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The Crew of HMS Exeter at the Battle of the River Plate

Page updated 3rd March 2010

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There is no definitive list of the crew of HMS Exeter, during the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, in existence - this list of 408 crew was compiled by Jim Smith, who has kindly allowed its inclusion on Exeter Memories. The full complement for the Exeter was 630. I have tried to interpret some of the abbreviations, but I am no expert – if you can add a name to the list, or correct an entry, please email me. 

Notes - Names in BOLD killed in action or died of wounds – § officer at the time of the battle – ¤ decorated for services during the battle. New additions listed at bottom of the page.

Surname - Forename - Rank - Decoration

ARAHAMS Cyril, L Tel
ACKERMAN, R E, EA
ADAMS, Thomas W,
ADDYMAN A G, EA
AINGE W A, age 39, Chief Petty Officer
ALDER G T C, LTO
ALLEN R H, § Pay Lieutenant
ALLEN, Musician Royal Marines Band
AMY Arthur, LSA
ANSTEAD C,
ARNOLD E, Royal Marines
ATTWOOD Harry, Sgt Royal Marines
ATWILL Ron, Lieutenant
AUKENHURST K, Royal Marines
AYRES J, Tel

BACK F E E, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
BAGLEY Leonard C, Bandmaster 2 ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
BAKER F R, LTO
BALL A J, Seaman ¤DSM
BALLANCE J H, § Lieutenant, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
BECKFORD W G, § Wt Mech
BELL F S, § CAPTAIN ¤CB
BELL Stephen, L, Stoker
BERNSTEN E B, Officers Steward
BETHELL F, age 19, Able Seaman
BETHELL J, age 19, Able Seaman
BEVIS Vincent, Stoker Petty Officer 2
BIDGOOD L, Supply
BLACKMAN R,
BLACKMORE C G,
BLAKE A B,
BLANDFORD B, Royal Marines
BOILING R, ERA
BOND Frank L, ERA4 ¤DSM
BONHAM,  Mentioned in Despatchess
BOOTHROYD,
BOWES R M, OD
BOWMAN-MANIFOLD J, § Lieutenant Cdr (N)
BOWN E,
BRADBURY W, Stoker
BRAY G,
BRIGHT D, Stoker PO
BRODERICK, ER, Able Seaman
ROOKS, ER, Able Seaman
BUCKLE, Musician Royal Marine Band
BUDGE,
BURN S,
BURNS G,
BURNS R, Officers Steward
BURRAS S W, Stoker First Class
BUTCHER, Royal Marines
BUTLER R, Seaman

CAMERON Archibald, § Midshipman ¤DSC
CAMPBELL F P, Stoker 1
CARTER Albert H, Seaman
CARTER S A, MAA ¤DSM
CARTTES S,
CAULDWELL R,
CAUSTON J, § Pay Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
CHALKLEY H V, Acting Petty Officer ¤DSM
CHANDLER R, ERA
CHAPMAN T § Cd Eng
CHEDGEY G LTO
CHEESEMAN,
CLARK Royal Marines
CLARKSON Richard Mortimer Roy, age 18,  Able Seaman
CLIFT MWM, EA
CLOAKE J,
CODMAN RW, Able Seaman
COGSWELL R J, § Wt Elect
COLLARD F,
COLLIER, Musician Royal Marines Band
COLLINS Anthony C P, Ch Shpt 2 ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
COMLEY W, Royal Marines
CONYON J,
CONNOR F, Royal Marines
COOK A E, § Dir Gnr
COOPER Samuel, Seaman
COWANS, ERA
CRITCHLEY M,
CROCKER George I, Chief Stoker ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
CROKER Alfred John, age 25, Marine Royal Marines
CROWE Thomas H, Seaman
CURNOW F,
CUSSEN John, § Surgeon Commander ¤ Mentioned in Despatches

DAKIN E T, SBA ¤DSM
DALLAWAY Stanley J, § Gnr ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
DANCE S T, Musician Royal Marines Band
DANN H, § Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
DAVEY A,
DAVIES F,
DAVIES G L, Able Seaman
DAVIES S, Able Seaman
DAY E, Seaman
DAY H, Seaman
DEAR H,
DINGLE K,
DON RWD, §  Mentioned in Despatchess ¤DSC
DOVE G H, Acting Petty Office
DOUST Ernest A, § Snr Master ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
DRAKE,
DURHAM R , Seaman
DYER F W G, Shpt 3

EARP H,
EAST R D, § MA Tempy. Instr Lieutenant
EDDEY W, EA
EDWARDS A, Petty Officer
EDWARDS, Royal Marines
EMBLETON Chas James, Stoker
ENGLAND Philip A, EA 1 ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
EVANS D G , Seaman
EVANS R M, Stoker PO

FARTHING F C, LTO
FLOWERS W, Seaman
FOGWILL Ronald A, Seaman
FOWLER George CW, § Lieutenant Cdr (O)
FRANCIS H W, Seaman
FREDERICKS JT, Seaman
FRENCH F T, Able Seaman
FRENCH, Boy
FUTCHER, Tel

GARDNER LH, Corporal Royal Marines Band
GARRARD J S,
GARRETT V,
GASKELL J L, Ck
GEORGE E I, Leading Stoker
GIBSON S C, Able Seaman
GIBSON, Musician Royal Marines Band
GILPIN L, Ck
GLEADALL, Stoker
GOODE T, EA
GOODHALL F, Tel
GOURD C, Chief Petty Officer Wtr
GRAHAM R,
GRAHAM R R, § Cdr DSO
GREEN J, Petty Officer - Chief Quartermaster
GREEN W E, Chief Quarter Master ¤DSM
GREEN L, Seaman
GROVES G, § Padre
GWILLIAM W G , Seaman ¤CGM

HALLAS C F, Petty Officer ¤DSM
HAMBLIN Victor A, Seaman
HARDING, Royal Marines
HARRINGTON S P, Marine Royal Marines
HARRIS C,
HARRIS David, Stoker PO
HARRIS H, PO Tel
HARRIS S T, Sig
HATTON J, §
HEARSON G, § Cdr (E)
HEENAN R L, § SLieutenant, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Met
HEGGIE R M, § Surgeon Lieutenant, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
HICKS A, LSA
HIGGINBOTTOM A, CYS
HILL L C, Able Seaman
HILL R B, Boy Bugler RM
HINDLE F,
HOARE D J, §
HOARE E,
HOCKING Jan,
HOGG Donald, Stoker
HONEY L F L, Sig
HOOPER S J, Elec Artif
HOUGHTON F,
HOWARD Horace, Stoker
HOWELL Bernard L, Photographer
HUXSON, Royal Marines
HUNT, Royal Marines
HURLEY,
HUTTON J, Torpedoman

IVEY W G, Stoker 2

JACKSON E, Corporal Royal Marines Band
JAMES Thomas L, Steward
JAMIESON, Musician Royal Marines Band
JEFFERY W,
JEFFERY W J, Seaman
JEFFREY A D, OA
JENNINGS Richard B, § Lieutenant Cdr (G) ¤DSC
JOHN J (E?) L, Seaman
JOHN Henry B, § MBE Pay Cdr ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
JOHNS R,
JOHNS William, E Ch OA 1 ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
JOHNSON L,
JONES Albert S, Stoker Petty Officer ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
JONES C J, Seaman
JONES Edward (Ted), Musician Royal Marines Band 1
JONES J H, Royal Marines
JONES R M, § Rev
JOPLIN Walter, Stoker

KAVANAGH M T, Tel
KELLY A E, Stoker 1
KEMBALL HNE, § Lieutenant
KENT W H, Royal Marines
KENWARD, Musician Royal Marines Band
KING D,
KNIGHT F, Joiner 3 Petty Officer ¤DSM

LAMB C S, § Lieutenant (Pilot)
LANCASHIRE Roger WG, § Surgeon Lieutenant ¤DSC
LANGMEAD E,
LANSDOWNE Cyril, H L Tel  Mentioned in Despatches
LARMOUR M, Shipt
LEGG F, Petty Officer Ck
LEWIS C G,
LEWIS D S G, Stoker 1
LLEWELLYN, Petty Officer Ck
LOCKER G,
LONDON S James , Stoker
LONSDALE Leonard H, Chief Mechanician 3
LOVELL A,
LUMSDEN A R, Tel
LYNN T J, § Gnr (T)

MACLEOD William, age 25, Stoker 1st Class
MACNAMARA W,
MAGEE (McGee?), Musician Royal Marines Band
MANNING George, age 37, Stoker 1st Class
MARSH William George Robert, age 21, Corporal Royal Marines
MARSHALL A S, Sig
MARTIN R B § Commander (Staff Officer)
MASON,
MATHER James, Seaman
McAUSLAN,
McBARNET Donald T, § Lieutenant RN ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
McDONNELL F, H Able Seaman
McEVOY J P, Marine Royal Marines
McGARRY J, ERA 2 ¤DSM
McGEE W,
McGINN Jock,
MEDLEY, Reginald Royal Marines
MELLOW G,
MICHAEL H,
MILEHILL H,
MILLS E, Marine Royal Marines
MILLS G,
MINHINETT J L, Stoker 1 ¤DSM
MITCHELL H B, Seaman
MOFFETT W, Stoker 2
MOLONEY J, Stoker 2
MONK L,
MONKS C, Stoker 2
MORGAN John David, Marine 11277
MORSE Clyde AL, § Acting Sub Lieutenant ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
MOTT John W, § Sub Lieutenant (E) ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
MUDGE G, Petty Officer Ck
MULBERRY ME,
MULVENNY,

NAPIER John, Seaman
NAYLOR T H, Able Seaman
NEWMAN Harold E, Chief Petty Officer Tel ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
NEWTON A 'Nutty'
NICHOLS S,
NOBLE R, Stoker
NODDER F,
NORTHCOTT Patrick, Seaman
NORTHCOTT W P, Royal Marines

O'BRIEN P, Stoker 1 ¤CGM
O'LEARY P J, Stoker 1
O'NEIL L,
OSBORNE E, Stoker PO

PARRY D J, Tel
PARSONS A W C, Sgt Royal Marines
PAYNE OD,
PEARCE L, Seaman
PEARSALL J K, § Lieutenant
PEATE, John Henry ('Jacky'), Able Seaman  5
PENN-GASKELL I, de NW § Pay  ¤Mentioned in Despatchess
PETTIT S, Royal Marines
PETT B T, Stoker 1
PETT L A, Stoker
PHILLIPS A V, Act LS
PHILLIPS T G, ERA 3 ¤DSM
PIERCE L B, Seaman
PITMAN Harold H, PO
POINTON TCS, § Lieutenant (E)
POPE C L, Sig
POPE C D, SBCPO ¤DSM
POSTLE L,
POWELL H M, Seaman
POWTON C,
POWTON R F, Ch Ck
PRIEST E L, Seaman
PUDDIFOOT George W, Sgt Royal Marines ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
PULLYLBANK L W L, Supply Assistant
PUNCHARD E,

QUINCY Gordon J, § Squadron Leader RAF (FAA)

RAMSDON,
RANDALL F, Stoker PO
REAGAN, Tel
REAY F, Stoker
REMICK Thomas, CYS
RENDLE C E, § Wt Shpt ¤DSC
RICHARDS B, Able Seaman
RICHARDS G, Able Seaman
RICHARDSON A Duncan, Tel
RICHARDSON D A, § Pay Sub Lieutenant, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
RICKORD J S, §  Mentioned in Despatchess
RIGLAR A S, Tel
ROBERTS R M, Stoker
ROBBINS J,
ROBINS I, Seaman
ROBINSON F, Seaman
ROBINSON S,
ROGERS C, StoPO ? NN 7/00
ROLFE J S, Seaman
ROOKE R,
ROOSKEY J A, Ch Mech 2 ¤DSM
ROPE, Musician Royal Marines Band
ROSS A M, § Captain Royal Marines
ROTHWELL Victor, Seaman
RUSE R, Ch ERA
RUSSELL A,
RUSSELL W A, Marine Royal Marines ¤CGM

SALMON,
SAMPSON E, Seaman
SARTAIN, Musician Royal Marines Band
SCANLAN C J, Seaman
SCHOFIELD N, Tel
SCOBLE Clifford J, SBPO ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
SCOTT, Able Seaman
SCOTT-KERR JHA, §  Mentioned in Despatchess
SEFTON, Royal Marines
SERCOMBE,
SHANNON Eric, Ck
SHAW E, Stoker
SHEFFIELD C, ERA
SHOESMITH E A, Act LAmn ¤DSM
SHORTEN J, § Cd Gnr
SILCOCKS, PO Ck
SIMMS CE, § Cdr ¤DSO
SIMONS A,
SKERRY A E, Royal Marines
SMALL R J, Blacks 3
SMITH C J, § Cdr (T) ¤DSC
SMITH G E, Plumber 3 ¤DSM
SMITH H, Royal Marines
SMITH Joab, Able Seaman
SMITH S J, PO ¤DSM
SMITH W,
SOLT W, Stoker PO
SOPER M, Stoker
SPARKS Martin H, Seaman
SPARKS W J, Seaman
SPENCER H, Able Seaman
SPIERS W R, PO
SPILLER, Corporal Royal Marines
SPLAINE S,
SQUIRE E B, Boy 1
SQUIRES,
STABB Douglas Harold, Stoker 2 DKX/92833
STAVERS R,
STEELE R M, Stoker PO
STEPHENS A C, ERA4
STEVENSON, Cecil Robert, stoker 4
STILES E, Ck
STRIKE Daniel J, Wtr
STUBBS A, Marine Royal Marines
STURDEE ARB, §  Mentioned in Despatchess
SUMMERLING L F, Steward
SWATTEN F, Royal Marines
SYMONS, Able Seaman

TAYLOR R, W Tel
TEAGUE S B P, Chief Stoker
TELFER,
THOMPSON J E, Stoker 1
TIMMS W, Canteen
TINDLE L, Stoker
TOASE AE, § Lieutenant RM ¤DSC
TOPE I, Seaman
TOVEY G E, Stoker PO
TOWELL W, Seaman
TREGIDGO A F, Chief Petty Officer
TREGARTHEN, Tel
TREGLOYNE T, Musician Royal Marines Band
TREHANE G L, FAA
TRIM, Royal Marines
TROTT Basil, Seaman
TROUT,
TURNER T W, Seaman
TWEDDELL T, Seaman
TWITCHIN M, Torp
TYE, Sig
TYLER D H, § Pay Sub Lieutenant

VAUGHAN, Musician Royal Marines Band
VENNING H C, § Wt Eng

WADE W,
WAKEHAM C F, Seaman
WARDER Simon, Leading Seaman
WARREN OD,
WATTS Joseph W, Chief Petty Officer Steward ¤ Mentioned in Despatches
WAY A,
WEAVER E,
WEEKS E, Stoker
WHITE R B,
WHITING D, Sig
WHITEHEAD A, Seaman
WHITEHEAD C, Seaman
WHITEMORE E, Royal Marines
WICKHAM D T, § Lieutenant
WICKHAM K J, § Lieutenant (E), Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve
WILDE A B, Sgt Royal Marines ¤DSM
WILKINS L W, Seaman
WILLIAMS E,
WILLIAMS J D, Sig
WILSON E, FAA
WILSON P, Stoker 1
WINSTANLEY F,
WINTER, ERA
WOOD J S,
WOODS HRD, § Capt Royal Marines
WOODWARD G G, ERA

YOUNG B, Ck

The following names are of those who served in Exeter during the commission December 1936 - August 1939, and were probably on board for the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, but are not included in the main list above.

ARBERRY, Seaman
BLACKBURN, Boy
ELSTON,  L Stoker
FAULKNER, Seaman
GILL, Stoker
HICKS, LSA
HIGMAN, OA
HOCKINGS, Seaman
LANGUARD, Leading Stoker
LOVESAY, Leading Steward
LOWTHER, Stoker PO
LUKEHURST, RM
MOORCROFT, Leading Seaman
MORGAN, Leading Stoker
MOUNTJOY, Leading Stoker
NORTHEY, Stoker
PICKERING, Stoker
ROBINS, Petty Officer
SHELTON, Stoker
SOADY, Stoker

NEW ADDITIONS

1 Edward Jones - lives in Adelaide, Australia (2009) - name added by Bill Hartland (H M S Gambia) 
2 Vincent Bevis - lived in Bournemouth - named added by his great nephew Mark Bevis
3 Leonard H Lonsdale -  he went on to serve on HMS Charybdis, HMS Kenya, HMS Abdiel and HMS Orion - name added by his son Larry Lonsdale
4 Cecil Robert Stevenson - he was on bucket duty during the battle. He retired from the navy in 1948 as a CPO and worked on ambulances and later as a winding engineer in a colliery. He died in 1982 - name added by his son Robert Stevenson.
5 John Henry ('Jacky') Peate, Able Seaman - badly injured during the battle he recuperated in the Falklands with the Reid family - name added by his daughter Julie Peate.

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