HMS Maidstone WW1 Signalman

[janet00]

I am trying to find out more about my ancestor Signalman Frederick Quartermaine b1890 who served in the Royal Navy from an orphan of age 14 at HMS Chatham up to HMS Pembroke in 1921 when his Continuous Service expired.

I have downloaded his service record from Nat Archives but would like to find out more about the activities of his WW1 ships in particular and details about the role of a Signalman -

HMS Thames 1914 - 1916

HMS Dolphin 1916

HMS Maidstone 1916 - 1918

Not being familiar at all with naval issues, any help and pointers appreciated!

Thanks

Janet - emailing from Australia

[sadsac]

Hello Janet.

If you can post the record you have here, then `someone' will, no doubt interpret for you.

The three ships you have given notice of are Submarine Depot Ships, so he was perhaps `attached' to the submarine service. This may be indicated by submarines in brackets alongside name of ship.

Sadsac

[janet00]

Hi Sadsac

Thanks for your advice. I have attached part of the service record (to fit in with the upload limit) which starts where he signs on for 12 years when turning 18 years old.

The info I found on the web said about the WW1 ship names being submarines but I wasnt sure whether that meant he would have been onshore or actually in them.

I would be grateful for any enlightenment on the naval life of my Signalman ancestor.

Janet

[ARABIS]

Janet,

From 5th August [1914?] he was serving in the submarine C4. The List No.12 is for Officers & men borne for service in tenders, C4 being a tender to the depot ship Thames. From 1st April he is List 13 [permanent supernumeraries borne in addition to complement] against Thames, so possibly spare crew for submarines. The same applies later to submarine E29 & Maidstone.

A signalman would be a specialist in visual signals, semaphore, signal flags & signal lamps.

ARABIS.

[sadsac]

Hello Janet. Have you his service number ?? Are you sure he was born 1890 & not 30 March 1891 ??

Sadsac

[janet00]

Hi guys

His service number was 238103 but you have obviously spotted that his wrong date of birth was on his service record! I have attached the top bit of his service record using a few more KBs.

I have definite proof that Frederick was born on 22nd Sept 1890. Bureaucratic errors gradually changed his date of birth as well as his name (born Quarterman) over his orphaned years. He joined HMS Training Ship Exmouth in June 1905 age 14 (I presume the brand new training ship) then in 1907 was transferred to RN Barracks Shotley (HMS Ganges) and various others until 1909 (Rating B? Boy something?) before signing on for 12 years on 30th March 1909 at age 18.

The records show that there was an "ASN for 13 boys 19.02.07" from Exmouth and I thought that perhaps they were all orphans and just lumped together, and all given a general dob?! I have tried to get more than the basic info and/or pics of the boys at HMS Exmouth and Ganges but no joy online.

All or any info gratefully received. I'd like to know what the Badges awarded mean?

Many thanks to Arabis too. Do you know if there are any photos online?

Regards

Janet

[horatio2]

He was granted his first Good Conduct Badge (GCB) after three years VG conduct from age 18 and a second GCB five years later.

EXMOUTH was not 'HMS' because she had ceased to be a commissioned HM Ship. She was the Training Ship (TS) EXMOUTH, as recorded on his record. EXMOUTH authorities would have provided his date of birth, which remains his 'official RN d.o.b.' despite any evidence you have that it is incorrect.

He enlisted for 12 years on 22 Jan 1907 but his 'time' did not start until his 18th birthday. He did not have to enlist again on that date.

[jbw541]

Hello,

Have you seen the videos of HMS Ganges on the website You Tube? Filmed in the 60s/70s I know but fantastic.

Also if you tap in "Bingham, Royal Navy, WW1" into your search engine, there is a great group photo of young seaman at Ganges (poss 1909).

Joe.

[sadsac]

Hello Janet.

If you can post the middle part (that shows the dates of ships served in) then we may be able to give you the numbers of the ships / boats LOGS that will give you further info on his service life.

Sadsac

[janet00]

Hi guys

I'm not sure what you mean by the middle part? If you click on the pics it will show the whole width and dates. Am I missing something? Thats all that was sent from the National Archives.

Thanks Joe for the 2 search links - I loved the youtube film. It had come up in my google searching before but I hadnt looked at it because I was so focussed on 1907 but I suppose some things just do not change!

Best wishes from sunny Australia

Janet

[sadsac]

Ah, I see Janet. Silly-old-me - one gets old & practically Ga-Ga !!

Have had a peep, will see if I can add further info.

Sadsac

[janet00]

Another little query - after he left the Royal Navy, his occupation at the time of his death in 1937 was 'Signalman at Whitehead Torpedo Works'. I have read up on the Torpedo Works but cant think what a Signalman would do there.

Any ideas?

[sadsac]

Hello Janet. Further on the record and submarine service ;

Find here LOGS of C.4 & E.29 that appertain to the time scale of ancestor serving on the boats.

PRO/NA file numbers ADM 173 / ????

C.4 05 Aug 1914 to 11 Sept 1916 - 235 – 247

E.29 03 Dec 1916 to 30 Sept 1918 - 1356 – 1373

Maidstone 03 Dec 1916 to 21 Oct 1918 - 47915 – 47937

Gibraltar 14 July 1919 to 30 Nov 1920 - 42711 – 42713

Logs are mainly for navigation, but do also include such info as ;

Lt ??? joined ship / Stoker ??? to shore.

Sadsac

[janet00]

Many thanks.

I'm on the case!

Janet