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[106500]

I am a new forum member and this is my first post. A distant relation of mine was a Lieutenant Commander in the RN during wartime. I have a couple of questions; how can I obtain more information about him - any suggestions would be welcome? Secondly, I have attached a photo of a ship he served on but am struggling to identify it. Any help in this respect would be welcome please.

[PhiloNauticus]

The ship is HMS Renown

https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-02BC-HMS_Renown.htm

[PhiloNauticus]

For his service history, it can be traced through Navy Lists.  What was his name?

[PhiloNauticus]

Your photo is, I think, the same as this one:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205151384

[106500]

Thanks for your help. My relations name was was Jack Dolan.

[PhiloNauticus]

Lt Cdr Jack Dolan

I think that this would be: John Edward Dolan
I do not have access to all Navy Lists, so post-1945 it’s a bit vague … but I can offer the following:

Apparently joined Royal Navy in 1927 as a Boy Seaman.  Evidently selected for accelerated promotion, as he had reached Warrant rank ten years later.  His career can be traced in Navy Lists after this.

Promoted to rank of Gunner 1 April 1937   
Appointed: HMS St Vincent June 1937    
Appointed: HMS Bridgewater 20 September 1938
Awarded MBE in New Year’s Honours List 1 Jan 1941
Promoted to Acting Lieutenant 31 May 1942   
appointed: HMS Porcupine  1 July 1942
Confirmed Lieutenant, and seniority adjusted to 2 April 1939
Appointed: HMS Lewes  26 January 1943
Appointed:  HMS Renown 25 April 1944
Appointed:  HMS Highflyer  28 March 1945 as an acting Lieutenant Commander
Confirmed Lt Cdr ...1946
Appointed HMS Daedalus … 1947
Appointed HMS Pembroke … 1948

He seems to have ended his career on a low note, with two courts-martial for drunkenness:
August 1947: found guilty by court-martial of five charges of assault, being drunk and generally behaving badly at RAF station Hednesford. Sentence:  severely reprimanded; dismissed his ship.   Evidence was given that he was celebrating “an addition to the family” and the session did not end well…
 March 1948:  found guilty by court-martial of being drunk on duty: severely reprimanded; dismissed his ship; loss of six months seniority. I have no details of this incident

[PhiloNauticus]

For the details of the ships –

HMS Bridgewater:
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-18SL-Bridgewater.htm

 HM S Porcupine: destroyer – torpedoed and badly damaged – see
 https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-49P-HMS_Porcupine.htm

HMS Lewes
https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-11US-HMS_Lewes.htm


Highflyer was the naval shore base at Trincomalee
Daedalus was the naval air station at Lee on Sea
Pembroke was the naval barracks at Chatham

[106500]

Thanks very much for your help. We knew that Jack left the Navy under a cloud and that he’d been subject to a court martial. Naturally the family didn’t talk about the matter but I met his daughter recently (a distant relation) and she still has his medals, etc. Jack died in the1980s and I recall him as a lovely man - apparently some of his misdemeanours were to do with concerns over the health of his wife who was a slight lady who I remember well.
The information you have provided is very interesting and much appreciated. If you do come across any more this would be welcomed. Thanks once again.