General Crew Photos 1939-1943 [Archive] - World Naval Ships Forums

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 18:57

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 19:04

The photos are from a wide range of ships and bases and cover the period September 1939 to December 1940.

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 19:11

I am sure that someone can put a name to the ship in the first pic, with the imposing superstructure. No doubt that some of the pics are posed as I can't imagine the crew operating the depth charges and guns in their best bib and tucker and best caps.
I thought I recognised someone in the Nelson gun crew, but they all look alike in respirators;)

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 19:21

Photos around the time of the Battle of the River Plate

astraltrader

10-09-2008, 19:38

That is interesting Jim - in picture number 3 of your post #262 it shows a gun-crew wearing what looks to be gas-masks. I posted a picture of a gun-crew wearing the same sort of respirators 6 months ago and then no-one seemed to know why or when they were being used.
I show the picture again here and wonder if anybody now has any sort of info about it? Is there by any chance a caption with your picture?

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 20:40

Thats a great pic Terry. I believe it was actually a posed photo, due to the gun crew having their white caps on.
Crews continually exercise different evolutions and this crew are probably engaged at action stations, while under threat of a gas attack. In the real scenario the gun crew would be donned in anti flash hoods and helmets.
I would think that any photograph showing crews at action stations, with white caps on, is being posed for the cameraman;)
The only captions that appeared with my photos have been included in the title, which also includes the volume (1-3) and page number, ie 1_030 gunnery practice hms nelson
Jim

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 20:48

More pics following the Battle of the River Plate

bob shayler

10-09-2008, 20:54

Great photo's Jim,
regards,
Bob

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 20:55

New battle honours for Ajax, etc. Also, the captain and crew of the submarine HMS Ursula

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 21:03

The first pic shows a gun crew closed up at action stations, complete with helmets. The other pics are of the prisoners freed from the Altmark in the Norwegian fjords, returned to Leith aboard HMS Cossack. Also, a couple of plans showing the route of Graf Spee and Altmark.

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 21:14

An MTB crew and practice firing torpedoes. The Duke of Kent with Polish sailors and crew of the submarine HMS Spearfish after torpedoing the Admiral Scheer

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 21:22

HMSM Truant crew decorated, together with other sub pics and the gun crew of HMS Punjabi

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 21:29

Some pics of the return of the BEF, etc. Couple of minelaying pics - looks like each mine carries a little message for the recipient.

jbryce1437

10-09-2008, 21:38

HMS Repulse libertymen and the King doing his rounds. Interesting to note that the name on the cap tally on the last pic has been censored.

Batstiger

10-09-2008, 23:08

Great pictures Jim. I'm fascinated by the second one where the guns crew are wearing 12" gaiters, takes me back to my training days at Ganges!

Bob.

romft1945

11-09-2008, 00:07

Very nice collection Jim Thanks again
ROM

Kevin Denlay

11-09-2008, 08:56

Wonderful photos Jim, thanks for posting! Especially like the ones of the crews post 'River Plate', some of which I had never seen before.

Kevin

jbryce1437

11-09-2008, 21:23

Thanks for all of your kind comments. Glad that the pics are appreciated as they are a fascinating insight into the Royal Navy during the second world war.
More photos from around the fleet.

jbryce1437

11-09-2008, 21:30

A few of gun crews, etc.

jbryce1437

11-09-2008, 21:39

Some Fleet Air Arm pics and Admiral Cunningham

jbryce1437

11-09-2008, 21:43

More of the fleet at work - small ships

jbryce1437

11-09-2008, 21:49

Life on the big ships

jbryce1437

11-09-2008, 21:54

Foreign helpers

jbryce1437

14-09-2008, 20:25

Submariners at work

jbryce1437

14-09-2008, 20:33

These are from the period January 1941 to March 1942

jbryce1437

14-09-2008, 20:37

More chilling convoy pics

jbryce1437

14-09-2008, 20:51

These look a bit warmer

astraltrader

15-09-2008, 00:24

Good pictures Jim. Thank you. I wonder what the ship is in picture 3?

jbryce1437

15-09-2008, 10:15

Not sure about cruiser's name. A pic on a following page is a close up of HMS Suffolk, but the funnel colours look different and I haven't got a pic showing similar camouflage to the pic in question. Someone may have though. This is the Suffolk close-up pic. Dorsetshire still had the sponson on the stern, so it may be her.

jbryce1437

15-09-2008, 10:29

More action pics

jbryce1437

15-09-2008, 10:36

More pics around the fleet

jbryce1437

15-09-2008, 21:20

More FAA pics

jbryce1437

15-09-2008, 21:28

I wonder if the British destroyer off on patrol could be HMS Kelly, a pic of which appeared a couple of pages later in the book.

Batstiger

15-09-2008, 21:34

Great pictures Jim. Can you slow down a bit I can't keep up with you?

Bob.

jbryce1437

15-09-2008, 21:37

This photo deserves a post of its own and will bring back memories to many old salts. From a time when Britain had a Sterling currency and the Navy had rum. Many a favour could be had for "sippers" and "gulpers", and for "half a tot or a tot" you could get a sub for your duty. A weeks tot could earn you a whole weekend leave with a sub.
While "Jack" didn't have much money, wagers were usually made for sippers, gulpers and, if you were really certain of winning, half a tot.
From a time when to be "called round", didn't mean you were obese:D
Up Spirits! Stand fast the Holy Ghost!

jbryce1437

15-09-2008, 21:39

Sorry Bob, will slow down to a gallop;)

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 18:12

More submariners

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 18:28

Around the fleet

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 18:31

More fleet pics

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 18:35

Big ships and small ships

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 18:39

Small ships at work and a battleships chimney sweeps?

Batstiger

16-09-2008, 18:53

And what sort of rifle is that firing the Coston gun line?

Bob.

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 21:15

Not sure, only had .303 then L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle when they were feeding me. Could it be a Lee Enfield Mk1?

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 21:25

Some adventure photographs

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 21:29

The surface fleet

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 21:33

I bet Churchill is turning in his grave, thinking about the buffoons trying to take HMS Victory out of Royal Navy control.

jbryce1437

16-09-2008, 21:43

Some gun crews and former US Revenue Cutters

Batstiger

16-09-2008, 22:08

It looks more like something out of "Dads army" with a barrel like that Jim!

romft1945

17-09-2008, 23:14

It looks more like something out of "Dads army" with a barrel like that Jim!

They were bats converted Lee Enfields fired a few in my time. Rom

jbryce1437

18-09-2008, 21:30

Cheers rom, I knew someone would know the answer.
More of the fleet, with a Royal visitor.

jbryce1437

18-09-2008, 21:46

Escort for an AFD

jbryce1437

23-09-2008, 13:41

More gun crews

jbryce1437

10-10-2008, 21:50

Some more matelots at work during the war

jbryce1437

05-11-2008, 21:04

More wartime pics

jbryce1437

05-11-2008, 21:30

Last few of Volume 2

jbryce1437

20-12-2008, 17:24

These from Volume 3. First batch may be of HMS Ithuriel and some of Italian submarine Cobalto. Others of the Italian subs Emo and Asteria crew. The last is the crew of HMS Wolverine

jbryce1437

20-12-2008, 17:29

More shots from the Med, the two cruisers identified as HMS Aurora and HMS Penelope.

jbryce1437

20-12-2008, 17:33

Survivors from HMS Eagle and "pepperpot" Penelope

jbryce1437

31-12-2008, 22:03

Some pics of the North African campaign and in the Med in support of the 8th Army

jbryce1437

31-12-2008, 22:08

More from below the waves

jbryce1437

04-01-2009, 21:32

More submariners at work

jbryce1437

05-01-2009, 14:38

More submariners with crew photos of Taku and Una

jbryce1437

05-01-2009, 14:41

More crew photos of Una, Ursula and Tribune

jbryce1437

05-01-2009, 14:44

At sea with HMS Viscount

jbryce1437

05-01-2009, 14:49

Women at sea in 1943?

jbryce1437

06-01-2009, 20:23

More general views with a couple of HMS Scylla

jbryce1437

06-01-2009, 20:29

Minelaying operations

jbryce1437

06-01-2009, 20:32

More minewarfare and arctic duties

jbryce1437

06-01-2009, 20:47

Small ships at work

jbryce1437

06-01-2009, 20:52

More small ships at work

jbryce1437

06-01-2009, 20:54

This photograph may relate to one previously posted, where the battleflag depicts a couple of trains.

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 19:40

Gun crew photographs

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 19:45

More gun crews, etc.

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 19:55

Not sure if these are all of HMS Kenya, the first certainly is

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 19:59

Assorted pics and HMAS Warramunga on trials

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 20:03

The loss of HMS Dorsetshire

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 20:08

Commonwealth and allied navies

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 20:16

More pics around the fleet

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 20:22

More Commonwealth and Allies

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 20:27

A line of ocean greyhounds, and some pics of the opposition

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 20:34

A few more of sailors on parade, etc.

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 20:51

In the Med (the fleet air arm photographers look female)

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 20:57

More fleet pics

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 21:10

More big guns

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 21:17

Sick Bay tiffies

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 21:23

Last few around the fleet

jbryce1437

07-01-2009, 21:28

The final photograph taken at The Admiralty. Winston Churchill and the British Admiral on the left (and some of the others) sit smoking cigars.

doug.birch

19-01-2009, 10:01

This is a photo of the ships company of HMS Fencer. Dress of the day
tropical rig. Doug. Birch.

31888

jbryce1437

02-02-2009, 17:01

Nice photo Doug. I am surprised how small the island superstructure looks.

doug.birch

12-02-2009, 22:57

Hi, jbryce1437, yes the Island does look small, but there was a lot packed in it, I spent quite a lot of time there for I was the gyro-compass EA, I was in Chatham dockyard in 1953,since then many things have changed. I see you were an electrician,in my time we were in the Torpedo branch,can you tell me what the set-up is now. Regards Doug.Birch.

Wombat

13-02-2009, 00:18

I have enjoyed looking at this topic, especially the Sick Berth Tiffies.

Excellent photographs.

Wombat,
James.

jbryce1437

13-02-2009, 21:02

Agree with you Wombat, some great photos amongst them and they give a real flavour of the work undertaken by the RN at that time.

Doug, things have changed again since I left in 1974. I joined as an Electrical Mechanic and the branch was recategorised into Ordnance Electrical and Control Electrical. I then became an Ordnance Electrical Mechanic - Heavy Electrical, Boats and Batteries and Weapons Systems. The Control Electrical looked after Electronics equipment, sonar, communications equip., etc.
My son followed me into the Navy in the 1980's, joining the same branch, but he was known as a Weapons Electrical Machanic but probably doing the work of the former Control Electrical Mechanic. This was in the era of User/Maintainer and I am not sure of the current state of affairs with branches, even after looking at the RN site:
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3770

eddies girl

12-03-2009, 09:10

More pics following the Battle of the River Plate
I posted a few pics of crew of HMS Exeter taken early 1939,in New Members. I notices that in this picture of the men marching, one or two of the faces were in my photos.

jbryce1437

12-03-2009, 12:50

I posted a few pics of crew of HMS Exeter taken early 1939,in New Members. I notices that in this picture of the men marching, one or two of the faces were in my photos.

The men in the photos of post #7 may well have been on the ship at the time of your photos

Francis Stanley

15-04-2009, 11:38

More pics around the fleet

Post no 102 second picture, I have a very similar picture probably a few frames later and is marked as being HMS Avon Vale approaching the sub taken from HMS Wheatland, it was used in a Newspaper article about the Wheatland and Avon Vale, however I suppose they could have used a stock Photo

jbryce1437

15-04-2009, 20:46

Post no 102 second picture, I have a very similar picture probably a few frames later and is marked as being HMS Avon Vale approaching the sub taken from HMS Wheatland, it was used in a Newspaper article about the Wheatland and Avon Vale, however I suppose they could have used a stock Photo

I have a different pic of Easton and the camouflage is near identical. The camouflage on Avon Vale looks different - judge for yourself with these two pics.

Francis Stanley

17-04-2009, 06:27

JB, Apologies, you are quite correct I am getting my events mixed up. The Avon vale and Wheatland were involved in a different skirmish here is the complete newspaper cutting of the time involving the Easton

jbryce1437

17-04-2009, 18:28

Francis, many thanks for posting the cuttings and story of the U boat sinking, much appreciated

Jim

Francis Stanley

22-04-2009, 16:47

Jim
My pleasure
Incidently here is the other story I was getting confused with

jbryce1437

23-04-2009, 22:01

Thanks for posting it Francis

ekd

17-10-2009, 16:10

New battle honours for Ajax, etc. Also, the captain and crew of the submarine HMS Ursula

I wonder if you know the ship's name in photo 4, of the post No 9 ?

was it COSSACK?

regards

Edaward

jbryce1437

17-10-2009, 18:23

I wonder if you know the ship's name in photo 4, of the post No 9 ?

was it COSSACK?

regards

Edaward

Not sure of the name of the ship in photo 4, even though the ships treadplate is in the photo. The photo looks as if it was taken on the quarterdeck of the ship and the wood decking is in view. Not sure if a destroyer would have the deck clad in timber.

Jim

emason

17-10-2009, 22:02

I found this a very interesting thread. The photos show a wide aspect of shipboard activities and personnel. I prefer the informal photos, but the posed ones were no less interesting.

Some weeks ago (on the Frobisher thread) I posted a group of photographs, on the same theme showing both formal and informal activities aboard HMS Frobisher during a tour of duty in the Indian Ocean 1942-1943. These photographs would equally be at home on this thread.

If you enjoyed this thread, you will like the Frobisher's. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I do.

jbryce1437

18-10-2009, 12:15

Thanks for the info Bill, I will take a look at the Frobisher thread.

Jim

aggyaggy

13-01-2010, 09:50

HMSM Truant crew decorated, together with other sub pics and the gun crew of HMS Punjabi

The crew being decorated (post #12) is 'Ursula' for action against 'Leipzig' and her escort in December 1940.

jbryce1437

13-01-2010, 15:54

Many thanks for that additional piece of information aggyaggy.

Jim

John O'Callaghan

15-01-2010, 12:35

Hi All! In post No11 from jbryce there is photo of MTB gunners manning what appears to be a quad Lewis gun mount.I have never seen that type of mount before.Any old gunnery rates(or others) who can provide information on this and how widely it was used.
Cheers John O'C.

jbryce1437

15-01-2010, 18:56

The first photo shows two boats proceeding at speed, both with the same type of mountings. The second photo shows MTB 18 (may be the same boat in the first pic) and others.

steve roberts

15-01-2010, 19:06

I dont know about the MGB's but did'nt RAF Crash Boats used to mount excess Bolton and Paul Defiant Fighter Quad .303 Turrets? Steve.:confused:

66256 We come unclean oops Unseen

jbryce1437

15-01-2010, 19:54

Some interesting stuff here, together with photos of quadruple mounted Lewis guns:

http://www.hongkongescape.org/Crest.htm

jbryce1437

15-01-2010, 20:04

The crew being decorated (post #12) is 'Ursula' for action against 'Leipzig' and her escort in December 1940.

That probably explains the group photos of the Ursula crew in post #9. This was another photo from that batch, the skipper Commander Phillips

John O'Callaghan

18-01-2010, 01:36

HiSteve! Re your post 133. I am aware that surplus aircraft turrets and guns were often fitted to RAF ASR boats.Those that I have seen were usually stripped Vickers or Brownings. Single and twin Lewis guns were also fitted to naval small ships. Particularly in the early war years . However I had not seen a quad mount of Lewis guns.It appears that they have been fairly widely used from the photographic evidence.
Cheers John O'C.

steve roberts

18-01-2010, 10:14

Hi John. Yes I have seen numerous photos of MGB's with this quad mount,but no one seems to know if it was a standard fit,or a whim of theboats CO.Who after all were given a lot of freeway in the small ships navy.I mentioned the RAF ASR Boats mountings because I saw one at Kalafrana and asked Dad what the gun mounts were. Best Wishes Steve.:confused:

astraltrader

27-10-2010, 22:01

These photographs appeared in three books, entitled Britain at War, which covered the period 1939 to 1943. I believe the intended books for the remainder of the war were not published, due to the death of the author in 1943.
Many of the photographs were used for illustration purposes only and do not have any details of when, or where, they were taken. However, some do have the name of the ship or unit and the title of the photograph contains the caption used for the photo.
Feel free to comment on them, especially if you recognise anyone.

Jim - I have given all these pictures another close look and it has to be said there are some really fascinating shots amongst them especially all the different types of weapons used on warships during WW2.

In addition there are some shots of some really unusual ships such as the old gunboat Cockchafer and the sloop Narbara from the Royal Indian navy.

A veritable treasure trove my friend!

Thank you again for taking the time to upload them all! :)

I wholeheartedly recommend any member who joined after January 2009 and has not yet seen these pictures to give them a close looksee.
The chances are you will be well rewarded!

Mitch Hinde

28-10-2010, 18:57

Hi Jim

I agree with Terry. The best series of pics I have seen in a long time, very interesting and rewarding. I'll be going through them again to see if I have missed anything.

Mitch Hinde

Hugh Williams

28-10-2010, 21:46

Hi,

What a very interesting thread, I have been through it once and certainly will return to it for the sheer pleasure of visual record of the RN in the last war.

Thanks for posting these photos.

Regards,

Hugh Williams

David Verghese

28-10-2010, 23:07

A very informative and inspiring thread, of value to Forum members who are interested in the Royal Navy in WWII.

I found the pictures of mine technology at the time to be quite interesting, as well as many of the ship's armaments pictures equally so.

I was pleased to find pictures of HMS Howe that I had not seen before.

Many thanks Jim for the considerable time and effort you must have put in to construct this thread such that Forum members could benefit from your labours.

David

jbryce1437

31-10-2010, 18:44

Thanks all. The three books had formerly been Library Reference books, I think in Roxboroughshire. Its a great pity that they were taken from the shelves and sold, as they are a great source of Royal Naval historical information and photography from the war.
However, their loss is my gain and I am only too pleased to share them:p

Jim

Jeffa4444

01-12-2010, 23:24

Crew shots my father had some on ML 283, will post others I have

jbryce1437

02-12-2010, 14:20

Nice set of photos Jeffa4444, I hope someone can recognise anybody that they know in them. It would be nice to put a name to the people.

Jim

Cpl of the Gangway

12-01-2012, 21:35

A bit late in repling to the thread two photos stand out to me:

post 57, the two cruiser are Aurora and Penelope, Force K from Malta photo probably taken from either Lance or Lively there two destroyers. I have seen the photo before some where but many years ago.

post 86, HMSM Taku returning from patrol in the North Sea and Norwegian coast photo taken Nov/Dec 1942, photo taken from the escort. This photo hung in our house for many years, I think my brother still has it.