Uncatalogued: Dent, Ronald William, Commander, Royal Naval Reserve, 1896-1981

Service Records, 1911 to 1950; journal kept by Dent in the TRIUMPH, China Sea, between 4 August 1914 and 21 Augusut 1914; journal kept by Dent in the CHELMER, Dardanelles between 25 May 1915 and 12 November 1915; a rough diary kept between 4 August 1914 and 15 May 1915; an autobiography entitled 'Many Ships' written circa 1950 and a copy of a 'resume of experience: 1911-1950' written in 1950.

Administrative / biographical background
Dent qualified as a master mariner and led a career in the Merchant Navy. He was a cadet in the British India Steam Navigation Company between 1911 and 1914. During World War One he entered into the Royal Naval Reserve as a midshipman, sub-lieutenant and lieutenant, serving in destroyers in the China Seas and the Dardanelles and also in minesweepers off the West Coast of Scotland. He was navigating officer of H. M. cable ship the MONARCH between 1919 and 1920. He was marine assistant in the India General Navigation Company, Calcutta between 1920 and 1921. He subsequently served in ports and lights administration for six years as chief officer and one year in command of H. E. M. S. AIDA, all during the period 1921 to 1929. During World War Two he served in the Royal Naval Reserve as commander and as naval examination officer and D. E. M. S. staff officer. Between the period 1929 to 1950 he was a Suez Canal pilot.