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HMS Raleigh
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Those known to have sailed in HMS Raleigh during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Barwell Alwyn David. AB.
- Burton William George. Ord Sea.
- Cheetham Elijah. Able Seaman.
- Collingwood Frank. Sea.
- Dean MID Kenneth. Sea.
- Dean MiD. Kenneth. Sea.
- Dunn Charles Richard. Ord.Sea.
- Freeman Robert Stanley. L Sea
- Gilbert Thomas Joseph.
- Hart James Henry. A/Sgt.
- Hiscox Reginald Oliver. Sea.
- Jones Stanley. Ord.Sea.
- Jordan Leonard. Able Sea.
- Kenney Raymond William. Sea.
- Lomax MID. Frank. Able.Sea.
- Parnell William John. Mid seaman
- Parnell William John. Mid.Ship.
- Poland Joseph Gerrard. A/Able Sea.
- Quail Albert.
- Taylor Charles Owen. Ord.Sea. (d.22nd Apr 1941)
- Wall John Francis. AB.
- Welsh Raymond Thomas. AbleSea.
- Wilkinson John Charles.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of HMS Raleigh from other sources.
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Want to know more about HMS Raleigh? There are:-1 items tagged HMS Raleigh available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Able Seaman. Elijah Cheetham HMS Penelope My brother Elijah Cheetham, served on HMS Penelope and was onboard when she was sunk on the 18th of February 1944. I was 8 years old at that time. Recent documentarion has come to light confirming his service record. He volunteered for the Navy on the 28th of July 1943, his service is listed as comencing on 17th of December 1943, his 18th birthday. However he began his training at HMS Raleigh on the 28th of July 1943, transferring to HMS Victory on the 5th of October.
He joined HMS Penelope on the 12th of November 1943 and served onboard until she was lost in Feb 1944. He survived the sinking and sent a letter to his mother two weeks later. Here are some extracts from that letter:
From Mess 1, Ferdola Barracks, Malta.
I'm terribly sorry I haven't written to you for the last fortnight, I have been rather ill in hospital. I am a survuivor of HMS Penelope. As you know we have been doing a lot of work on the 5th Army front and our rewards was as follows:
It was Friday morning Feb 18th and we were well on our way to Anzio to give Jerry another suprise packet, but it was us that received the suprise. All of a sudden there was a terrific explosion and everyone dived for the gangway to get on the upper deck to see what was happening. We had been torpedoed but the ship was not sinking, although it had listed badly to starboard. No one was in a panic because there were too many lads injured to start worrying about ourselves, so we did the best we could to get the injured lads to sickbay. Shortly afterwards there came two more explosions (torpedoes) and the ship split in two so it was everyman for himself. I didn't hesitate because before I knew where I was I hit the water fully dressed, including sea boots, stockings and overalls.
I tried to swim for it but couldn't because my sea boots seemed to be dragging me under. I kicked these off and my overalls. Much to my relief I was able to keep my head up even though the sea was rough. I swam about for a bit but I soon got fatigued and felt myself slipping. Family came to mind and I struck out with renewed strength. After three hours I was finally picked up and dragged aboard absolutley naked apart from my waist belt and ring. Three tots of rum sent me to sleep.
We were taken to a hospital in Naples and there I have been for the last fortnight. We were then drafted to this camp once more and I was told that I should be going home. The big nobs think otherwise. I haven't done enough time out here yet, so I must stay. That's how you get treated as a survivor. All we have been issued with is toilet gear and battle dress, so it looks as if I shall have to buy new kit myself.
There were 750 in the ships company and only 200 were saved. Terrible isn't it. I am pleased to say that Stan Lake survived. I couldn't write to you seperatley. I have had to smuggle this into the country, the ship hasn't been announced as sunk yet. We are not allowed to mention that we survived. Paddy is going home so I have asked him to post this for me in England. It doesn't get sensored there, but he insists on bringing this personally. I do hope he makes it becasue I know he will get a great welcome. Please try not to worry too much about me I'm ok now and believe me I'm willing to go back and give Jerry exactly what I received and more. Even though I'm not coming home I still have that consolation of squaring things up.
Cherrio and God bless you all. Your loving son Lidge xxxx.
Elijah joined the Black Prince in July 1944 and served onboard for the remainer of the war, he was discharged on the 8th of December 1946 as having served with very good character.
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Albert Quail HMS Afrikander I have my father Albert Quail's original Certificate of Service and the information below is taken from it:
Port Division: Devonport. HMS
Raleigh - 10 April 1940 - 13 May 1940. HMS Drake - 14 May 1940 - 31 December 1943. HMS Afrikander - 1 January 1944 - 16 June 1944.
HMS Kongoni - 17 June 1944 - 31 July 1944.
?? - 1 Aug 1944 - 4 September 1944.
Kongoni (Assegai) - 5 September 1944 - 6 September 1944.
HMS Drake - 7 September 1944 - 1946
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Sea. Kenneth Dean MiD. HMS Raleigh Kenneth Dean trained at HMS Raleigh. We know very little and any information we can get will be very helpful.
We would like to know how he got his Mention in Dispatches.
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AB. John Francis Wall HMS Illustrious My Grandad, Jack Wall volunteered on the 19th of March 1941 and enlisted in the Royal Navy at Devonport.
He entered under NS( AF) Oct 1939.
He trained at HMS Raleigh 19th March to 26th March 1941
transferred to HMS Drake 27th March - 30th June 1941
He joined HMS Illustrious (aircraft carrier) 25th Dec 1941 - 11th Oct 1942 and served in the Loader gunnery station. He was in HMS Assigai 12th Oct 42 - 8th Nov 1942, HMS Lanka 9th Oct 1942 -3rd July 1944
Returned to HMS Drake 4th July 1944 - 2 Jan 1945
then HMS Malaya 13th Jan 1945 - 6th March 1945
HMS Drake 7th March to 21st Dec 1945 when he was released in class A Reserve.
Jack was wounded in action on 19th of March 1945. He visited Bombay,
Durban, Cape Town and Mombasa.
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John Charles Wilkinson HMS Kestrel I have found my father's certificate of service and his first ship is named HMS Raleigh. He was on this from 13 October 1943 to 21st Dec 1943.
Jack Wilkinson was aged 17 years 7 month when he enlisted. He then went on:
- HMS Drake from 12th Dec to 7th Jan 1944.
- HMS Kestrel 8th Jan 1944 to 15th May 1944.
- HMS Drake 16th May 1944 to 25th May 1944.
- HMS Ferret
- HMS Pembroke
- HMS Buchian ?
- HMS Golden Hand
- HMS Dullisk Cove,
- HMS Manxman
- HMS Martello and finally
- HMS Eskimo from 22nd Jan 1947 to 19th May 1947
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Sea. Reginald Oliver Hiscox HM Landing Craft (Tank) 1092  Dad, Reginald Hiscox joined the service on his 18th birthday, like many of his era. He completed his basic training on HMS Raleigh and was then sent into Combined Operations Group. He qualified for coxswain and was given his "hook" as part of his training. He was part of a group of men who moved around Britain collecting landing craft from the builders and delivering them to wherever instructed.
D-Day, 6 June 1944, saw him in the Mk4 Landing Craft (Tank) 1092. His craft was assigned to Sword Beach and was to put ashore several Churchill tanks and their crews. This was successfully achieved. The craft returned to England and was then employed on resupplying the beach-head in Normandy. It was on one of these re-supply trips that the craft struck a mine. Although the craft was not lost and there were no casualties, it was damaged enough to be not suitable for further use.
Dad finished his service time in Egypt, again on landing craft, this time LCI(L) 8. As I write this, he is approaching his 95th birthday.
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Sea. Raymond William Kenney HMS Duke of York Raymond Kenny enlisted in the Royal Navy on 2nd of February 1942 and did his basic training at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall. His last ship was HMS Duke of York. He was in Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan, and it is believed
that he was one of the guards who escorted the Japanese surrender party
to the USS Missouri.
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A/Able Sea. Joseph Gerrard Poland HMS Eaglet According to his Royal Navy certificate of service, Joseph Poland served on the following during the war: HMS Raleigh; HMS Drake; HMS Eaglet; HMS Calliope; HMS Newfoundland; HMS St. Angelo; HMS Pembroke and HMS Nile.
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Sea. Frank Collingwood HMS Eagle Frank Collingwood enlisted on 22nd of December 1942 and served until 9th of July 1946. He served on the following ships:
- HMS Raleigh - shore base, 1942-43
- HMS Drake
- HMS Eagle
- HMS Shah (formerly the USS Jamaica, which was transferred to the Royal Navy in 1943) 1943-45
- HMS Appledore - base and training ship in Devon, 1945–46
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AB. Alwyn David Barwell HMS Dinosaur Our father, Al Barwell served on:- HMS Raleigh 30.12.1942 to 15.03.1943;
- HMS Victory X 16.03.1943 to 04.04.1943;
- HMS Dinosaur 05.04.1943 to 31.08.1943;
- HMS Copra 01.09.1943 to 28.10.1943 as an Ordinary Seaman and as an Able Seaman 29.10.1943 to 31.10.1945;
- HMS Victory 01.11 to 14.12.1945;
- HMS Vernon (Vesuvius) 15.12.1945 to April 1946
- HMS Victory 02.05.1946 to 27.06.1946
. He never spoke much about his time in the Royal Navy but did say he was involved in D Day landings. A fellow sailor and friend contacted my father and they were going to meet but my father died shortly before his friend did however very kindly attend our father's funeral. We have 4 of my father's medals.
Al died in August 2005
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A/Sgt. James Henry Hart HMS President III My Father James joined the Navy on 17th of July 1940 and was discharged 4th of March 1946.
His first ship was HMS Raleigh as an Ord. Sea. and left that ship on the 23rd of September 1940. He was then assigned to HMS Drake as an Ord. Sea. from 24th of September 1940 to 5th of May 1941, his rating then changed to Act/AB with a non-substantive rating of Act S.G. from 6th of May 1941 until 20th of August 1941.
He was then assigned to the HMS President III 21st of August 1941 until 4th of March 1946 as an Act S.G. His Rating changed during that period from Act S.G to what looks like Act Gtn this was from July 42 until the end of the war.
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Able Sea. Leonard Jordan HMS Raleigh Len Jordan trained at HMS Raleigh.
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Mid.Ship. William John Parnell HMS Aggressive My father, William John Parnell, served on many well known ships during the period from March 1943 through to September 1946. He was involved in the D-Day landings where he received surface wounds. The ships he served on as a mid shipman and the dates are as follows:
- HMS Raleigh - 10 March 1943 - 18 May 1943
- HMS Drake - 19 May 43- 2 June 43
- HMS St Christopher - 3 June 43 - 8 July 43
- HMS Hornet 9 July 43 -23 July 43
- HMS Aggressive - 24 July -27 July 43
- HMS Aggressive (ML203) - 28 July 43 -30 Nov. 43
- HMS Wasp (ML203) - 1 Dec. 43 -9 March 44
- HMS Wasp (ML203) - (ratin A/AB - 10 March 44 - 30 September 44 Cause of discharge AFO 5250/42
- HMS Brake IV (ML203) - 10 Oct 44 - 31 Dec. 44
- HMS Braver 11 (ML203) 1 Jan 45 - 31 Jan 45
- HMS Beehive - 1 Feb 45 - 2 April 45
- HMS Loake? - 5 April 45 - 4 June 45
- HMS Cabbala - 5 June 45 - 12 July 45
- HMS Cabbala Rating B/A.B. - 13 July 45 - 9 Sept. 46, released in Class A
Wounds received in action, WSI (3) 10 March 1946, 6. surface wounds 6 June 1944
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