croasdale Posted 2 November , 2008 Share Posted 2 November , 2008 Hello Can anyone explain the following details on Robert Butler's service records? No MERSEY Z/917 23.12.15 Attached to 4th Battn. 4/2691. 04.01.16 Drafted from 4th Battn, to sea draft battn, depot March 1916 Misc Batt FT/629 04.04.16 Drafted from Sea Service coy, depot, (629FT) to Portsmouth 07.04.16 Enrolment form sent to A.G.9 13.05 19 W.G. Cert to A.G.9b Thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhclark Posted 3 November , 2008 Share Posted 3 November , 2008 Hello Mark, I think that I'm right in saying that you are reading the back of a small card, which, on the front has his name, occupation, civil employment, nok etc etc? If so, Robert was in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. "Mersey" refers to the area of enlistment (i.e. Liverpool/Lancashire) From 23/12/1915 to 4/1/1916 he was attached to the Royal Naval Division, then selected for sea service, served at a depot for a while, and eventually on 4/4/1916 attached to Portsmouth. That being the case you will find at The National Archives in London, somewhere in file ADM337 (according to surname) a further service record file, detailing his various attachments and any sea service. The final line on the card relates to his War Gratuity (WG). His service record in ADM337 will give his final date of discharge. Someone else will surely give you further details on the various abbreviations, but the next step is to obtain his full service record. There will be plenty more to decipher and decode there as well! Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadsac Posted 3 November , 2008 Share Posted 3 November , 2008 Mark, after NOEL - War Gratuity to A.G (Accountant General) Sadsac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 3 November , 2008 Share Posted 3 November , 2008 This man never made it to the RND proper. The "4th Battalion" menioned is the 4th Training Battalion at the Crystal Palace Depot ("depot"), in which he served for only 12 days over Xmas/New Year. 4/2961 is his Ship's Book number for pay and admin purposes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 3 November , 2008 Share Posted 3 November , 2008 You should find his sea service record in ADM 337/52 Mersey Z701-Z1200. These are in service number order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croasdale Posted 5 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 5 November , 2008 Hi All Thanks for the info, yes the info is off a card which was obtained from TNA online, Robert Butler was my Mothers Uncle and I've also been told that he drowned in WW1? and I've just ben given a death date of 15/5/1916 which is only about a month or so after he joined??? If the next step is his service record, I'll have to wait a few months until I visit London, I do a bit of running and will be going down in the spring to do the London Marathon, so will make a trip to TNA on the monday!! Thanks for the help I'll put this on hold until April Cheers Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 5 November , 2008 Share Posted 5 November , 2008 Name: BUTLER, ROBERT Initials: R Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Able Seaman Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: H.M. Trawler "Lily Melling." Age: 20 Date of Death: 15/05/1916 Service No: Mersey Z/917 Additional information: Son of Robert and Agnes Butler, of 6, Thurnham Terrace, Glasson Dock, Lancaster,. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 19. Memorial: PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 5 November , 2008 Share Posted 5 November , 2008 Poor chap was Drowned. Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies, World War 1 Researched & compiled by Don Kindell Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhclark Posted 5 November , 2008 Share Posted 5 November , 2008 Mark, if you Google "Lily Melling" you'll come up with a few hits. For example: http://float-trawlers.lancashire.gov.uk/in...Ijt9&pg=437 Noel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 6 November , 2008 Share Posted 6 November , 2008 His service record (if you think it's worth it) is now online: Name Butler, Robert Service Number: Z/917 RNVR Division: Mersey Date of birth 25 November 1895 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 6 November , 2008 Share Posted 6 November , 2008 Would these be the same records he refers to in post No 1 or would they give extra information. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 6 November , 2008 Share Posted 6 November , 2008 This is the record that was referred to in post #5, which was written before these records became available online. See their information page: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/rnvr.asp It would be an original source giving cause of death. As he went "to Portsmouth," Victory as his ship would probably feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 6 November , 2008 Share Posted 6 November , 2008 Got it thank you, Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croasdale Posted 7 November , 2008 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2008 Hi All Thanks for all the help I down loaded to service record and obviously there isn't much as he was only on the ship for a matter of weeks!! The record just says cause of death drowning, not sure if I'll ever find how it actually happened? Thanks Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 7 November , 2008 Share Posted 7 November , 2008 Unfortunately logs for trawler do not appear to have survived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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