Do You Know?

Do You Know?

Information Sought
The Association is looking for any information on the below listed individuals as a result of public enquiries. Should you have any information then please use the contact form to notify us. Likewise, if you are seeking information on a relative, friend or colleague please contact us, again using the contact form, with as much detail as you have.
A next of kin can apply, for a fee, for a copy of his service record from the UK Ministry of Defence HERE. A record will show, amongst other things, the ships, with dates, in which he served.
Bear in mind that crew members were very often referred to by nicknames, middle names, shortened names, alternative names, have misspelt surnames, etc., making any search challenging.
Most official records only use initials rather than full given names.

A:
APPS Jack W. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
ALLEN James Valentine. In Ajax later in the war. [No record}
ARMITAGE Eric. Believed served in Ajax at some stage. [1943]
ARFIELD Herbert "Ray" Raymond. Was in Ajax in 1941.
ALLEN Edward G. Was in Ajax 1940/41.
ADAMS Reginald David. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 through to 1941.

B:
BROMLEY George. HMS Ajax 1940 to 1943.
BANHAM Frederick John. HMS Ajax 1943.
BROWN Harry Edie. Dates not known for Ajax; also served on Firedrake & Cumberland and was involved in the North Atlantic Convoys. [3 H Brown's recorded]
BLANCHARD Fred. Dates not known for Ajax but was an XY Gunner and later went on to HMS Wavney. [1942]
BROOKSBANK Sydney. Was in Ajax at the time of the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39 and at the Battle for Crete, as Master-at-Arms, in May 1941 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
BATES William. Joined Ajax 26th November 1943.
BRENNAN Harry. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
BEACH Bertie. Only sketchy details but believed [confirmed] to have been in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
BECK Matthew. Served in Ajax but dates unknown. [1942]
BOND Wilfred. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 and left soon after to become a Commando.
BEVAN Ernest C. Listed as being in Ajax on 1940 list.
BRYAN Henry 'Spike'. Listed as being in Ajax on 1940 list.
BECKETT Taylor Simm. Ajax 1942.
BEVERLEY James Percy. Ajax 1942.
BENNETT Edward D. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.

C:
CHURCHILL William. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
CHAPMAN Alec Ashley. Dates not known for Ajax but was promoted to Lieutenant in 1944. [1939-43]
CROMACK Sidney Leslie. Was a Petty Officer in Ajax just after the River Plate.
COOPER George Henry (2/11/1920 - 31/1/2002). Believed to be an AB at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39 in one of the 4 inch gun batteries. [not confirmed]
CATTERALL John Joseph. Believed to be in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39 [no record]
CALLANDER Alex S. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
CAIRNS John A. Was in Ajax 1940/41.
CHURCH Richard. Was a shipwright in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
CANT Charles E. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
COLEMAN Richard Sidney. Marine (British) in HMS Achilles at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 and was later killed on board what was now HMNZS Achilles on 05/01/1943 at Guadalcanal aged 31.
CLIFF Arthur. Ajax April to October 1941.
CRANE Frederick James. Marine Ajax 1940 - 1943 including New York during the 1943 refit.
CAMPBELL JAMES. Listed as Ajax 1941 - 43 and possibly in New York during the 1943 refit.

D:
DIMOND John Alfred. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
DEVEREUX Grenville Albert Francis. Believed to have served in Ajax but no dates known. [G Devereaux 1943]
DUCKFIELD George Richard Oliver. Was in Ajax 1941 to at least 1943.
DERBYSHIRE Douglas. Was in HMS Achilles or Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 [confirmed Achilles]
DURHAM Sydney Eric. Born January 1925. Was in HMS Ajax at the time of the repatriation of German prisoners from South America February 1946.

E:
EMERY Frederick Peter. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
EDWARDS Leonard. Believed to have been in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39. [Not confirmed]
EARL Sam. Possibly in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39. [no record]
EVANS Ronald George. Was in HMS Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
EVANS Frederick Moses. Was CPO in HMS Ajax around 1944. [no record]
ELLIOT(T) Thomas. ERA in Ajax 1943/44.
EANOR Herbert Wilson. Radiographer Served in HMS Ajax 2nd December 1943 - 20th May 1945 (confirmed).
ELLIOTT Frederick Samuel. [30/06/1925 - 09/09/2005] Royal Marine Gunner (6" Guns) Ajax 23/11/1943 - 20/03/1946

F:
FARROW John Leslie. DoB 12/06/53. Served in Frigate 1973 to about 1976.
FEARN Luther. Was in HMS Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
FLAXMAN Mervyn Benjamin. Believed to have been in HMS Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39. [no record]
FLETCHER Frederick. Was in HMS Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39. He was born in 1920 in Scotland.
FLAXINGTON Reginald. Believed to have been in Ajax at some stage. [confirmed at River Plate - recorded as Claude R Flazingham]
FORSTER Joseph Henry. Believed to have been in Ajax 1940. [1940-42]
FENTON Albert Henry. DoB 27/5/1920 Derby. Served in Ajax 1940-42.
FRY Frederick J. Believed to have been in HMS Achilles at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
FLANAGAN Patrick William. DoB 15/12/1925. Believed to have been in Ajax at some stage, but no record.

G:
GIBBS Frederick Arthur. Was in HMS Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
GARDINER George. Was in HMS Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
GARNETT Adam. Was in HMS Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
GRAHAM Thomas. Was in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39 possibly as a Stoker Petty Officer.
GATWARD Frank. Believed to have been in Ajax at some stage. [no record]
GOSNEY Alfred John. Was a PO Writer at the time of D-Day 1944.
GRIFFITHS Harry. Was in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39.
GARDNER William Kenneth. Believed to have been in Ajax at some stage during the war as a Royal Marine. [no record]
GORST Jim. Believed [confirmed] to have been in Achilles at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39.
GILBERT Reginald. Was in Ajax at time of D-Day 1944.
GREEN Harry. Believed to have been in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39 and appears on the 1940 - 1943 lists. [confirmed 1939-43 CPO]
GREENWOOD Harold. Possibly at the Battle of the River Plate in one of the ships. [no record]
GOULD Reginald Jack. DoB 23/12/1923. Believed to have served in Ajax at some stage.

H:
HARRIS Stanley Charles. HMS Ajax 31/3/39 to 9/11/41.
HARRISON John Albert Victor. No dates known. [no record]
HORSNELL William George (George or Ping). Dates not known. [no record]
HINDER Thomas Edward (Ted). Was in Ajax at time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 as a stoker aged about 24.
HEARNE Philip. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
HOPKINSON Walter William. Believed to have been on Ajax at the time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 and also when Ajax went to New York for repairs March 1943 until October 1943 [only listed for 1943]
HOILE Arthur. Served in Ajax 30/12/37 until 16/7/40 and was injured at The Battle of the River Plate and was Mentioned in Despatches. He subsequently died 30/6/46 of those injuries and is buried in Dartford Cemetery.
HOWES Horace Granville. Was a gunnery instructor on Ajax although the dates are not known. At some time he was, apparently awarded a DSM. [no record]
HARMSWORTH Roy Edwin. Dates not known but later served on HMS Repulse. [no record]
HAWKINS George. Dates not known but believed to be G W J Hawkins who was in HMS Ajax at the time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
HORNETT Frederick W. Was Killed in Action 12/10/1940 east of Malta on Ajax; probably also at the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939.
HUGHES Alfred. Was in Ajax at the time of the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939.
HODGETTS Edward Richard. Was in Ajax at the time of the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939 as a Royal Marine.
HUNT Thomas "Tommy". Dates not known but served in Ajax as a Radar Operator. [1943]
HARMAN George W. Chief Yeoman of Signals, HMS Ajax at the time of the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939.
HARRIS Henry Edward. Leading Stoker in Ajax the time of the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939
HUBBARD Henry. Believed to have served in Ajax at the time of the Normandy Landings June 1944. [no record]
HARPER William George. Believed to have been a Petty Officer in Ajax at the time of the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939. [no record]
HAYES Patrick J. Believed to have been a Chief Petty Officer [confirmed] in Ajax at the time of the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939. [1939-43]
HOBBS Charles Albrough. Believed to have served in Ajax at some stage. [no record]
HODSON Joseph. Believed to have been in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39 [no record]
HESTER Albert John. Was in Ajax at the time of the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939 as a Royal Marine A/Corp and stayed until 1942
HOLMES Jack. Believed to have been Ajax at the time of the River Plate as an ASDIC operator.

I:
ILLINGWORTH A. B. George. Was in Ajax at time of The Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 but exact dates unknown.

J:
JACKSON Patrick Joseph (Jacko or Paddy). No dates known. [no record]
JONES Frederick Charles. Ajax 1/1/38-14/3/43 and again 1/10/43-7/7/44. He was a Cook then leading Cook and finally Petty Officer Cook.
JOHNSON Ronald. No dates known. [no record]
JOWETT Ernest Charles. A Royal Marine 5/3/46 until 11/3/48 & served in HMS Ajax 28/6/47 until 26/11/47 with the Mediterranean Fleet.
JONES Alfred. Served in HMS Ajax at some stage, possibly 1941. [1942]
JOHNSON Sidney. Was a stoker in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.

K:
KINLOCH James Sinclair. Was in Ajax 1946 to 1947 as a Cook.
KING Kenneth. Was in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939.
KNIGHT Stanley Reginald. Was in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939. He perished on 24/5/1941 when HMS Hood sank. He was a Joiner 4th Class at that time, Service No. P/MX 58038.
KNIGHT Robert John. Service Number C/KX78320. Was a Stoker in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939. He perished on 2/10/1942 on HMS CURACOA.
KING Charles Francis. Was a Stoker in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate 13/12/1939 until 1942.
KING William (Bill). Ajax 1944 - 47
KING George Stanley. Believed to have been in Ajax 1944-48

L:
LAX William. River Plate veteran as CPO "Second Captain of the Top"
LURCOOK William James. A Royal Marine sergeant in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
LEIGH Ronald (Nipper). Possibly in Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate. [no record]
LITTLE William. Was in Ajax in latter half or War. [no record]
LANG Ronald. Believed to have served in Ajax 1941 onwards. [no record]

M:
MAHER Patrick. HMS Ajax - unknown dates but between 1938 & 1942. [no record]
MORTIMER William. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
McCLARNAN Robert. Possibly in Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate [confirmed - received DSM]
MEEK Luther Grantham. Telegraphist. Joined HMS Ajax 25 January 1938 Killed in Action Ajax 12 October 1940 in Mediterranean. Service No: JX149066
MAYS Charles. Believed to have been a Stoker in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
MULLINS Peter Norman Henry. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
MASON Leslie. Believed [confirmed] to have been in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
MACEY Peter John. Went from Chatham Barracks straight to the Ajax on 23 OCT 1942 until 13 Oct 1944 as a Marine. Then went to Fabrius as SBS 14 Oct 1944 to July 1945, then HMS Suffolk escorting Australian prisoners of war home.
MORRIS Charles "Charlie". Was in Ajax in latter half or War. [no record]
MEEKINGS A J. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
MORRIS Frank B. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
MORROW John (Jack) W. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
MANTELL Donald V. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
MULLETT John Aloysius. Believed to have been in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39. [no record]
MULLEN John. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
McCLEAN Steve. Possibly in Ajax at the Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39. [no record nor for McLean]
MEPSTED Albert Ernest. Believed to have served in HMS Ajax at some time. [no record]
MITCHELL George. Served in Ajax at some stage as a Royal Marine. [no record]
MOLLS Arthur F. Served in Ajax 1940 - 1943 and in 1941 was awarded the DSM following action with Italian Destroyers.
McKAY William. Served in Ajax 1939 - 1941 and was at River Plate.
McGREGOR Gordon. Served in Ajax 1939 - 1942 and was at River Plate.
MEAKIN Joseph William. Served in Ajax 1939 - 1941 as a Telegraphist and was at River Plate
MACEY Robert D. Served in Ajax 1939 as an AB and was at River Plate. He was awarded the DSM for the part he played at the Battle.
McKIRDY Andrew Demarco. Born 11/03/1919. Believed to have served in Ajax at the River Plate
MELLETT John David. Born 30/06-/913, naval record number D/KX106371. Believed served in Ajax 1943 and possibly injured in the Bone attack 01/01/1943 and ended up in New York recuperating. 

N:
NORTH Vaughan Eric. Served in HMS Ajax at some time as a Radio NCO. [no record]
NIMMO James Buchannan. Served in HMS Ajax at some time. [1942]
NEWING Robert A. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.

O:
OXLADE Jack. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 and served 1940 & 1941 as well.
OLDFIELD Harold. Believed to have been in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 but not verified. Born 1917 in Skipton. Possibly a mechanic in Fleet Air Arm.

P:
PRESTON Samuel William. Killed in action Ajax south of Malta 12th October 1940.
PRITCHARD William. Dates unknown. [no record]
PEARCE Alfred. Dates unknown. [no record]
PIENAAR Allan David. Served in one of the ships at The Battle of the Plate [no record]
PETLEY Thomas Swain. Believed to have been in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39. [no record]
PARROTT Daniel F. Served in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 and was Mentioned in Dispatches.
PARSONS John Edward. Served in HMS Ajax at some stage. [1939 River Plate]
PLUMRIDGE William G. Served in one of the ships at The Battle of the Plate. [confirmed Ajax 1939-41]
POWLES Arthur Stanley (Also went by the name BARRETT). Believed to have served in Ajax at some stage in the '30s.
PRICKETT Ronald John. Ajax 1940 - 1945 Petty Officer

Q:
QUINN Michael. Served in HMS Ajax at some stage. [1942]

R:
RUCK Charles Thomas. Served in Ajax 1938 - 1943 and saw action at The Battle of the River Plate, Matapan & Crete.
ROSS George. Believed to have served in Ajax at the time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 [no record]
REDFORD Thomas Mason. Served in Ajax and shown in Ratings list for 1940 - 1942.
RENNIE Sydney. Believed to have been in Ajax at some stage. [no record]
ROOK Clifford Henry. Born circ. 1923. Believed to have served in Ajax at some stage [no record]

S:
SHELL John (Jack) William. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
SMETHURST Kenneth. HMS Ajax between 1943 and 1945.
STRATTON George. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
SCOGGINS Henry. Was a Royal Marine Corporal in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
SHAW Frank Ivor. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
SHEAD Ronald. Believed to have served in Ajax at the time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39. [no record]
SMYTH Vincent J. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
SHARP Arthur. Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 and believed to have been a PO.
STUART Denis. Believed to have served in HMS Ajax at some stage. [no record]
SHEPPARD Ivor D. Believed to have served in HMS Ajax 1942 - 46. Service No. GX575904
SHEPSTONE E. Served in Ajax 1942 with Shepstone Drive in Ajax, Ontario in his honour.

T:
THOMPSON Harry. Served in Ajax at the time of Battle of the River Plate 13/12/39 as an Engine Room Artificer. He transferred to HMS Skipjack in 1940 and was killed when the ship was sunk while evacuating troops from Dunkirk.
THATCHER Frederick Ernest. Believed to have served in Ajax at some stage but dates not known. [no record]
THOMPSON Kenneth William. Believed to have served in Ajax at some stage but dates not known. [no record]
TOBBELL Ernest. Appears on the 1943 Ajax crew list.
TAMBLIN Clifford Thomas. Was believed to have been in Ajax at some stage. [no record]

U: 
V:
VINE Harry. Believed to have been in Ajax at some stage.
W:
WITHEY John (Jack). Believed to have been in Ajax during period 1939 and 1943. [1939 at River Plate CPO]
WIX or WICKS Dennis. Dates unknown. [D Wicks 1943]
WOODWARD F T "MAXIE".  Was in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39. He was a PTI and heavyweight boxing champion American & West Indies Fleet. 
WONFOR Frank Arthur. Was a Stoker in Ajax at some time during the war. [no record]
WHITE Frank. Believed to have served in Ajax at some stage but dates not known. [1943]
WILKINSON either T.P.P. or E.S. Both are listed as being in Ajax at time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39.
WHITELOCK Walter. Served in Ajax probably at Bone, 1/1/43 and D-Day, 6/6/44. [no record]
WHITE William. Believed to have served in Ajax at the time of Battle of River Plate 13/12/39 and was at the Chile earthquake early 1939. He was a telegraphist. [possibly one of three at Ajax River Plate: WJ; WDS; WJ]
WOTTON Arthur Clarence. Believed to have been a CPO at the River Plate. [no record]
WHITTLE Charles. Served in Ajax 1942

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