I cannot trace him in the Navy - he is better known apparently as the original illustrator of Thomas the Tank Engine, and seems to have been a professional illustrator, rather than a naval officer.

see: https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Reginald_Payne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLPuLbCymx4

Hello!

I am looking for any details for an individual in the Royal Navy named Alexander Reginald Payne. From what I can find he was a naval correspondent during WWII for the Boy's Own Paper magazines, and often illustrated cover art and wrote articles for them, which he signed as A.R.Payne. Two examples of which I have attached. He was born in 1909 in Surrey, and would've been in his early-mid 30s during his time in the Royal Navy.

I'm not certain whether they are the same person, but I did find there was an "A.R.Payne" with the rank of Lieutenant that served on the H.M.T.S "TRYME" in the Tanganyikan Naval Volunteer Force.

Does anyone happen to know of any photographs or records matching this description, or perhaps could recommend someone/somewhere that may better help my inquiry? I would very much appreciate it!

A similar looking (But different) cap badge in diagram 53 on page 28 from Manual of Seamanship 1937 (Printed 1941. Refer to Books) may give a clue to what the cap badge is. The Chief Petty Officers cap badge in diagram 53 looks similar to me. The leaves on the branches (If that's what they are) look a different size to me. To me (As a non expert with limited knowledge on  the subject) this may suggest that it is Petty Officers cap badge from a different point in history, may be before 1937 or after 1947. Or may it is from the Merchant Navy. Only a guess really.

Philip L

I would say yes, from their uniform, they are indeed Cadets (Osborne  or Dartmouth).

What they are doing, and why Sidcup, I cannot say ...

I recently bought this splendid postcard which I believe shows an image in or near Sidcup.

1
Can anyone confirm or deny that these are naval cadets?

2
Can anyone confirm the location.

3
Can anyone hazard what the event might be - the year is 1910.


Thank you.

Some information from Manual of Seamanship, 1937 (Printed 1941). Volume one. By Authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Refer to Books.

TIME-WATCHES
Page 28 and 29 (Page 28 is different subject. Cap Badges). Time, Divisional Organisation.

Page 30 and 31. Watch Organisation, Duty Men.

Page 32 and 33. Tricks, Other Duties provided from the Watch on Deck, Special Sea Duty  Men.

The information may give some idea of Watch keeping on WW2 Destroyer.

Philip L

Many thanks for that and the link to DEMS; perhaps MA refers to Maritime Artillery or similar. My father had an accident whilst in Malta and was in hospital for some time, (attached to the shore base HMS St Angelo) and missed the fateful return of Troilus.

Sorry, misread the Troilus entry - she was part of the Malta convoys but was actually sunk later, in 1944

She was however, clearly defensively armed, and would have been during Op Harpoon

Lent does indeed mean that he was loaned to another ship/unit/base, but his admin records etc would have been retained by his 'parent' establishment

Regret I cannot answer your query on 'M A' or 'M A C' but it was not unusual for RN personnel to be carried on merchant ships in WW2.  Many merchant ships were armed (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships - DEMS) with the weapons manned by either Royal Navy or Royal Artillery personnel.

As to Troilus, she was sunk when part of a Malta convoy - if you see this page on her sinking

https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/3345.html

you will see the mention of '12 gunners'  in addition to the crew 

I have received from the MOD an excellent record of my father’s RN service during WW2 listing every ship and shore base in which he served. I knew he was involved in Combined Operations, HMS Quebec and HMS James Cook in Scotland. The records have thrown up two mysteries. Firstly they often show ‘Lent MA’ or ‘Mac’. I assume that this refers to being lent to another ship, but I can find no explanation of MA. Secondly he spoke about being in Malta in the summer of 1942 and early 1943, the ship mentioned being the Troilus. As I understand it Troilus was a merchant ship so what was my RN dad doing on it? Sorry for the long post from a newcomer to  the The Royal Navy Research Archive Forum. Any help would be greatly appreciated.