Review - December 1963

Clansman - October 1976

As Commodore Naval Drafting 1960 - 1962

Photo from The National Portrait Gallery

Commodore Raymond Hart CBE, DSO, DSC & Bar (24 June 1913 – 6 August 1999) was a British seaman and Royal Navy officer who served with distinction during the Second World War.

Born in Southampton, Hart was educated at Oakmount Preparatory School and later at King Edward VI School in the same city. At age 16, he joined the Merchant Navy in 1929 and transferred to the Royal Navy in 1937.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Hart was serving as a lieutenant aboard the destroyer HMS Hasty. In February 1941, following his actions during the loss of HMS Dainty, he was recommended for bravery and subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in December of that year.

In December 1942, Hart took command of the destroyer HMS Vidette, which was assigned to the B-7 Escort Group under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander Peter Gretton. During the defence of Convoy ONS 5 in May 1943, Vidette was credited with sinking two German U-boats, earning Hart a Bar to his DSC.

He was promoted to lieutenant commander in June 1943. In October, the B-7 Group supported the defence of convoys ON 206, ON 207, and ON 208. A total of nine U-boats were destroyed in these operations, with Vidette again credited with two kills. Hart was Mentioned in Despatches for his role in these actions.

In March 1944, Hart assumed command of the destroyer HMS Havelock. In June of that year, Havelock destroyed U-767 in the English Channel.

Hart was given command of the frigate HMS Conn and the 21st Escort Group in September 1944. In March 1945, Conn was credited with sinking two more U-boats. For his leadership, Hart was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

Following the war, Hart held various sea and shore-based appointments, including command of HMS Undine and the 6th Frigate Squadron in 1957. He was promoted to captain in 1953 and commodore in 1960, before retiring from the Royal Navy in 1963. That same year, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

In retirement, Hart returned to the Merchant Navy, serving as an advisor to the British & Commonwealth Shipping Company (B&C) until 1972 and later as fleet manager for Cayzer Irvine until 1976. During this period, he also served as a director of both companies.

Hart appeared in the 1974 documentary series The World at War, in the episode focusing on the Battle of the Atlantic.

He married in 1945 and had three children: two sons and a daughter. Hart passed away in Southampton in 1999, the city where he had lived for most of his life.

During his wartime service, Hart was credited with the destruction of seven German U-boats.