88.
May 24, 2024

I have been trying to work out which ship my father was on during WWII. He was a lieutenant in the Royal Marines and I know he served in Italy, D Day (off Sword beach) and Walcheren. The only ship I can find that fits those details was HMS Warspite, but I have not seen a crew list to confirm. His name was Richard James Carter (B 1923—D 1990). If anyone is able to help with my 'best guess' it would be really appreciated. This message board has been very interesting to read.

Tim Carter

My father, Arthur Edward Ronaldson was the Bosun of the Warspite in the early part of WWII, both serving in Norway and the Med. He was a naval orphan, all his remaining family (his mother had died) emigrating to Argentina before WWI. Dad , who as the youngest born in 1906, had to stay in England on his own and was sent as a boy sailor to Greenwich in 1914 becoming a sailmaker. He then served on many ships including those in The China Station. He eventually became an officer before joining Warspite as bosun just before the last war, ending his service in the late fifties and then joining the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a ships master. You can imagine how steeped us kids were in naval terms at home….going aloft to bed, or going to the ‘heads' if we needed to etc, and helping him cure his tobacco which her grew in our garden in Pompey.

I only remember two stories about Warspite. Firstly Norway and knocking out those German destroyers. One 15 inch shell, then no Destroyer. He told us a bomb hit Warspite on the way home, went right through the ship, exploded on the seabed, ripped a hole on the ship and killed 15 stokers. Watertight doors were shut trapping the stokers. Dad's awful task as the bosun was to go below and put the remains in body bags….awful.

The second story was when the ship was in the Med. Warspite took possession of some fancy Italian vessels when they surrendered. For some reason Dad was Sent to take the surrender of one of the vessels armed with a pistol and no bullets and accompanied by five ratings. The Italian officers were very hospitable to Dad arranging a dinner in their mess. He was upset and said so when all the Italian officers got potatoes for dinner, and Dad got rice. They thought that they were doing the right thing as ltaly had loads of spuds but little rice, the opposite of rations on the Warspite at the time.

Some old sailors might remember my brother Keith Ronaldson who was probably the most successfully boxer the navy ever produced. He won ISBA Titles at many weights but most wins were at lightweight.

I was christened in Pompey on the our last battleship HMS Vanguard, if you don't count the Victory which is still commissioned l believe. I never joined the Navy, but respect and admire those who served on ships in WWII and other battles. The Warspite was special though wasn't it?

A question. My Dad did fib a bit. I note that Warspite was around at Jutland from reading your message board. Dad told us that if you served at the battle of Jutland you always left the bottom button of your waistcoat undone. Is this true? I suspect though, that, like me, Dad was not the slimmest of persons and leaving the bottom button undone helped.

Christopher A Ronaldson

86.
May 31, 2021

I am trying to find out any information on my partner's grandfather who served on the Warspite. My partner turns 50 this year and I would like to find out as much as I can and see if I can get any photos or info, as he lost all his belongings and memorabilia a few years ago including everything from his grandfather who brought him up. It distressed and destroyed him as he doesn't even have a photo of him. My partners Granda was called  William Page 'Bill' for short, he worked on the guns and he was from the London area. He was in the 2nd World War and served in Royal Navy as a gunner.

Kindest regards,
Fiona White

85.
Apr. 27, 2021

I have been unable to find any information relating to my father Jack Hudson who served on HMS Warspite.
Can anyone suggest where I might get information. I would appreciate the help.

Jack Hudson

84.
Sept. 13, 2020

I am researching my family history and have discovered that my grandfather, Sydney (Syd) Smith served on HMS Warspite during WWII. We believe that he was a cook. He ended up in HMS Scotia recuperating from a fractured skull which may have been from an incident on the Warspite. He was from Dumfries, Scotland, and sadly passed away from cancer in 1984. I would love to hear from anyone who can confirm his service and provide details of how he received his injury.

Many Thanks,
Eileen Palmer

83.
Aug. 3, 2019

In the messages board I see a lot of requests for a crew lists particularly during WWII. Can you advise if any are available, I cannot find any replies to these requests on your website. My uncle served aboard her as a Royal Marine from 1940 to 1945, his name was Roy Edward Charles Davies. Hoping you may be able to provide some details. Thank you.

Regards, Frank Davies
Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia

82.
Nov. 22, 2018

My Brother, William Charles Thomas Beard, was on the Warspite. I know he was on it in 1943. Is there any way of knowing if any body knew him? He Died in 1962 of Leukemia. He started in the Navy when he was 16 on a training ship he was born in 1920.

Thank you,
Alexandra Tilley

81.
Nov. 19, 2018

This is a very interesting website. I came upon it while researching my wife's relative Alfred Frank Catlin who was on the Warspite in 1944. If anyone has any information about Alfred I would love to hear fro them. Thanks you.

John Winter

80.
Aug. 24, 2018

I just managed to get a copy of my grandfathers WWII naval records and see he served on the Warspite from 28/8/42 to 29/9/44. His name is George Douglas Blake and listed as Able seaman (S.T). I would love to hear from anyone that has crew photos from this time, so I can see if my Grandfather is in any of them and any other information that I would find interesting. Appreciate any info to help me with my research on him.

Best wishes,
Jeremy Blake (Jez)
Reading, Berkshire, UK

79.
Aug. 18, 2018

I'm enquiring about my late father. His name was Frank Campbell and he apparently served during WWII on the Warspite. I would like any information that's available! His service number was JX 191153. I don't know where to start.

Morag Campbell
Australia

78.
July 17, 2018

I believe my father Fred Stevens was on board HMS Warspite during the Normandy Landings and I would like to verify that if possible. He left the Navy in 1952 as a Chief Petty Officer but in 1944 was a stoker his Royal Navy number was CKX99747.

Peter Bownes

77.
Apr. 24, 2018

My father in law left me a journal from a midshipman from H.M.S. Warspite and I am wondering would it be of personal value to your archives or a relative of the man. His name was Alan C. Mather and the journal is dated 18th May 1921 to 14th April 1923. I have no information as to when and where Vinnie McCann came across this journal as our family have no connection to this warship. Hoping it will be of interest to someone.

Regards,
Bernadette McCann

76.
May 14, 2018

My father Mr. George E. J. Harris, was a Royal Marine Gunner on HMS Warspite on D-Day 1944. He would have been 100 years old this year. He served from 1938 to 1951.

Maureen Brazier