A HARD FOUGHT SHIP
The story of HMS Venomous
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The Ship's Company:
Petty Officers and Ratings
Ship's Crest

A Hard Fought Ship is dedicated to the memory of all those who served on HMS Venomous between 1919 and 1946.

The ship's complement of 120-200 changed each time HMS Venomous was re-commissioned  but the names of  very few of the ratings who served on HMS Venomous from first commissioning at Rosyth in June 1919 to the outbreak of World War II are known. The names of men who served on Venomous during World War II have been extracted by TNT Data Services (under contract to the MOD) from the Pay and Victualing Ledgers, bound volumes of the returns completed by ships writers.

If a member of your family who served on Venomous  is not on this list contact the publisher.

Find out how to obtain the service record of both officers and ratings.

The names of the entire ship's Company of HMS Venomous - both officers and men - have been extracted from the Pay and Victualing ledgers for three significant dates:

First wartime Commission (September 1939 - November 1942)
On the 31 May 1940 - the day HMS Venomous made the first of five trips to evacuate troops from Dunkirk (PVL1)

Second wartime Commission (April 1942 - October 1943)
On the 12 November 1942 - the night when HMS Hecla sank and HMS Venomous recued 500 survivors (PVL2)

Third wartime Commission (August 1944 - July 1945)
On the 14 May 1945 - the day when HMS Venomous arrived at Kristiansand to accept the surrender of German naval forces (PVL3)

Most of the 500 men recorded as being aboard Venomous on these dates would have served throughout its commission but there are many exceptions and in some instances the ship's writer may have failed to note a name or errors may have occured in extracting the names from the seventy year old ledgers. Only three men appear on all three lists and almost certainly served throughout the war from Venomous coming out of reserve in 1939 to being paid off and decommissioned in June 1945. 

When men served for a few months between these key dates they do not appear on any of these lists. There is no list of bthe men who served in Venomous before the war but where names are known they are included on the list below. Where former shipmates have remembered names the letters PC (Personal Communication) appear after the dates on which they are believed to have served.

Contact the publisher if you have information about men who are known to have served in Venomous but are not on any of these lists.


Petty Officers and Ratings
known to have served in HMS Venomous
1919-46

Their names link to further details of their lives on this website or in A Hard Fought Ship

A new edition of A Hard Fought Ship: the story of HMS Venomous was published in May 2017 which can be bought online post free from this web site.  The following list includes page references to men  in Venomous mentioned in A Hard Fought Ship and links to entries on this website or elsewhere, but please note the page numbers may no longer be correct

If you can provide further details of their lives for adding to the website do get in touch


The three wartime lists have been merged to make single alphabetical list of ratings which can be viewed as a PDF

A
B
C
 D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Name - with web link  A Hard Fought Ship (2017); pages --
Rating (duty) Dates
[]
[] []
Ackerman, James (brothers)
 p221-2
 AB
 1942-3
Ackerman, Robert J. (brothers)
 p221-2
 AB
 1942-3
Addis, Joseph
  
 AB
 31.5.1940
Addis, Michael "Mick"
Petty Officer (Quartermaster) 1942-3
Angus, William
  
 AB
 31.5.1940
Annett, Charles E
  
 Seaman (OD)
 31.5.1940
Arthur, Sydney F.J.
  
 Stoker Petty Officer
 31.5.1940
[]
[]
B
[]
Back, Robert  p233, 250, 265
 AB (Gunner) 1942-3
Bailey, William
  
 Engine Room Artificer (ERA) 2nd Class
 31.5.1940
Ball, Charles
Petty Officer (Officers' Cook)
Bannerman, James W.
  
 Acting Leading Seaman
 31.5.1940
Barlow, Ken
AB
 1942-3
Barnfield
  p77
 AB
 1939-40
Bartlett, Herbert Edgar
Stoker 1st Class
 1939-43
Battersby, Arthur M
[] 1942-3
Bennett, Arthur M. "Wiggy"  p360
 Chief Engine Room Artificer (CERA) 1944-5
Bibbings, Stanley P
Stoker Petty Officer K24640
 1939-40
Billings, Fred p73
 Petty Officer (Gunnery Instructor) 1939-40
Birkin, George Arnold "Arnie"  p78, 204
 AB (Gunlayer) 1939-41
Boles, "Paddy"  p334
 Stoker 1942-3
Bolton, Jack
   AB / ST (Seaman Torpedoman)
 1942-3
Bordiss, Joseph P.   
 Petty Officer (Gunnery Instructor) 1940
Box, George C. "Jan"  
 AB 1940
Brewster  
 AB 1925-6
Brown, T.I.
Petty Officer []
Butler, Alf
AB
 1942-3
Butt, Wally
[] []
[]
[] []
C
webimages/blanck.gif []
Campbell
AB 1939-40
Campbell, Alexander M.  p414, 316
 OD (CW Candidate) 1942-3
Carson, John  p316
 OD (CW Candidate) 1942-3
Charles, Sydney Thomas  p204
 AB (Bosun's Mate) 1939-42
Christian, "Bob"
webimages/blanck.gif 1940
Collister, William Leslie  p216, 222, 233, 240, 247  plus
Chief Petty Officer (Gunlayer) 7/1940-6/1945
Compston, Sydney  p83-4,  plus
 AB (Gunner) 1940-1
Conabeare, William G.  p334
 Petty Officer (Stoker) 1942-3
Craddock, Robert  p241, 294, 305
 AB (the "tankie") 1942-3
Crowley, J. F. 
Petty Officer 1941
[]
[] []
D
[] []
Dagley, Leslie W. DSM  p139 Petty Officer (Electrician) 1939-40
Dean, "Dixie"  p316
 OD (CW Candidate) 1942-3
Daily  
 Stoker 1945
Dalton, "Joe"
AB 1940
Davies, Tom
AB (Gunner) 1942-3
Dodd, John  p250
 OD (CW Candidate) 1942-3
Downing, Jan
Officers' Steward 1940
Duckworth
AB []
[]
[] []
E
[] []
Eaton, James  p68
 AB 1939-41
Easton, W. S.
AB 1921
Edwards, James
AB 1940
Eley, Ron
AB []
Emery, Charles J.
AB 1920
Evans, "Roggy"  p266
 Petty Officer (Engine Room Artificer) 1942-3
[]
[] []
F
[] []
Farrell, Charles (twins)
 p74-5
 AB
 31.5.1940
Farrell, John (twins)
 p74-5
 AB
 31.5.1940
Fisher, John W.  "Jacky"  
 AB 1940
Foxe, R.D.L. DSM
CPO 1942-3
Freeman, William G. "Harry"  
 Leading Seaman 1940
Fry, Albert
Leading Seaman 1941
[]
[] []
G
[] []
Glennon
Stoker 1945
Gorman
Petty Officer (Quartermaster) []
Grabham, Richard
AB 1939-43
Gray, "Dolly"
AB (Gunner) 1942-3
[]
[] []
H
[] []
Haddon, Harry "Taff"  p186 +
 AB (Gunlayer, GL3) 1942-3
Hargrave, Ron "Ginger"
AB 1942-3
Hargreaves, Robert
  
 AB
 1942-3
Hatton, Alfred
Chief Stoker 1926
Hayes
AB []
Hely, Cyril
AB (Starboard Oerlikon)
 1942-3
Henderson, James G.  
 AB 1940[]
Hicks, Geoffrey
 p65
 Petty Officer (Torpedo Instructor)
 1939-
Hoggins, David "Jock"
AB (Gun Layer, GL3)
 1942-3
Holgate, Tom
AB
 1940
Holywood
Chief Petty Officer

Hopwood
AB
Horner, John P. "Jackie"  
 AB 1940
Hyde, Bernie
NAAFI Manager []
[]
[] []
I
[] []
Irlam, James  p82, 162
 Engine Room Artificer 5th Class 1940-1
[]
[] []
J
[] []
Jamieson, Jimmy
Electrical Artificer []
Johns
AB []
Johnson, Ernest
Petty Officer (Engine Room Artificer) 1943-4
[]
[] []
K
[] []
Knapton, Harold DSM  p65 +
 AB 1940
[]
[] []
L
[] []
Ledguard, Eric R  
 Petty Officer 1940-1?
Liddicoat, Arthur  
 []Leading Supply Assistant 1939-42
Lockerman
AB []
Lodwick, William DSM  p66
 AB 1939-40
Lofthouse, Albert
Chief Petty Officer (Yeoman of Signals) []
[]
[] []
M
[] []
Mann, William L.  
 Petty Officer (Seaman) 1939-
Mansell, A.J.M. "Mervyn"  p250
 OD (CW Candidate) 1942-3
Marshall
AB []
McGeeney, Horace Hugh DSM  p65 +
 Chief Petty Officer (Ordnance Artificer, 3rd Class) 1939-40
McCabe
AB []
Mayland, Oscar Charles  p148
 Signalman 1940-1
Maxfield, George E. "Maxi"  
 AB 1940
Mercer, Frederick  p304
 AB 1944-5
Metcalf, Percy
AB 1940
Mitchell
AB ("Tankie") 1940
Moon
AB []
Munro, William  p191
 Yeoman of Signals 1940-1
[]
[] []
N
[] []
Newby, "Willie"
AB 1940
Newton, J. A.
Leading Seaman 1941
Nicholas, "Tubby"
Quartermaster 1939-41
Nickless, William H.   
 AB (Telegraphist) 1940
Notton, Francis "Frank"  p284, 291
 Stoker 1944-5
[]
[] []
O
[] []
Orwell
[] []
O'Sullivan, Michael J. DSM  p65, 98, 126
Petty Officer (Seaman) 1939-
Overthrow
Stoker 1945
[]
[] []
P
[] []
Passmore, Donald F.  DSM  p137
 Chief Engine Room Artificer (CERA) 1939-
Payne
Yeoman of Signals 1940
Payne, Kenneth
Stoker 1945
Pelling, John
Stoker 1945
Poole, Thomas Henry  p388
 Stoker 1st Class (later, Ship's Writer?) 1939-45
Pountney, Eric Arnold  p76, 81, 86, 105, 112
 Petty Officer Telegraphist []1939-43
Prew
AB []
Price, Alfred J
Leading Stoker 1920
[]
[] []
Q
[] []
N/A
N/A N/A
[]
[] []
R
[] []
Rick, Percy
Ordnance Artificer []
Robb, John Cleland
Leading Seaman 1942-5
Robinson, Thomas William
Stoker 1925
Robinson, Robert J  
 AB 1940
Russell, Thomas "Yorkie"  p282, 305 +
 Stoker 1944-5
Ryan
Stoker 1945
[]
[] []
S
[] []
Scargill, "Jock"
AB 1939-41
Sef(s?)ton, Len  
 AB 1940
Sheel, "Gordie"
Petty Officer (Telegraphist) []
Shepherd
AB 1942-3
Sinclair
AB []
Skuse
Stoker 1945
Smith, "Jock"
AB 1940
Speechly, George W  
 Signalman 7/1939 - Dec 1940
Sprosson, Henry Rolland
Engine Room Artificer 1927
Stafford, H. DSM
LS 1942-3
Stallard, Ernest Roy DSM  
 AB (Gunlayer) 1939-40
Squibb, Bevington  p65
 Chief Petty Officer (Coxwain) 1939-
[]
[] []
T
[] []
Thomas, F.N.G. "Freddo"
AB (RDF Operator) 1940-3
Tonner, James Andrew
Wireless Telegraphy Operator []
[]
[] []
U
[] []
Upton, A.G. "Bert"
AB 1944-5
Urquhart, William Craig Dunn
Stoker
 1942-3
[]
[] []
V
[] []
Vicary
AB (Seaman PO Messman) []
[]
[] []
W
[] []
Walton, William Taylor "Billie"
Petty Officer (ship's NAAFI) 1944-5
Ward, "Sharky"  p266
 Stoker 1942-3
Watts  p66
 Petty Officer (Cook) 1939-
Weekes, Charles Baden
Chief PO Stoker
1939-45
Weeks, William E. R. "Teddy"  p157
 AB (Bosun's Mate) 1939-41
Wharton, Fred "Scouse" p291
 AB 1942-3
Wilmott, Harry  p265
 Engine Room Artificer 1942-3
Wilson, Francis George p331, 332
 AB (ASDIC Operator) 1942-3
Wright
Stoker 1945
[]
[] []
X
[] []
N/A
N/A N/A
[]
[] []
Y
[] []
Yelland, W. P. p230
 AB 1942-3
[]
[] []
Z
[] []
N/A
N/A N/A

  Click here for information on how to obtain a ratings official record of service.


The story of HMS Venomous is told by Bob Moore and Captain John Rodgaard USN (Ret) in
A Hard Fought Ship
  Buy the new hardback edition online for £35 post free in the UK
Take a look at the Contents Page and List of Illustrations


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