Lieutenant
Reginald Peter
WEBB
Royal Navy
27
Reginald Webb was born in 1915, the son of Herbert Alfred and Florence Mary Webb (née Derrick) of Redlands, Bristol. He joined the Royal Navy as a Special Entry cadet on 1 January 1934. He was promoted to Midshipman on 1 January 1935 and joined the cruiser HMS FROBISHER. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 1 May 1937.
He joined HMS DOLPHIN for the Submarine Course and was promoted Lieutenant on 1 February 1938 and appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MEDWAY on 6 August 1938. On 15 December 1938 he was appointed to HMS PROTEUS as Third Hand. He was appointed to HMS SEAWOLF as First Lieutenant on 1 June 1941.
He joined DOLPHIN for his Submarine Commanding Officer’s Course on 16 February 1942 and, after successfully completing the course, he was appointed to HMS H44 in command on 3 April 1942. Reginald Webb was next appointed to HMS P555 in command on 15 July 1942. Reginald left P555 with an appointment to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MEDWAY II on 14 November 1942.
In February 1943 he was temporarily serving in HMS TROOPER in command as Lt J S Wraith was on the sick list. TROOPER left Malta for a patrol off the West coast of Greece on 3 February 1943 and on 14 February Reginald Webb made an attack on the Italian merchant vessel Rosandra in which a salvo of six torpedoes were fired. The attack was unsuccessful as no hits were achieved. TROOPER returned to Malta on 18 February 1943 and Reginald Webb relinquished his temporary command.
On 14 March 1943, he was serving in HMS THUNDERBOLT as First Lieutenant when the submarine was lost with all hands. Reginald Webb is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel 72, Column 3.
One Response
Reginald Webb was my great great Uncle. I have done a lot of research on the man but haven’t read such a comprehensive summary of his naval career before. I just wanted to say thank you. I have attached a photo of him.