Great Britain, Royal Naval Division Casualties of The Great War, 1914-1924

This database is a register of the deaths of Royal Navy servicemen who served in the Royal Naval Division (RND) in World War I (WWI). It was compiled from original service records and all other sources listing RND casualties.

Historical Background:

The RND was a unique formation in WWI, raised by the Admiralty to serve in their then traditional role as Infantrymen fighting ‘shoulder to shoulder’ alongside their Army comrades in an emergency. The RND originally consisted of three Infantry Brigades (two Naval and one Royal Marine) of twelve Battalions (eight Naval and four Royal Marine). As the war progressed, casualties and a lack of recruits forced the RND to steadily reduce their Naval personnel establishment. Two Naval Battalions were disbanded in June 1915; the Royal Marine Brigade and two Royal Marine Battalions were disbanded in August 1915. Two more Naval Battalions were disbanded in February 1918 and one Royal Marine Battalion in April 1918. At the war’s end the RND’s Naval strength maintained only two Brigades of five Battalions (four Naval and one Royal Marine Battalion). The Army supplied the shortfall in Battalions & Brigades to the establishment of the Division from July 1916 onwards.

The following is a list of all the branches of the Royal Navy that served in the RND:

• Royal Fleet Reserve (RFR)


• Royal Marine or Royal Marines (RM)


• Royal Marine Artillery (RMA)


• Royal Marine Band (RMB)


• Royal Marine Labour Corps (RMLC)


• Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI)


• Royal Navy (RN)


• Royal Naval Reserve (RNR)


• Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR)


• Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve (RNASBR)

Criteria for Inclusion in this Database:

Individuals listed in this database include:

• All Naval servicemen who died in RND service, 1914-1919


• All Naval servicemen who died after leaving the RND, aboard ship, ashore, or after discharge from Naval service up to 1926, with special dispensation in individual cases up to 1942


• Army troops who died while serving in an otherwise exclusive Naval Battalion or unit


• Ex-Naval/RND personnel who transferred from service in the Army or Air Force


• Army officers drafted to the RND for service, often in a senior capacity, with Naval and Royal Marine Battalions

Why Use This Database:

This database provides a definitive Roll of Honour for the RND. Previously compiled RND casualty lists had many errors and omissions, which were corrected in this compilation.

Information listed for individuals includes:

Service number

• Rank


• Forename


• Surname


• Awards


• Service Branch


• Unit


• Date of death


• Cause of death


• Service History (summary of man’s active service, but may include enlistment date, home service, and previous military/naval service)


• Burial (gives the place of burial and/or the relevant Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial for those with known grave)


• Notes (may list occupation, next of kin, home address, birth date, medal entitlement, etc.)

Sources Used to Compile This Database:

The Imperial War Museum RND Rolls of Honour.
The Red Cross Wounded & Missing Lists 1915-1918.
“The Cross of Sacrifice” by S.D. & D.B. Jarvis.
“With Full & Grateful Hearts” by the RM Historical Society.
The Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.
The National Archives
“R.N.D. Royal Naval Division, Antwerp, Gallipoli & Western Front 1914-1918.” by Len Sellers.
“The Globe & Laurel” Royal Marines Journal 1915-18.
“Nelson at War 1914-1918” by Capt. Roy Swales RN(rtd.)
“The 1914 Star to the Royal Navy & Royal Marines.” by W.H. Fevyer & J.W. Wilson.
“The Diaries of Pte. Horace Bruckshaw RMLI.” by Martin Middlebrook.
“Britain’s Sea Soldiers, The History of the Royal Marines 1914-19.” by Gen. Sir. H.E. Blumberg CB RM.
“The Royal Naval Division.” by Douglas Jerrold.
“Command in the Royal Naval Division.” by Capt. Christopher Page RN.
“The Hood Battalion.” by Len Sellers.
“Gallipoli as I saw it.” by Joseph Murray.
“Call to Arms, from Gallipoli to the Western Front.” by Joseph Murray.
Plus a countless number of private letters & diaries of RND servicemen.