The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with R.

Surnames Index


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

P/O R. Henderson R. .     RCAF 149 Sqd.

P/O Henderson was taken POW when his Wellington was shot down by a night fighter whilst on Ops to Duisburg, it crashed at Haelen in Holland.




Able Sea. Cornelis Rab .     Royal Dutch Navy HMS Nelson   from Argentina

I'm seeking information about Able Seaman Cornelis Rad A90446 or 90446Z on behalf of a friend. She has the following info about her grandfather: He worked at a meat factory in 1936 in Argentina. He served (or is thought to have served) on the Dutch Light Cruiser the Heemskerk in Scapa Flow, Orkneys. But due to engine trouble he was ordered to HMS Troubridge. Mediterranean Sea. Malta stopover, as cook & translator. He was then ordered to HMS Nelson. and saw action at Tubruk destroying German Oil supplies then went back to Malta where he was ordered back to HMS Troubridge. The ship was torpedoed off the Southern Italian coast. He was back in London in 1943 or 1944 visiting his Aunt in Redhill. Has anyone got any information about him? Did he ever receive any award? Thank you on behalf of his family.




Sgt. Gordon Leonard Rabbetts .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 630  Sqd. (d.17th May 1945)




Capt. Joseph Raymond Rabel .     British Army 1st Btn Somerset Light Infantry   from Madurai

Joe Rabel enlisted in December 1939 in Bangalore, India. He served in England, Middle East, Malta (Valetta), Sicily (Augusta) and Italy (Perugia, Monte Casino).




Capt. John Raymond Rabet .     British Army 5th Btn. Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry   from Jersey

(d.9th Apr 1945)




W/O. Reginald Paul Rabett DFC..     Royal Air Force 166 Squadron (d.9th Oct 1943)

My grandfather's brother, W/O Reginald Rabett flew from RAf Wickenby. On th e8th of October 1943 he took off for Ludwigshaven, Germany in a Lancaster BII, marked ED993 of 166 SQ. The aircraft which had been recently mended due to engine trouble, was scheduled for Reg Rabett as the pilot to fly out and bomb his destination. On the way more trouble had occured and there were notes of cabin or engine fire on the way. With determination and great bravery he carried on to the target and succesfully bombed the location. On return with problems on the way, the plane crashed landed. The crash broke off the tail setting the rear gunner free from the craft and a crew man in the centre turret was also thrown free from the Lancaster, both of whom survived. Unfortunatly the remaining crew, W/O Rabett included, all died in the aircraft which broke into fire after the crash landing. Due to his bravery, after the mission, my Great Grandparents recived the DFC medal in honour of their son Reginald Paul Rabett.

The men flying in the Lancaster which crashed during the emergency landing on 9th of October 1943 were: Sgt James O'Reilly (Nav.)1549441, Ronald Davies, (W/T) 1032360 Age: 23, Sgt Ronald Ernest Gratwick (B/A) 1324750 Age: 20 and Trevor Roberts (F/E) 1413356. Sgt E Croxon (M/U) and Sgt L. Davidson (R/G) both survived the landing.




Sgt Reginald Paul Rabett. DFC.     RAF 166Sqd. (d.9th Oct 1943)

Nav. Regimald Rabett was killed on 9th Oct 1943 in Lancaster ED993 of 166 Sqn




Pte. John Alwyn Rabey .     British Army 1st Btn. South Wales Borderers   from Morriston, Swansea

(d.24th May 1945)

Private Rabey was the Son of David and Violet Rabey of Morriston, Swansea ODESSA 2ND CHRISTIAN CEMETERY Ā Plot 127. Row 7. Grave 7.




JA Rabie .     British Army

JA Rabie served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Pte. Tevita Rabo .     British Army 3rd Btn. Fiji Infantry Regiment (d.4th September 1944)

Tevita Rabo was aged 22 when he died and is buried in the Honiara (Matanikau) Cemetery in the Solomon Islands




AA Raby .     British Army Suffolk Regiment

AA Raby served with the Suffolk Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




AW Raby .     British Army

AW Raby served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




R Raby .     British Army

R Raby served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Rachal .     United States Army

My father served in the United States Army during WWII and became a POW. I am trying to find information about him. Can you help?




WJ Racher .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

WJ Racher served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




F/O. Lionel Norman "Blue" Rackley DFC..     Royal Australian Air Force 630 Squadron   from Brisbane




PO. Stanley Gordon Radburn .     Fleet Air Arm 771 Squadron   from Oxford

Stanley Radburn was our father, we have his original certificate of service with this information on it, Air Fitter, 771 Squadron 3rd of April 1942 to 12 June 1943.




Able Seaman David Radcliffe .     Royal Navy HMS Hunter   from 20 Canal Street, Bootle, Liverpool

(d.10th Apr 1940)

David Radcliffe was my Great Uncle and joined the Royal Navy in 1933. He served in HMS Barham, HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Active and HMS Hunter. He was married only two weeks before he died. I do not know much about his Naval Service except for information obtained from his Certificate of Service. If any survivors from HMS Hunter knew my Great Uncle or served with him in any of his other ships then I would like to hear from them.




Rfmn. Leslie Allan Radcliffe .     British Army 9th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.7th Aug 1944)

I know from my mother is Leslie Radcliffe is buried in Bayeux. I have been there to confirm. He died aged 19 and had a brother called John Radcliffe. Originally from the Isle of Man. If you know any further information, please let me know.




Orville William Radder .     US Army   from Buffalo NY

My Dad, Orville Radder was in the North African Theatre, in Italy with an Infantry Regiment. I am trying to find out more information to add to his story.




A Radford .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

A Radford served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Dilly Radford .     British Army Auxiliary Territorial Service

Dilly Radford served with Dulcie Nellie Pearce who was an ambulance driver in the ATS, starting her service at Wickham House, Clevedon, Somerset in I believe 1941. At Wickham was a Dr Thomas Johnson. I have an autograph book of hers with many, many names of women and men serving in the ATS. Dulcie spent a great deal of time at Crossways, Haywards Heath, but was also sent to Honiton, Castle Cary, Chester, Ormskirk and Marston Camp.

A few names that I can read in the book are:-

  • Corporal Cynthia Spraggett
  • Mary Flanagan
  • Elizabeth Whittington (nickname Dicky)
  • Barbara Burnes
  • Jocelyn Burnes of CRS Clevedon
  • J McLeod at Marston Hall
  • "Dilly" Radford
  • Dorothy Lister
  • E Beryl Jones
  • Bunty Bikett
  • Bobbie Wilson
  • Barbara Reed
  • Joan Sharpe
  • Lance Corporal Dorothea Leighton, No 2 Company, Heathfield Camp
  • Molly Wallbridge
  • Corporal Foley at Honiton
If anyone knows more about Dulcie's time in the ATS or could give me her number so I could obtain her service records I would be grateful




David August Radke .     Royal Australian Air Force   from Australia

David Radke was held in Stalag 8b.

Update: Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt David August Radke RAAF (405139), of Hendra, Brisbane, Australia was born on 3rd April 1920 in Beenleigh, Queensland and enlisted in Brisbane. On 2nd/3rd July 1942 he was flying on Ops to Bremen in a Wellington Z1381. The aircraft was damaged by flak near the Dutch/German border and suffered serious damage to the port side. The aircraft was partially abandoned before it crashed. F/Sgt Johnston (27), Sgt Downing (20) and Sgt Taylor (27) were killed, while Sgt Wyllie, Sgt Radke and Sgt Reed were taken prisoner of war. The survivors were firstly taken to Dulag Luft near Frankfurt (Maine) and after interrogation moved to Stalag VIIIb at Uber Silesia on 4th August 1942.




CJ Radley .     British Army 9th Lancers

CJ Radley served with the 9th Lancers British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




G Radley .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

G Radley served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Harry William Radley .     Auxiliary Fire Service

At the outbreak of WWII, My Father, Harry Radley, with his brother John James and brother-in-law James Ford all living in Walthamstow East London volunteered to join the Royal Marines. My Father was the only one to fail the medical because he had flat feet. He was told that he was fit enough to join the newly formed AFS, this he did and began his training in 1941 in London. His Brother and Brother-in-law were accepted and were selected for the Marines.

He successfully completed his training and began his duties in London during the Blitz. For a while, he worked in the London docks area. He was also deployed to Plymouth during the time that the City was bombed. In 1944 he was hospitalized after receiving very bad burns to his back when the roof of a burning soap factory collapsed onto him. Whilst in the hospital he was given his discharge.

In the meantime, his Brother John was serving with distinction in the 1st Btn Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation RM. In September he was captured at the fall of Tobruk and became a POW and handed over to the Italians, he was repatriated in March 1943.




Edgar George Radley. .    




Pte. Donald James Radnell .     Australian Imperial Force A Coy. 2/24th Btn.   from Inglewood, Vic., Australia




Velimir R. Radovich .     Serbian Army

My father, Velimir R. Radovich was a Yugoslav (Serb) POW at Stalag X B from June 41 to April 45




Able Seaman. Alexander Rae .     Royal Navy HMS Prunella (d.21st Jun 1940)





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