Linda B Posted 2 January , 2009 Share Posted 2 January , 2009 Following my question re Cricket yesterday, we are hooked on finding out some more about my Grandads time in the navy and would much appreciate some help in understanding his service record, part of which I will attach (hoping it is clear enough to be read) We understand all the ships and shore establishments but not sure what the ratings mean in the fifth column, although I think he gained two conduct badges. His character and ability seem to have been quite good but we can't read two of the remarks, the second and the last one, something about Weymouth. Lastly, if not pushing my luck, am I right in thinking that at the bottom it means he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in 1926, if so would that have been for a set period. As far as I know he wasn't called up again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggers Posted 2 January , 2009 Share Posted 2 January , 2009 Not a great expert in RN matters but this may help: Rating is what the army would call 'rank'. Boy, second and first class, as he moved up [or passed a birthday?] Ord = Ordinary Seaman AB = Able-bodied Seaman Leading Seaman Petty Officer, perhaps with grade 1 & 2. Royal Fleet Reserve - this may have left him with a possible call-up, but perhaps too old for WW2? Hope this helps D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda B Posted 2 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 2 January , 2009 Not a great expert in RN matters but this may help: Rating is what the army would call 'rank'. Boy, second and first class, as he moved up [or passed a birthday?] Ord = Ordinary Seaman AB = Able-bodied Seaman Leading Seaman Petty Officer, perhaps with grade 1 & 2. Royal Fleet Reserve - this may have left him with a possible call-up, but perhaps too old for WW2? Hope this helps D Thanks Daggers but it was actually the next (fifth) column that we weren't sure about, the first part under sub-ratings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARABIS Posted 2 January , 2009 Share Posted 2 January , 2009 I can make out three of his sub-ratings. S.G., Seaman Gunner. G.L. II., Gun Layer 2nd Class. G.M., Gunner's Mate. David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 2 January , 2009 Share Posted 2 January , 2009 Please could you scan and post the sub ratings and remarks columns seperately, they maybe easier to read that way. As far as I can make out his sub ratings are SG = Seaman Gunner GLII = Gun Layer 2nd Class GM = Gunners Mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda B Posted 2 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 2 January , 2009 Please could you scan and post the sub ratings and remarks columns seperately, they maybe easier to read that way. As far as I can make out his sub ratings are SG = Seaman Gunner GLII = Gun Layer 2nd Class GM = Gunners Mate. Is this better? That's about as clear as I've been able to get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 2 January , 2009 Share Posted 2 January , 2009 Linda, and Act Gunlayer 3rd Class Gunnery Officer Writer Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 3 January , 2009 Share Posted 3 January , 2009 Passed educationally for Petty Officer 10 ? 1916 Passed professionally for Petty Officer 21 June 1917 as per Dec 17 ledger #vide Dec 18 ledger 1) over 3 years [as PO, gets a pay increase] 1/10/20 3) over 6 years [as PO, gets another pay increase] 1/10/23 Paid War Gratuity [search the forum for threads] Wildfire list 6 vide Waymouth ?Paid Off 7/3/25 He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in 1926 there was no limit. In 1929 the RN moved to a card index system for service records. He might have been recalled in WW2: a gunners mate would be worth his weight in rum/ gold/ whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 3 January , 2009 Share Posted 3 January , 2009 so in order its: SG = Seaman Gunner Gunnery Officer Writer Act Gunlayer 3rd Class GLII = Gun Layer 2nd Class GM = Gunners Mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda B Posted 4 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 4 January , 2009 Passed educationally for Petty Officer 10 ? 1916 Passed professionally for Petty Officer 21 June 1917 as per Dec 17 ledger #vide Dec 18 ledger 1) over 3 years [as PO, gets a pay increase] 1/10/20 3) over 6 years [as PO, gets another pay increase] 1/10/23 Paid War Gratuity [search the forum for threads] Wildfire list 6 vide Waymouth ?Paid Off 7/3/25 He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in 1926 there was no limit. In 1929 the RN moved to a card index system for service records. He might have been recalled in WW2: a gunners mate would be worth his weight in rum/ gold/ whatever. That's terrific, thank you so much. I will be seeing my Dad soon and will pass on all this information. As far as I know, he wasn't recalled in WW2 though. Makes me proud to read some accounts of what it must have been like during those times and to think he was there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 4 January , 2009 Share Posted 4 January , 2009 Glad to help. He might not have been recalled by the RN, but that doesn't mean that he didn't serve in the Home Guard (Dad's Army) or any of the other units that proliferated after 1940. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda B Posted 5 January , 2009 Author Share Posted 5 January , 2009 Glad to help. He might not have been recalled by the RN, but that doesn't mean that he didn't serve in the Home Guard (Dad's Army) or any of the other units that proliferated after 1940. You were quite right there, apparently he was in the Home Guard. All this has prompted some memories that certain family members didn't know they knew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 6 January , 2009 Share Posted 6 January , 2009 Don't Panic! Its amazing what comes up when memories are jogged. Btw he probably could shoot a rifle well: the Navy had firearms training and he would have been useful if his unit acquired artillery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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