studied at Keble College, Oxford, where he obtained a BA in 1931 and an MA in 1936. He trained for the Priesthood at Wells Theological College and was made a Deacon in 1932. Ordained Priest by the Bishop of Winchester in 1933, he served his Title at St Andrews, Bournemouth, until 1936 when he became Chaplain to the Royal Navy at Portsmouth. He served on HMS Ramillies 1936-38 and HMS Manchester 1938.
He died on 18 July 1946 aged 38 in Haslar Hospiyal, Portsmouth and is buried in the Churchyard to the north west of St. Lawrence Church, Westbury–sub–Mendip. He was the son of the Revd Canon James S Stuart, MA and Mrs Stuart and the husband of Ellen E Stuart of Sutton Montis, Somerset.
Additional information
HMS Dolphin was a submarine base and the Royal Navy submarine school at Forth Blockhouse, Gosport, Hampshire from 1904 to 1999
Editor’s Note:
There was a Memorial at Wells Theological College which is now in the safe keeping at Salisbury College (Sarum), The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 40 Anglesey Road, Alverstoke, Hampshire
23 July 1946
The Revd David John THOMAS OBE
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke
he was a late Butler and W.D. Llewellyn Senior School of St. Deiniol’s College, Lampeter in 1923. He obtained a BA (2nd Cl) in 1924; Candidate Scholar Lincoln 1926. Some records show him as having a BD. He was made a Deacon in 1926, and ordained Priest by the Bishop of Peterborough in 1927. He served his Title at of St Michael and All Angels, Northampton in 1929 when he became a Chaplain in the Royal Navy. He served on HMS Malaya 1929-31; HMS Centaur 1931-32; HMS Cairo 1932-34; RN Barracks, Chatham 1934-38 and HMS St Angelo 1938.
He was the son of the Revd W D Thomas and Mrs Thomas and the husband of Mary Irene Thomas of Northampton. He died at the age of 44 and is buried in Billing Road Cemetery, Northampton in Screen Wall, grave 1799.
Additional information
HMS Pembroke was a shore based establishment at Chatham. Built on the site of Chatham convict prison in 1897, it provided accommodation and training facilities for men of the Reserve Fleet while waiting to be appointed to ships. It was named after a hulk which was formerly housed on the site.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 48 Billing Road, Northampton and also states that he died in RN Auxiliary Hospital, Woolton, Lancashire
25 September 1946
The Revd Fr. Michael Bernard EGAN
Chaplain, Royal Navy, HMS Pembroke
He was a RC Secular Priest of Nottingham Diocese based at Chatham.
He died age of 50 on 25 September 1946. He is buried in the Naval Reservation grave 133 RC, Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham. He was the son of Michael and Elizabeth Egan,
Additional information
HMS Pembroke was a shore based establishment at Chatham. Built on the site of Chatham convict prison in 1897 it provided accommodation and training facilities for men of the Reserve Fleet while waiting to be appointed to ships. It was named after a hulk which was formerly housed on the site.
MGA notes
His address for Probate was 4 Palace Court, Rainham Road, Chatham and states that he died in Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham
22 November 1946
The Revd Fr. Thomas Henry George MORIARTY
Chaplain, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Victory
He attended the Christian Brothers North College and then was at school at Haulbowline and Portsmouth Dockyards. After an apprenticeship he went to sea with the Royal Naval Auxiliary and eventually took a First Class Marine Certificate. From 1933-36 he attended the Obligates late Vocations College at Glencreem, Co, Wicklow and entered the Noviciate at Cahirmoyle, Co. Limerick on 7 September 1934. He took his first vows there on 8 September 1935 and went to the Scholasticate of Daingean, Co. Offaly. His final vows were taken there on 29 September 1938 and he was ordained on 23 June 1940. He held the Chairs of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Eloquence and Plainchant at Our Lady’s Scholasticate, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. He became a Royal Naval Chaplain in December 1942, stationed at the Royal Marine Barracks, Ipswich and was transferred to Sydney, Australia in early 1945.
After surgery in 1946, he was flown back from Malta and died at Chatham Naval Hospital on 22 November 1946, aged 42. He was the son of John and Jane Moriarty and he was born in Cork City, on 31 May 1904. He is buried in grave 42, the Oblates Cemetery, Inchicore, Dublin.
Royal Australian Navy
20 November 1941
The Revd George STUBBS
Chaplain, HMAS Sydney
He studied at the University of Durham, where he obtained a Licentiate of Theology.
He was the son of John and Georgina Stubbs and the husband of Ethel Maud Stubbs of Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia; he was 57. He is remembered on Panel 56 Column 2 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Additional information
HMAS Sydney was a modified Leander Class light cruiser. In the early part of the war, she had a great success but controversy and mystery surrounds her loss. She sank with all hands and represents the greatest loss of life on an Australian warship. She fought the German cruiser HSK Kormoran in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. Both ships were lost. The 645 crew of HMAS Sydney were lost and some 315 survivors of the Kormoran were rescued by the British, Shell Tanker Trocas, 120 miles NNW of Carnarvon and became prisoners of war. In March 2008, the wrecks of HMAS Sydney and the Kormoran were found on the ocean bed.
MGA note
Photo on http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?p=524362
1 March 1942
The Revd Ronald Sutton BEVINGTON
Chaplain, HMAS Perth
He was an Anglican Priest with an MA (Cantab).
He died at the age of 30 and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 72 Column 2. He was the son of Reginald and Netta Ethel Bevington of Bournemouth.
Additional information
HMAS Perth was a modified Leander Class light cruiser built at the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard and commissioned as HMS Amphion in 1936. Purchased by the Australian Government in 1939, she was torpedoed by the Japanese during the battle of Sunda Strait and was the heaviest loss during the period 1941-42
Editor’s Note
The loss of Sydney and Perth amounted to 926 members of The Royal Australian Navy, accounting for half of the Navy losses during the war.
MGA note
Photo at http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?p=524240
9 January 1943
The Revd Vivian Ward THOMPSON
Chaplain, HMAS Penguin
He was the son of the Revd Gustavus and Miriam E W Thompson and the husband of Edith Phyllis Thompson of Mosman, New South Wales, he died at the age of 57 of natural causes. He was a BA. He was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, New South Wales, Australia, and is remembered on the Florentine Wall Niche 46CC.
Additional information
HMAS Penguin was an RNAS Depot established in 1941 at Garden Island, Sydney Harbour, housing the Balmoral Naval Hospital and a shore based barrack.
Royal Canadian Navy
21 May 1945
The Revd. Clement Kynnersley WHALLEY
Chaplain, HMCS Protector
The husband of Muriel E Whalley, of Sydney, Nova Scotia, he died at the age of 60. He is buried in Sydney (Hardwood Hill) Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Div Y, Range 2, Lot 3.
Additional information
HMCS Protector was a Naval Base at Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The Royal New Zealand Navy
13 November 1944
The Revd Claude Francis WEBSTER
Chaplain, HMS Achilles
He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and trained for the Priesthood at Wescott House, Cambridge.” He emigrated to New Zealand in the late 1930s “serving on a backblocks parish. In 1940-41 he was Chaplain to NZ Mounted Rifles (Home Defence), in September 1941 he became a temporary Chaplain RNZNVR serving on the light cruiser HMNZS “Leander”. His ship was involved in the night battle of Kolombangara 13 July 1943 in the Soloman Islands. His ship was badly damaged and he conducted burials at sea of those who died. He was subsequently appointed to the light cruiser HMS Achilles.
The Author of “Men of Faith and Courage”, J. Bryant Haigh, states that “he was born on 2 September 1910 in Yorkshire. He later became the stepson of Sir Bedford Dorman and was educated at Rugby School.
“He contracted meningitis and died on the hospital ship No. 3 at the age of 33 on the 13 November 1944 “and is buried in Trincomalee War Cemetery, (Ceylon) Sri Lanka, Grave 2 C 15.
Additional information
A tribute to the Rev. Webster appeared in the London ‘Times’ with the initials of the “Leander’s” former Captains (R H Bekam and C A L Mansergh) (Rear Admiral) the last sentence states “No better Chaplain ever wore naval uniform and by his passing the youngest Dominion Navy has lost an outstanding and inspiring personality.”
HMNZS Achilles was a Leander Class light cruiser built by the Cammell Laird Company at Birkenhead and was on loan to the New Zealand Navy for ten years from 1936 but was renamed HMNZS Achilles in September 1941. She was involved in the Battle of the River Plate and was then part of the ANZAC Squadron in the South West Pacific. She was hit by a bomb in January 1943, and was at Portsmouth until May 1944. She joined the Eastern Fleet and was part of the British Pacific Fleet Task Force in May 1945.
EPILOGUE
It should be remembered that many other Chaplains carried out their duties with courage and devotion and survived. The final words are those chosen by Rudyard Kipling who, like thousands of others, mourned. They are to be found on some CWGC headstones across the world.
Their Glory shall not be blotted out
Ecclesiasticus 44:13.
David Youngson is Blind and the Author of, The Search for a Scottish Soldier
Privately published for his family 1993
The Cleveland Way – A guide for the Visually Impaired published by the North Yorks National Park 1998
Stockton’s longest serving Rector published 2005
Greater Love - A directory of Army Chaplain Casualties of World War One published February 2008
Lest We Forget (Durham Masonic Roll of Honour)
Published November 2008
Masonic Roll of Honour Provinces of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol & Buckinghamshire
Published May 2010
Lived Respected and Died Regretted
Masonic Roll of Honour 1914 –1918; 1939 – 1946 Province of Norfolk
Published June 2010
Cemeteries and Memorials of those listed in the Directory
Australia.
Northern Suburbs Crematorium, New South Wales, Australia.
THOMPSON, Vivian Ward;
Royal Australian Navy.
Grave Florentine Wall Niche 46CC.
Canada.
Sydney (Hardwood Hill) Cemetery, Nova Scotia, Canada.
WHALLEY, Clement Kynnersley;
Royal Canadian Navy.
Grave Div. Y. Range 2. Lot 3.
France.
Ile-De Brehat Communal Cemetery, Cotes-d'Armor.
MITCHELL, William Heading;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave Row 1. Grave 10.
Ireland, (Republic of).
Inchicore (Oblate Fathers Community) Catholic Cemetery, County Dublin.
MORIARTY, Thomas Henry George;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave Grave 42.
Malta.
Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery.
GREIG, George Anthony;
Royal Navy.
Grave Plot. 44.
Myanmar (Burma).
Taukkyan War Cemetery.
MANGER, Harold Charles Walter;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave 3.F.12.
Russian Federation.
Archangel Allied Cemetery.
MILNER, Dermond Ross;
Royal Navy.
Grave B.14.
Vladivostock Memorial.
FORD, William;
Royal Navy.
Buried in Pokrovskaya Cemetery, Vladivostok.
South Africa.
Durban (Stellawood) Cemetery, Kwazulu, Natal.
BAILEY, Reginald;
Royal Navy.
Grave Block F. Grave 264.
Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
Trincomalee War Cemetery.
WEBSTER, Claude Francis;
Royal New Zealand Navy.
Grave 2. C. 15.
United Kingdom.
Belmont Abbey (St Michael) Roman Catholic Churchyard, Herefordshire.
GWYDIR, Robert Basil;
Royal Navy.
Old Monks Section.
Bristol (Arnos Vale) Cemetery, Gloucestershire.
STUBBS, James;
Royal Navy.
Grave Section. TTT. 951.
Chatham Naval Memorial..
BACK, Hatfield Arthur William;
Royal Navy. 20.
BIRD, John Minnitt;
Royal Navy. 51.1.
LEWIS, Ivor Morgan;
Royal Navy. 9.
ROBINSON, George Brooke;
Royal Navy. 9.
ROBSON, Edward Gledhall Uphill;
Royal Navy. 1.
SWEET, Algernon Sidney;
Royal Navy. 9.
WALTON, Cyril Ambrose;
Royal Navy. 15.
Ewshott (St. Mary) Churchyard, Hampshire.
CREED, Algernon Henry George;
Royal Navy. Grave North side of Church.
Ford Park Cemetery
(Formerly Plymouth Old Cemetery) (Pennycomequick), Devon.
HALL, William;
Royal Navy. Grave Church S. 1. 4.
Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery..
DATHAN, Joseph Duncan;
Royal Navy. Grave Naval. 27. 1415.
EGAN, Michael Bernard;
Royal Navy.
Grave Naval Reservation. Grave 133. R.C.
HOLMES, James Gordon;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave . Naval Reservation. Grave 154.
LEE, Walter Granville Willoughby;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave Naval Reservation. Grave 1589.
Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire.
COOK, Cyril;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Grave H. 13. 4.
Lancaster (Skerton) Cemetery, Lancashire.
PARKER, John Cartwright;
Royal Navy. Grave Section B, C. of E. Grave 654.
Liverpool (Ford) Roman Catholic Cemetery.
LUSBY, Charles Joseph William;
Royal Navy. Grave Section 1 Grave 114.
Lyness Royal Navy Cemetery, Orkney.
DIXON-WRIGHT, Henry Dixon, M.V.O.;
Royal Navy. Grave B.5.
Northampton (Billing Road) Cemetery, Northamptonshire.
THOMAS, David John, O. B. E.;
Royal Navy. Grave Screen Wall. Grave 1799.
Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
BEVINGTON, Ronald Sutton;
Royal Australian Navy. Panel 72, Column 2.
BONSEY, William;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 61, Column 3.
BOTTING, Arthur Robert;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 61, Column 3.
BRADLEY, Thomas Frederick;
Royal Navy. Panel 78, Column 1.
BROWNING, Guy Arnott;
Royal Navy. 10.
HARRIS, Thomas;
Royal Navy. Panel 44, Column 3.
KING, John Bernard;
Royal Navy. Panel 36, Column 2.
LABORDE, Edward Denzil Bickham;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 76, Column 3.
LE PATOUREL, Wallace Mackenzie;
Royal Navy. 10.
LEEKE, Alan Charles Herbert;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 76, Column 3.
LYDALL, Cecil Wykeham;
Royal Navy. 10.
PARKER, Wilfred Graham;
Royal Navy. Panel 44, Column 3.
STUBBS, George;
Royal Australian Navy. Panel 56, Column 2.
Plymouth (Weston Mill) Cemetery, Devon.
DARLINGTON, Charles Arnold;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Grave Section C. Cons. Grave 18139.
Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
ALEXANDER, Philip George;
Royal Navy. 11.
BRENNAN, Thomas Aidan;
Royal Navy. Panel 81, Column 1.
BURNETT, Frank;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Panel 60, Column 3.
CREE, James Douglas Becket;
Royal Navy. Panel 33, Column 1.
HEWETSON, George Hayton;
Royal Navy. 1.
KEWNEY, George Stanley;
Royal Navy. 11.
MORGAN, George William Faulconer;
Royal Navy. 11.
MUNBY, Peter Aldwin;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 88, Column 2.
PHELAN, Stewart Joseph;
Royal Navy.
PITT, Arthur Henry John;
Royal Navy. 1.
SHAW, Amyas George;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 71, Column 2.
STEWART, Robert James Patrick;
Royal Navy. Panel 45, Column 2.
TANNER, Christopher Champain, ALBERT MEDAL.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Panel 60, Column 3.
WEBBER, William Farel;
Royal Navy. 11.
Wesham (Christ Church) Churchyard, Lancashire.
JEFFERSON, Percy Taylor;
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Grave 416.
Westbury (Wesbury-Sub-Mendip) (St Lawrence) Churchyard, Somerset.
STUART, James Francis;
Royal Navy. Grave North West of Church.
Acknowledgements
Abbot of Belmont Abbey, Herefordshire
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
John Davis, Archivist Cuddesdon Theological College Oxford
Kay Day, Bishopric of the Forces
Durham University Library
Mrs Bea Ewart
J. Bryant Haigh
Fr. Richard Haslam OMI
Fr. Ignatius Fennessy OFM
Peter Keat DGNCS Archivist
Lambeth Palace Library
Middlesbrough Library
