HMS Orotono or Orotava

[hebdons@btinternet.com]

I am researching the men and women who served in WWI from my village of Woolavington, Somerset and returned - there is a board in our church listing these. One is Str H(orace?) Howe, who is described as serving on HMS Orotono. I cannot find any reference to this ship and wonder if it is an error for HMS Orotava. Is anyone aware of a HMS Orotono please?

Thanks Godfrey Hebdon

[Michael Johnson]

It is the Orotava - no other ship name even close. Howe was Merchant Marine Reserve, which fits with service on this ship, which was an Armed Merchant Cruiser.

Michael

[ph0ebus]

Or, possibly HMS Otranto?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Otranto

[sotonmate]

Doodling through some file refs in the Kew database there is a sailor named Harold William HOWE of Bristol Division RNVR,number Z/10189,born 18 Jan 1899. The file ref is ADM337/15/363 and is downloadable if you think that this is your man,cost £3.36.

[hebdons@btinternet.com]

It is the Orotava - no other ship name even close. Howe was Merchant Marine Reserve, which fits with service on this ship, which was an Armed Merchant Cruiser.

Michael

Many thanks Michael and sorry for the delay in response. I think 'Orotono' must be an error and Orotava certainly seems the best bet. I have downloaded Herbert Howe's Medal Record from TNA and a Woolavington address is quoted so it definitely refers to 'my' man. In the 1911 census he is noted as Horace Herbert, but seems to have dropped the Horace hence he is on our board as only H (rather than H H) Howe. Unfortunately on the medal record there is no mention of the ship(s) he served on, do you have any idea how I might establish this connection please?.

Once again many thanks for you help.

Kind regards, Godfrey

[hebdons@btinternet.com]

Or, possibly HMS Otranto?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Otranto

Thanks for the suggestion and apologies for the delay in response. I think Orotava is probably a better bet, but I will keep Otanto in mind if I can't get a Howe/Orotava connection.

Thanks again and kind regards. Godfrey

[hebdons@btinternet.com]

Doodling through some file refs in the Kew database there is a sailor named Harold William HOWE of Bristol Division RNVR,number Z/10189,born 18 Jan 1899. The file ref is ADM337/15/363 and is downloadable if you think that this is your man,cost £3.36.

Thanks for your suggestion, but I have found 'my' Howe in TNA Merchant Navy Medal Records. He was actually Horace Herbert Howe, but seems to have dropped the Horace and is only shown as Herbert in the Record, but his address is Woolavington so he must be 'mine'.

Once again many thanks and apologies for the delay in response.

Kind regards

Godfrey

[Michael Johnson]

Findmypast has:

HOWE Horace Herbert 1894 723998 Bridgwater Somerset

in its merchant navy seamen's cards. Unfortunately these are probably 1919 on (earlier cards were destroyed).

Michael

[sotonmate]

In doing a bit of WW1 Convoy research today I noted RN escorts with names Otranto and Orotavo.