24.
Nov. 12, 2015

I wish I had found this website a few years ago. My father served on HMS Venerable during WWII and whilst very proud of his old ship, never really talked about his service on it. I know he was in Sydney and Hong Kong and was a radio operator, but that's all I know. I would love to hear from anyone who may have known him or have any information about him. His name was James (Jim/Jimmy) Allen and he would have been in his mid to late teens at that time.

Kind regards,
Sally Halliday née Allen

23.
Nov. 12, 2015

I have just discovered that my father, John Boden-Tebbutt, served as a Ty Lieutenant/navigating officer on HMS Venerable 1945-1946. If anyone remembers him or has photos I would like to hear from them.

Simon Boden-Tebbutt

22.
Sept. 14, 2015

My wife's late father, Roy Beckett, from Buckley in North Wales, served on HMS Venerable during the war, and spent New Year in Sydney. I Would be interested to know if anyone remembers him.

Estyn Hughes

21.
Aug. 31, 2015

My interest in HMS Venerable has been re-kindled by recently seeing the ship's badge in a display at the Eden Camp Museum in Yorkshire. My Dad, Reginald (Reg) Hill, served on the ship in 1944/45 as a Petty Officer Radar Mechanic. I have an album of photographs of the ship's passage to the Pacific with also pictures of sights ashore and of crew members. From memory there of pictures at Malta, Suez Canal, Trincomalee (Ceylon), Fremantle and Sydney. The story Dad always repeated was that he was responsible for the servicing of the radio/radar equipment on the Walrus seaplane that flew into Hong Kong to collect Japanese officers to sign the surrender of the Japanese forces in the Colony.

Regards,
Tez Hill

20.
Aug. 12, 2015

My father was an Acting Lt. Commander on HMS Venerable from September 1944 to the end of the war having previously served in the West Indies (Aruba/Curacao). He didn't talk much about his war service and any information would be appreciated.

John Tapscott

19.
July 24, 2015

My father, Frederick Farrow, was a photographer on HMS Venerable 1945. He served in the Fleet Air Arm in the Pacific Ocean.

Kieron Farrow

18.
Mar. 17, 2015

Below is the crossing the line certificate my dad received on HMS Venerable during the war. He traveled to Hong Kong, Australia and Fiji. His name was Frederick Dunn and he was a ships steward.

Regards,
Fred Dunn

17.
Jan. 7, 2015

My father, Frank Hoskin, served on HMS Venerable from the age of 18 (1943). I'm not sure for how long. He mentioned being in the North Atlantic, Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean. He was an aircraft electrician, and was caught and injured by the tail plane of a returning aircraft and as a result spent some time in hospital in Malta before returning to the ship. I would be interested in any information regarding his service/shipmates, or if anyone has any details of the incident.

Regards,
John Hoskin

16.
Feb. 19, 2014

My uncle Arthur Harold Johnson served on HMS VENERABLE in 1945 as a Supply Rating and ending up as a Leading Seaman - he never talked about the war to us kids - after the war, he returned to the Wolverhampton area to pursue his Garden Supplies career. I know he took leave in Australia. His daughter Pauline and family emigrated to Australia.

Regards,
Ed Williams

14.
July 20, 2013

My late dad, Jack Leamer, served on HMS Venerable during WW2. He spent quite a bit of time here in Australia and the Pacific and all the way up to Hong Kong. I do know that post WW2 the ship did a lot of dumping of aircraft, artillery, trucks, motorbikes and ammo off the east coast of Australia. Some of the tales he spoke of related to dumping of Jap ammo and swords and helmets and also they were based at Warrick Farm near Sydney. I know that his rating was a chief stoker? Not sure what else he got up to but he up camp and in 1958 and we emigrated to Melbourne and there starts another story.

Cheers,
Stuart Leamer

13.
Apr. 25, 2012

My grandad served on the HMS Venerable, all I know is that he signed up when he was too young and saw a good friend get in the way of what he described as "a huge rubber band that stopped the plane flying off the end of the ship" have a devastating accident because he got in the way when it sprang back.  Consequently he didn't like to talk about his time on the ship. His name was Leslie Greenwood if anybody knew him and has any relatives who are willing to talk about him I would be happy to hear any stories about when he served and where he went etc, thanks. I wish I had found this site earlier and had the courage to ask him more about his experiences, because I'm sure he would have loved to have shared them with others who knew.

Stacy Sunter

12.
Dec. 1, 2011

To those of you who are asking for details about HMS VENERABLE my father served on that ship in the last war and have loads of photos. But my father passed away a few years ago, but still has his pictures, and one thing he told me was that his ship escorted the Americans ships that carried the atomic bombs that they dropped on Japan. If i can help you please contact me.

Richard Hewitt

11.
Aug. 3, 2011

I wonder if anyone knew my grandad Albert Grey Fyfe who served on the Venerable in 1945/46.  I have his diaries from his time on the ship, but I never knew what his actual role was. Please contact me.

Emma Willats

10.
Jan. 19, 2011

My grandfather was  a  l/s radar operator on this ship when in the Pacific. If you have any history, I would love to know.

Regards,
Jonathan
 

9.
Dec. 27, 2010

My father-in-law, Eric Raymond SUMMERS, served on HMS Venerable between 1944-1945 in 814 Squadron and would be grateful if you could post a message asking for any information concerning his "oppo" Albert "Jimmy" Green. Jimmy was married with at least one daughter and Dad believes that Jimmy was last living in the Edgbaston area. Jimmy had relatives living in Australia, either a cousin or an uncle named Wally Hall. Wally had a son called Barry. Wally's last known address was Baronia Avenue, Epping, Sydney. My father-in-law says that he had a wonderful 'shore leave' with Jimmy's family who made him very welcome. I would be grateful if you would be kind enough to post this message.

Thanks,
Tony Grover
Fakenham, Norfolk, England

8.
July 29, 2010

Would anybody be able give me information on how to find the ship my father was on in WW2. I know that he was in the British Pacific Fleet and that he went to Japan and Sydney. His name was Bernard Maxwell Lowe (known as Mac) I also have his Royal Marine No. from his boot brushes.

Dave Lowe

7.
Jan. 14, 2010

My father served on HMS Venerable in 1943 for a few short months, he never spoke much about the war, but never gave much away, sadly he passed away 5 years ago. I would like to know if any one has any pictures they could email to me his name was Charlie Phillips from Wales, two of his mates were from New Zealand, if any one can send me any info I would be most grateful. Thank you for your time.

Rob Phillips

6.
Dec. 31, 2009

My late husband served on H.M.S. Venerable when he was a young man of 17 and towards the end of WWII.  I have seen details of the aircraft carrier in the Museum at Yeovil and have a small badge from there. I would like to know of anyone who knew my husband his name was Ronald Riddick and he was born in Liverpool. I would love to hear from anyone who knew him.

Joyce Stubbs (Riddick)

5.
Nov. 26, 2009

Looked at your website and it brought back memories for me. On Xmas eve 1945 when I was a lad of 11 years I met some sailors from the Venerable when it was docked in Fremantle, and having informed them that my father had been killed in action at El Alemein in 1942 they invited me to have Xmas lunch aboard the ship. I turned up at the wharf when some hundreds of people were viewing the HMS Indomitable and HMS Venerable and some other ships of the R N. They were not permitted on board any of them. 

I went up the gangway and told the Marine on duty that"Blondie" Smith from mess 16 (I think that was the number) had invited me. He paged my host and to the surprise of all those people left on the wharf I was taken inside. I had the most memorable Xmas lunch of my life. I met the Captain and remember that the pet monkey bit my arm whilst I was being shown around and allowed to sit in the cockpit of on eof the Corsairs. They later drove me home in some small motor vehicle. 

The ship sailed the next day and I sat and cried as I felt that I had lost my new found friends. I followed the service life of the Venerable under new names and was sad when it was sent to the breakers for scrap metal as an enjoyable part of my life had gone. I wonder if any of t he former crew remember the small lad who shared Xmas lunch with them. My best wishes to those that still remain.

Sincerely,
Ron Harley

4.
Oct. 14, 2009

Just wondering if anyone has any pics of the crew of the Venerable as my uncle Joseph Edwin Leech served on her during WW2 and my dad has got no pics of it and my uncle has died.

Martyn Leech

3.
Oct. 30, 2008

My name is David Tuck and I live in Vancouver Canada, but was born in South Wales UK. My late brother served
in HMS Venerable during the second world and his name was Roland Tuck. I have several photos of the ship and
one photo with about seven sailors taken on the flight deck. I remember my brother telling me that one sailor
whose surname was Burfitt was killed when a returning plane crashed into the gun well. I would be interested if
by the remotest chance that someone would remember my brother.

Sincerely,
David Tuck

2.
Sept. 5, 2007

Hi i like your site very interesting. My son found it useful when doing his world war 2 project.  A relative of mine served in the Navy on H.M.S.Venerable & H.M.S.Patroller. His name was Ern i wondered if anyone knew him, I don't know his surname. It's because we found a letter to Ern from Maggie, Dated 1941. Also some photo's of the boats.

Regards,
Samantha Stewart

1.
Apr. 14, 2007

I hope that you could point me in the right direction. I recently found some photo's taken by my grandfather of/from HMS Venerable upon which he served with the fleet air arm. Several years ago he passed away, my grandmother has no photo of him in his navel uniform and would so much like to find one of him. I do not know where to start looking and am hoping you could give my some guidance into the matter. My grandfather was called William Watson, official number:L/FX682826 he was discharged on 9th July 1947 at HMS Daedalus. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

David Watson