Researching Grandfather Billy Ratcliffe (Swinton / Clifton)

[mikeratcliffe]

I am trying to research my grandfather, Billy Ratcliffe (B:18 May 1922 D:13 Feb 1982) who served the "last few years of the war."

My father says that he served in a submarine that he used to call The Stidgeon (I assume the HMS Stygian).

I know he spent a lot of time around Australia and Indonesia.

He converted to Catholicism on an Island north of Australia... I think either Sawu or Pulau Rote (Rote Island) but it could just as easily be Bali. I believe most of the crew had big crosses tattooed on their forearms.

I can't find any record of him anywhere but I know that wherever in the world he used to go lots of his old navy friends would recognize him and exchange old war stories.

[Deleted]

Hi & welcome Mike,
have you tried applying for any surviving service records for your grandfather Bill (I take it his full name was William) Radcliffe?

You can apply for them via this website Click here for link & this link


It will help if you have a service number for him, where living at the time he enlisted, if married or single and who to, where married? Names of any children before and while in service?

Ben

[prospectroad]

Mike, the following is an extract from our book "Two Towns Go To War", which relates to HMS Stygian. I assume your grandfather would have been involved in some (or probably all) of these engagements:

"Chief Petty Officer Alexander Dobson, Royal Navy, second son of Captain William and Mrs Borrino of Lords Street, Cadishead, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his role in the midget submarine attack on Japanese shipping at Singapore, on 30th July 1945, which resulted in the sinking of a Japanese cruiser. Alex was engine room artificer on His Majesty's Submarine Stygian which towed the midget submarines into position. Victoria Crosses were awarded to two members of the crews of the midget submarines. In addition Alex was chief of the boarding parties which boarded and sank several Japanese supply ships."

There is lots of information about HMS Stygian's service on the below website:

uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3464.html

Hope this helps.

Pete