Crossed the Bar

‘Crossing the Bar’ is a term generally used by the military/ex-military and more specifically the Royal Navy to politely inform and advise of a person that has died.

The term is taken from a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson as meaning to cross the “sandbar” between the tide or river of life, with its outgoing “flood,” and the ocean that lies beyond death, the “boundless deep,” to which we return. The “Pilot” being God.

He wrote the poem after a serious illness while at sea, crossing the Solent from Aldworth to Farringford on the Isle of Wight.

Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

Name	Rank	Crossed The Bar	Served
Abley, William John	RO1	20/04/2013	1970-72
Adams, A.C..	CPO	24/11/2002	1960-61
Addison, Anthony	ERA1	26/08/2022	1970-72
Allen, Michael (Darby)	LME	03/09/2024	1961-63
Anderson, William	A.B	08/10/2009	1944-46
Arbin, William	AB (TAS)	04/09/2023	1961-63
Ash, John	LRO	24/11/2017	1959-60
Atkins, Dennis	NAAFI		1960-61
Bailey, Derek John.	CPO(ME)	19/10/2007	1961-63
Baker, Dave H.	L(ME)	24/08/2003	1950-51
Barclay, Michael (Sandy)	CMEM	03/03/2017	1970-72
Barnett, Fred W.	PO(ME)	04/06/2002	1966-69
Bartlett, John	CPO(OA1)	01/12/2017	1966-69
Barton, Norman		06/2006	1944-46
Barwis, Dave		11/2019	1961
Basterfield Roy	ERA	23/02/2016	1959-60
Bately, Alf	PO (GI)	09/2013	1970-72
Baxter, Jim	JME		1966-69
Bell, John (Dinger)	AB (G)	07/05/2024	1960-61
Bell, Tom		10/05/2017	1966-69
Berry, W. John	LSea		1959-60
Black, William G.B	Cdr	27/07/2003	1961-63
Blackhall, Andy	POOEL	20/01/2017	1970-72
Blake, Bill	PO (QA1)	01/08/2017	1970-72
Bliss, Sue	Associate	19/02/2019
Booy, Paul	AB	24/02/2023	1959-60
Bright, R.	El(Mech)
Brooks, Derek	Sig.	05/2012
Borrett, Charles	AB	18/09/2009	1944-46
Bond, Jeff	MEA(P)	07/2011	1970-72
Bowers, Arthur	AB (S)	26/03/2001	1944-46
Bowditch, Frank K.	AB	27/05/2004	1957-59
Buckle, Gordon			1944-46
Budd, David	JS(G)		1966-69
Budd, Kenneth	AB	16/04/2013	1957-59
Bunton, Tony G.	RO3	24/12/2008	1966-69
Burgess, J.F.	AB		1959-60
Burnan, G.C.	Lt Cdr	2013	1961-63
Bush, Stanley			1944-46
Butler, Rab	NK	10/01/2019
Button, P.	JS (RP)	19/07/2011	1960-61
Cairns, Richard T.			1944-46
Calverley, F.	CPO		1970-72
Campbell, Jim	ME	29/07/2016	1964-66
Carrie, G.	ME	30/06/2011	1961-63
Chalmers, Ian	A/LM(E)		1960-61
Champion William (Bill)		2013	1944-46
Charles, Michael J.S.	Lt Cdr		1960-61
Cleaver Louis.	CPO (GA)		1959-60
Coates, Fred	AB(G)	29/07/2021	1960-61
Coe, John Edward	AB(T)		1944-46
Coleman, Charles	CPO		1961-63
Cornier, M	PO(EL)		1966-69
Cottrell, E.A.
Cottrell, George	SPO		1944-46
Coughlin, D.	ME		1961-63
Cross, John	ERA	01/01/2006	1961-63
Cox, Maurice G	AB (R)	28/10/2020	1944-46
Cox, Phil E	LSA	21/03/2021	1970-72
Cringle, David MBE	Lt Cdr	09/2024	1960
Cripps, Donald	OD	05/06/2022	1944-46
Cubitt, L.	ERA	04/2000	1961-63
Curd, Dennis	LTO	21/10/2023	1960-61
Cull, S.R.	AB (RP)		1960-61
Culley, R.J.	Sto 1c	02/2012	1944-46
Curry, T.M.B.	AB		1959-60
Dack, Micky	OA	2020	1959-60
Darrock, Derek	A.B.	11/07/2003	1967-69
Davey, Brian	ME		1961-63
Davies, David.	SLt (Comms)	31/07/2008	1961-63
Davies, D.M.	PO		1967-69
Davies, David M.	CPO	28/10/2007	1970-72
Davies, D.W.P.	Lt Cdr		1961-63
Davies, Leonard	AB		1959-60
Dawson, James	PO(ME)	09/2009	1944-46
Dayer, I.C.	LWtr	16/05/2014	1961-63
Deadman, Mike	PO Std.	25/08/2016	1970-72
Dimmock, John	LSBA	29/03/2016	1961-63
Dinnewell, John	AB	25/07/2010	1959-60
Dormer, Harry	Lt Cdr RNR	31/05/2025
Darrock, D.	AB		1957-59
Dowling, Edward W.		22/07/2002	1944-46
Dowie, Campbell	RO(G)	09/2011	1961-63
Downey, John		05/10/2000	1944-46
Duckworth, Colin T.	CRS	28/02/2010	1966-69
Dyso, Leslie			1944-46
Easton, Leigh		02/05/2020	1960-61
Elliott, Frederick	AB		1944-46
Ellis, Mike (Fub)	AB	27/11/2019	1966-69
Embleto, Harold	Sdn Padre		1961-63
Evans, Eric Gordon			1944-46
Flaherty, G.V.	ME1		1960-61
Franks, Kenny			1944-46
Frost, J.	TO2		1960-61
Finch, R.			1944-46
Fisher, Phil	LSea	17/02/2005	1969-72
Gannon, Desmond N	PO	03/03/2017	1960-61
Gillard, David	CERA	1994	1966-69
Goodin, Gerald	CPO(MEM)		1969-72
Grantham, David	AB		1957-59
Graves, Leonard	LEM	07/03/2020	1957-89+
Grayson, Anthony	AB		1970-72
Greenwood, David (Brum)	Associate	08/12/2015
Gregory, Frederick H.	O.Sig.	10/10/2008	1944-46
Griffiths, Brian		04/2004	1966-69
Grotrian, Patrick B	Lt Cdr	15/12/2020	1959-60
Gude, Martin	Lt	05/2017	1966-69
Guest, Eddie		2021
Gymer, David	Cook	30/04/2021	1970-72
Haddock, Andy	Shipkeeper	13/01/2025
Hallet, Chesney	Lt Cdr		1961-63
Halligan, J.	LSBA		1966-69
Halls, Ray		12/2017	1970-72
Hamblin, Sidney	POM(E)	22/11/2004	1944-46
Harries, D.T.	LM(E)	19/05/2000	1959-60
Harris, Dave J	AB	10/2024	1966-69
Harris, Patricia Mrs	Hon	14/02/2022
Harris, Richard	AB	14/06/2012	1960-61
Harrison, C.	CPO (TASI)		1959-60
Hart, Robert	Ck	05/12/2004	1961-63
Hart, S.
Hartley, John	Surg Lt	23/11/2015	1966-69
Hawthorne, John			1944-46
Hayball, Roy	AB (G)	09/10/2012	1961-63
Haydon, Charles J.	J Sea	26/02/2012	1959-60
Head, Lionel (Jan)	AB (RP2)	18/09/2015	1960-61
Heard, Alfie		18/05/2001
Healey, John	REM1	30/06/2006	1970-72
Hendry, Alfred	ME		1961-63
Henning, W.V.	ME(1)		1957-59
Hervey, John B.	Rear Admiral	26/05/2016	1966-67
Hervey, Liz Mrs	Wife of Admiral John	19/01/2025
Hidden, J.
Higgins, Raymond	AB (RC3)	25/07/2007	1944-46
Hills, John	AB	21/01/2019	1966-69
Hockey, John E.	Sig	23/12/2001	1944-46
Holder, James	Lt (MEO)	22/09/2008	1970-72
Hollamby, Gwen Mrs	Associate
Hollamby, Mike	POM(E)	28/03/2018	1959-60
Hope, J.D.	Cdr.	14/03/2005	1959-60
Hopkins	LS (G)
Horne, John James	AB	12/1987	1957-59
Horrigan, Terry		25/02/2001	1944-46
Houghton, Harry	AB	04/2018	1964-66
Houghton, Ken	POCk		1070-72
Houlihan, Donald	YS(Comms)	05/2003	1960-61
Howe, John			1944-46
Howell, H.	AB (TAS)	19/07/2016	1960-61
Hughes, John F	LEM	12/2018	1957-59
Humphries, Derek W.		03/04/2001	1944-46
Hunking, Marcus	LS	09/09/2003	1961-63
Hussell, David	Lt	17/10/2002	1944-46
Ivory, Harry	LSea	14/12/2005	1944-46
Jenkinson, Richard	AB	07/10/2015	1957-59
Jobling, David	AB (GA)	10/2013	1960-61
Jobling, Mr		NK
Johnson, Charles W.	AB (Gunner)	18/11/2007	1944-46
Johnson, Joe			1944-46
Johnson, Les	AB	31/05/2014	1964-66
Johnson, Reginald			1944-46
Johnston, Alan	ME1	06/12/2019	1964-66
Jones	AB (UC2)	15/05/2011
Jones, Alexander	Lt		1970-72
Jones, D.N.	OSea	04/2006	1959-60
Jones, F.
Jones, John Mark	Cook(O)	28/04/2020	1966-69
Joy, Ron	AB	2016	1957-59
Kay, C.	PO Wtr		1970-72
Kelly, Peter	NK	28/04/2019	1960-61
Kemp, David	ERA	20/08/2014	1960-61
Kennard, Edward	OEMN(L)		1970-72
Kilbride, David A.	AB	29/05/2013	1970-72
Lamerton, J.B.		13/12/2011	1960-61
Lane, Audrey Mrs	Associate	24/09/2019
Lane, Geoff	Gunner RA	30/07/2020	1951-54
Lansburgh, T.	ME		1961-63
Latham, A.	CPO (ME)	08/2012	1959-60
Latham, Norman		30/04/2012	1944-46
Leonard, Eric	ERA	18/03/2008	1961-63
Lincoln, Dennis	LM(E)	29/10/2016	1961-63
Littler	TO2
Linley, Reginald A.	AB (ST)	01/04/2006	1944-46
Lockwood, John	CERA	20/02/2004	1970-72
Loftus, Martin	MEM	03/11/2020	1971-72
Loney, F.
Long, B.M.	AB
Mace, Paul	SA	01/05/2018	1966-69
Mallison, M.P.D.	Lt (EL)
Mann, Ken	MEM1	07/2006	1970-72
Mann, M.
Mapp, Peter	TO2		1957-59
Marley, R I	LREM	23/08/2010	1964-65
Martindale, Doug	Lt (G)	12/04/2017	1961-63
Mayne, R.C.	Lt		1944-46
McBarnet, Donald T. (DSC)	Lt Cdr	15/05/1990	1944-46
McCarthy, M.	PO(G)
McCormick, Richard	ME1	04/12/1999	1961-63
McDonald, P.	AB		1959-60
McGirr, R.	AB	25/10/2000	1961-63
McIlvenny, John	EM		1959-60
McInroy	ME1
McNally, George	MEA(H)App	06/12/2016	1960-61
McNarry, Albert	AB (RP2)	12/08/2022	1960-61
Meads, K.H.	SLt	03/10/2006	1970-72
Mercer, John C.	App Eng	04/03/2012	1944-46
Millar, A.G.	AB	25/06/2012	1944-46
Millar, Ken		07/2012	1944-46
Melling, Charles M..		22/05/2002	1944-46
Milne	JS (UC3)
Mills, Jack	EA3	24/09/2023	1959-60
Mirams, Alan J.	CPO (EA)	02/10/2003	1960-61
Moir, Jimmy	M(E)	06/07/2023	1961-63
Moore, Michael A.	LM(E)	25/12/2010	1961-63
Moore, Raymond Gregory	POM(E)	27/09/2010	1966-69
Morris, Joseph Alfred
Morris, J.F.	L.Sea(G)	11/04/2004	1961-63
Muskett, D.J.	PO(Ck)		1970-72
Musson, Robin	Rear Admiral	23/11/2020	1966-69
Musson, Joanna	wife of above	31/08/2025
Nathan, John (Nat)	M(E)1	15/08/2025	1961-63
Neave, Jim E.	AB
Nelson, J.G.
Nicholas, Donald	POM(E)	22/08/2018	1959-60
Nolan, Irene		2014
Ostler, B.			1961-63
Ozbirn, D.	LREM		1970-72
Packham, D.A.	AB		1944-46
Page, Brenda		2015
Patrick, Nick	AB (TAS)	26/07/2012	1961-63
Parker, Anthony	REM1	05/10/2009	1957-59
Paul, A.R	QA	12/01/2007	1959-60
Petchey, Blossom	AB (TAS)	2022	1961-63
Peters, Roderick	Associate	17/06/2015
Philpott, N.E.	ME	01/12/2013	1944-46
Pogson, Jim	POEL	07/05/2008	1957-59
Porter, F.J.		18/02/2011	1944-46
Prescott, Harold	Wtr	13/01/2000	1944-46
Price, Derek A		21/10/2021	1970-72
Pye, (Jesse) Derek	LM(E)	18/08/2015	1961-63
Pritchard, G.I.	Cdr	19/06/2012	1960-61
Pritchard, G.	Mech	01/01/2006	1970-72
Pritchard, Tess	Hon	03/2021
Puttock, B.W.R.		11/04/2012	1944-46
Pym, Gladys	Wife of Jess Pym	20/12/2015
Rathbone, Colin	L(ME)	05/11/2005	1957-59
Ray, Ricky	AB (RP)	21/09/2015	1961-63
Redhead, Joe	AB	25/05/2012	1944-46
Rees, Leonard M.	L(ME)
Renilson, William	AB (G)		1960-61
Richardson, Douglas	AB	06/08/2009	1967-68
Robinson, Ivor MBE	Telegrapher	19/02/2014	1944-46
Rolt, Victor	CPO (Tel)	08/05/2007	1944-46
Rose, Nelson E.	AB (Radar)	17/01/2003	1944-46
Rose, Roland	Sto.	16/02/2001	1944-46
Rosenkranz, Stan	AB (RP2)	15/11/2014	1966-68
Ross, Charlie	L.Sto.	19/01/2011	1944-46
Roy, Ricky	AB (RP)	11/07/2015	1961-63
Russon, James A.	LCk	06/11/2005	1970-72
Ryan, Mike (Buck)	AB (TAS)	17/03/2015	1960-61
Sanderson, John J.		22/03/2006
Sayer, Joe	ME	12/10/2017	1961-63
Sedgley, Gerald	NK	18/07/2020
Self, Nonnan		10/1999	1944-46
Shanks, Fred	NAAFI	15/02/2021	1961-63
Shaw, C.E.	A/LTO		1959-60
Silk, David		12/01/2024	1966-69
Simmons, David	A.B.(G)	13/04/2005	1961-63
Skeels, George W.			1959-60
Skelton, John	Lt Cdr	04/2014	1970-72
Skelton, Tom		29/09/2007	1944-46
Slater, Frederick G		15/02/2021	1970-72
Slaughter, Jim	MEM1	08/05/2021	1959-60
Smale, L.	CPO (BM)	11/06/2011	1960-61
Smith, A.			1957-59
Smith, A Mrs	Hon	NK
Smith, Alan (Smudger)	LMEM	27/10/2019	1970-72
Smith, Alan P	JS(G)	02/03/2017	1960-61
Smith, Fred	Sto(1c)	01/2000	1944-46
Smith, Peter	CPO	06/12/2007	1957-59
Smith, Robert C.	AB	16/06/2003	1944-46
Snell, Clifford Alan	Cdr		1970-72
Souter	AB (UC1)		1960-61
Spencer-Weare, Robin	LOEM	26/05/2009	1971-72
Spiers, Peter Frank	Stoker 1st Class	25/03/1946
Spinner, Charlie	LSea		1964-66
Sprules, John	AB	NK	1959-60
Spurgeon, J.
Staverley, W D.M.	Lt Cdr		1957-59
Stamp, John	CPO(Coxn)	25/07/2010	1960-61
Stamp, Jeffery Thomas	ME1		1961-63
Stanley, Ralph Wilfred	Lt	13/09/2006	1944-46
Stephens, Brian D.	CPOSA	21/07/2013	1970-72
Stevens, Mike J.	AB		1959-60
Stevenson, Mary	Partner Bob Stickle	30/08/2015
Stickley, Robert	AB (G)	09/09/2021	1970-72
Styles, Derrick	JEL		1966-69
Summerson, John			1944-46
Sutton, Alan	Associate	09/05/2020
Sykes, Arthur Daniel	PO(C)	03/01/2025	1961-63
Sykes, J.
Taylor, David	AB (GA2)	07/06/2004	1957-59
Temple, George	LS	19/06/2019	1970-72
Theil, S.A.
Thompson, Brenda	Wife of David
Thomson, Charlie	CCMEMN(L)	19/09/2014	1970-72
Thurston, Colin R.	PO Wtr	19/07/2005	1966-69
Timms, Ron E.	CPO(C)		1960-61
Toland, M.B.	RO2		1966-69
Toop. Francis H	NK	13/06/2017	1944-46
Townshend, Robert	OS (RP)	24/05/2023	1960-61
Tope, Edwin J.	AB (AA2)		1944-46
Trickey, Frank K.	Lt.		1959-60
Tucker, J.		2011	1944-46
Tustin, Robert	MEM1	15/04/2019	1970-72
Tydeman, Kenneth.J.Owen	RO		1944-46
Vallings, George M.F.	Lt	25/12/2007	1957-59
Vickers, Edmund		28/03/1996	1944-46
Walker, William	AB(QA)		1957-59
Wall, David	Lt Cdr	08/11/2021	1959-60
Warne, Ivan William	Ch(ME)	25/12/2007	1968-69
Watkinson, Maurice F.	Lt Cdr		1966-69
Watson, J.L.		04/2012	1944-46
Wavish, A.R.	Cdr	23/07/2007	1967-69
Weare, Andy	AB	08/08/2017	1961-63
Wells, James		05/2009	1944-46
Wheeler, David MBE	Stoker	01/01/2024	1944-46
White, Peter J.S.	Lt	17/06/2005	1966-69
Whiting, Edward	AB.(RC3)		1944-46
Wickers, S.	LM(E)		1961-63
Wijnberg, Mike J.	Lt	25/08/2008	1944-46
Wildish, Harry	AB		1944-46
Willetts, Peter	JMEM	26/10/2015	1970-72
Williams, M G.	Surg Lt	07/2006	1959-60
Williams, Norman			1961-63
Williams, Stanley George		12/05/2012	1944-46
Willis, Terry	LS UW2	29/06/2018	1966-69
Winter, Stuart J.E.	PO(RP)	19/03/2009	1961-63
Witt, Reg	Stoker		1944-46
Wood, Derek Shaw	Cook(O)	09/02/2024	1944-46
Wood, F.	COEA		1970-72
Woods, Fred	POOEL	27/09/2023	1970-72
Wooding, Peter John	L.Sea.	30/03/2002	1961-63
Woodward, H. F.	PO(GI)		1959-60
Wozencroft, Ken	OA		1961-63
Wreglesworth, Stanley	PO(OE)		1946-46
Young, B C.	CPO(EL)	06/2001	1961-63
Young, Bernard	AB (UC)	06/01/2003	1961-63

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