Leading Seaman Donald Hector PASSEY
Royal Navy J82150
Donald Passey was born in Spratton on 16 September 1901, the son of George Passey, a groom at one of the large houses nearby and his wife Mary Jane who came from Creaton. The couple had five children, and all except Donald were born in Creaton. His older brothers and sisters all attended the primary school in Spratton. By the time Donald was 10 the family were living in Edenbridge in Kent where George had found employment as a chauffeur.
Donald decided to join the Navy as soon as he could and signed on as a Boy on 23 November 1917 on the training ship Ganges. During the war he served on the battlecruiser Renown patrolling the North Sea but not actually taking part in any action. He enjoyed life at sea, passed all his examinations and was promoted from Boy to Able Seaman and then Leading Seaman. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He remained with the Royal Navy until 17 April 1928 when he was 27. His last ship was the light-cruiser Danae serving in the Mediterranean. However, he did not leave the navy completely as he joined the Royal Naval Reserve and received the RN Long Service and Good Conduct medal in 1935.
Donald married Minnie Helena Hendley in London in 1933 and they lived in Kenton, Middlesex. He died in London on 1 November 1962 aged 61
MORE INFORMATION
Reverse side of the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Reverse side of the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Royal Navy Ratings badge
Royal Navy Ratings badge
EXPLORE SECTIONS
MEN WHO SERVED
- Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert)
- Corporal Frank AUSTIN
- Lance Corporal James William AUSTIN
- Private John Samuel AUSTIN
- Sergeant William Henry AUSTIN
- Sergeant Bertie Henry BALDERSON
- Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM
- Lance Corporal Robert Samuel BALDERSON
- Private George William BUCKBY (known as William)
- Private Henry Andrew BUCKBY
- Richard Henry Horne BUCKBY
- Transport Sergeant Thomas BUCKBY MM
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant William Gander BUCKBY
- William Archibald COPSON (known as Archibald)
- Sapper Ebenezer COPSON
- Private Ernest Edward COPSON
- Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry)
- Private James COPSON
- Private John William COPSON
- Private Joseph COPSON
- Private Arthur Sidney GOODEN (known as Sidney)
- Private Hugh Henry GOODEN
- Sergeant Joseph Eric GOODEN (known as Eric)
- Private Arthur Thomas HAYTER
- Driver Frank Leonard HAYTER
- Private Harold Herbert HAYTER
- Lance Corporal John Charles HAYTER DCM (known as Jack)
- Private Walter Ernest HAYTER
- Ordinary Seaman Arthur Charles HORNE
- Private John William HORNE (known as William)
- Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE
- Private Thomas HORNE
- Driver John Henry LEESON
- Corporal Joseph Henry LEESON (known as Harry)
- Thomas Baden Powell LEESON (known as ‘Bard’)
- Private Albert MANNING
- Corporal Amos MANNING
- Private Arthur Cecil MANNING
- Private George MANNING
- Sergeant George William MANNING
- Sapper Henry Stanley MANNING (known as Stanley)
- Private John Thomas MANNING
- Private John William MANNING
- Air Mechanic Nathaniel MANNING
- Driver/Saddler Samuel MANNING
- Gunner George Albert MARTIN
- Private Joseph MARTIN
- Private Thomas Henry MARTIN (known as Harry)
- Private Thomas Walter MARTIN (known as Walter)
- Pioneer Walter Ernest MARTIN
- Sergeant William Higgs MARTIN, DCM
- Private Arthur Walter PAGE
- Private Francis Samuel PAGE (known as Sam)
- Private Frank PAGE
- Private Stephen PAGE
- Lieutenant George REEVE MC MM
- Private Richard Henry REEVE (known as Harry)
- Private Samuel REEVE
- Private Sidney Philip REEVE
- Private Frederick Thomas RICHARDSON
- Private John William RICHARDSON
- Private Percy John Partridge RICHARDSON
- Private Abraham Bert SMITH
- Private Alfred SMITH
- Private Frank SMITH 46648
- Private John Samuel SMITH
- Private John William SMITH (6942)
- Private John William (William John) SMITH (8964)
- Private Charles Walter WADHAMS
- Private John Edward WADHAMS
- Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS
- Private William WADHAMS