Help Please - Identifying RN Warship & info re Rank

[Octoposse]

I recently met with my birth family (I was adopted). My maternal grandfather, who died before I was born, was a career sailor.

Can anyone give a clue as to the warship in the first photo (he's second from right, without a hat), or info re his rank, which is given as 'Commissioned Master' in a post war statement re Japanese war crimes. Thanks.

[Octoposse]

[MDMA .]

Have you tried here?
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/search-milita...

[Lotus Notes]

Must be here somewhere..

Someone will narrow down the type of ship.

[Octoposse]

Lotus Notes said:

Must be here somewhere..

Someone will narrow down the type of ship.

Will probably be before then, as he was a prisoner of war in Japan.

[Octoposse]

MDMA . said:

Have you tried here?
https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/search-milita...

Thanks - hadn't seen this. Unfortunately it came back with two people with same first/last name, but both soldiers.

[h0b0]

Pier 21 is a significant pier in Halifax Canada. HMS Revenge was stationed there during WW2.

[Harpoon]

Did you know of any Australian connections?

Bit of a punt here but the front turrets could be from a modified Leander class light cruiser.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leander-class_cruise...

The way the edges of the turrets outside of the guns tapers look similar to this picture (click it to zoom in)

http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-perth-i

One was launched as HMS Amphion but transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1939 to become HMAS Perth. She was sunk in the Pacific during WWII - Wiki says 328 survivors become POWs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Perth_(D29)

A wade through Wiki rules out a fair number of destroyers (one gun mount per turret or only a single turret) and light cruisers with triple mount guns.

Edited by Harpoon on Friday 24th August 17:50

[Simpo Two]

A period reference book gives the sleeve rank as 'Midshipman or Naval Cadet', but I'd agree with Mad Monk's 'Chief Petty Officer. A CPO could also be called a Master at Arms, which would fit with 'commissioned master'. The collar badge would denote his trade but I can't recognise it. It doesn't seem to match the 'diver' badge.

The guns are too small for a battleship; I'd guess 8x 6" guns meaning a cruiser.

Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 24th August 18:03

[The Mad Monk]

Octoposse said:

I recently met with my birth family (I was adopted). My maternal grandfather, who died before I was born, was a career sailor.

Can anyone give a clue as to the warship in the first photo (he's second from right, without a hat), or info re his rank, which is given as 'Commissioned Master' in a post war statement re Japanese war crimes. Thanks.

He is one from the right, shirley?

Second from the right is the woman with the borrowed hat?

Edit.

I reckon he is a chief petty officer.

Link to Wik - scroll down a fair way

https://www.naval-history.net/WW2aaRN-PayTables00R...

[Simpo Two]

NB On the cruiser side, if anyone wants to google further, other classes of WW2 in addition to Leander were (in order of size/armament):

Dido
Fiji
Southampton or Town
Arethusa
York
County
E
Improved Birmingham
D
Carlisle and Cardiff
Early C

[FN2TypeR]

Looks like a Dido Class cruiser to me but there isn't much to go on so I may be way off of the mark. If it is then it's the rear of the ship as they had three fore turrets.

[williamp]

The covers on the barrels will be the ships crest. Can you get a high res image of them?

[FourWheelDrift]

This is your clue to the ship, identify the tompion (gun barrel protector) ships badge and you'll identify the ship. I'm rushed at the moment but I'll have a look later if not identified.

[Ydnaroo]

HMS Apollo? (Later HMAS Hobart)

[FN2TypeR]

Good spot, well played!

[Wobbegong]

Ydnaroo said:

HMS Apollo? (Later HMAS Hobart)

I guess Apollo having been a minesweeper would link to him wearing the diving suit too?

[glazbagun]

I'm open to correction, but I think that might be a Dido Class light cruiser in the first picture.

[Foxeh]

Its HMS Apollo - before it became HMAS Hobart in 1938.

[Ydnaroo]

OP's first picture ties in with the pictures of HMS Apollo here.