BARRY M JORDAN Posted 10 October , 2016 Share Posted 10 October , 2016 Trying hard to find where details of the Royal Navy's Military Service Medal for my Grandfather Petty Officer Stoker Percy Lawrence born on the 24th June 1887 at St Mary's Hoo, Kent married on 17th April 1911 to Sylvia my Grandmother. He joined the Royal Navy at an early age and served on HMS Sapphire and when I recall he told me he was on board at Sheerness (But it may have been Chatham or elsewhere) He was recognised by the Admiralty for an act of courage. A lighting unit, which in those days was fed by steam, blew up while he was on watch below! His prompt action in groping his way to the master switch and turning this off put him in hospital with burns, but his actions averted what might have been a tragedy. I have tried the Log Records of HMS Sapphire but although it appears they appear in Summary Extracts, I can find no record of my Grandfathers bravery and or the type of medal he was awarded. Sadly he died in 1971 aged 84 but I do know he was a very hard working upright man after leaving the Navy. Always strong and helpful setting up his own Gardening Firewood Business in Gravesend after bring is family son & daughter my mother, back from Canada helping to build the Canadian National/Pacific Railways Any help or records from the Logs or other records of the award of Medals for Courage would be most welcomed. Thank you in advance Barry M. Jordan MICWCI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_harvey Posted 10 October , 2016 Share Posted 10 October , 2016 (edited) Have you tried ancestry or find my past for his service record? sheerness was also a naval base. i can find 2 Percy Lawrence and neither born kent 1 served ww1 only in RNAS the other served from 1906 as a boy until 1938 also awarded lsgc medal service number 235023 Percy Charles Lawrence 24 Sep 1888 born London , his record from 1922-1941 is at the documents online at the national archives website and will cost £3.50 this will also give a discharge date and may include his 1939 record see below he rejoined in 1939 with a new number p/jx163002 which the mod will have the record. Unless your grandmother is alive it will cost you £30 to retrieve it from the mod. Check the tna documents online site first mind. Could he have been awarded the medal after 1922 and upto ww2 or during ww2 as no sign of sapphire on his record until 1922 contact me via PM or leave contact details if you need the ww1 record? Edited 10 October , 2016 by james_harvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 10 October , 2016 Share Posted 10 October , 2016 The National Archives has five RN seamen called Percy Lawrence (and one Percy Lawrence Wells), some with middle names, born in Kent, but none on that date: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Percy+Lawrence+ADM+Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BARRY M JORDAN Posted 10 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2016 On 10/10/2016 at 12:25, james_harvey said: Have you tried ancestry or find my past for his service record? sheerness was also a naval base. i can find 2 Percy Lawrence and neither born kent 1 served ww1 only in RNAS the other served from 1906 as a boy until 1938 also awarded lsgc medal service number 235023 Percy Charles Lawrence 24 Sep 1888 born London , his record from 1922-1941 is at the documents online at the national archives website and will cost £3.50 this will also give a discharge date and may include his 1939 record see below he rejoined in 1939 with a new number p/jx163002 which the mod will have the record. Unless your grandmother is alive it will cost you £30 to retrieve it from the mod. Check the tna documents online site first mind. Could he have been awarded the medal after 1922 and upto ww2 or during ww2 as no sign of sapphire on his record until 1922 contact me via PM or leave contact details if you need the ww1 record? On 10/10/2016 at 12:07, BARRY M JORDAN said: Trying hard to find where details of the Royal Navy's Military Service Medal for my Grandfather Petty Officer Stoker Percy Lawrence born on the 24th June 1887 at St Mary's Hoo, Kent married on 17th April 1911 to Sylvia my Grandmother. He joined the Royal Navy at an early age and served on HMS Sapphire and when I recall he told me he was on board at Sheerness (But it may have been Chatham or elsewhere) He was recognised by the Admiralty for an act of courage. A lighting unit, which in those days was fed by steam, blew up while he was on watch below! His prompt action in groping his way to the master switch and turning this off put him in hospital with burns, but his actions averted what might have been a tragedy. I have tried the Log Records of HMS Sapphire but although it appears they appear in Summary Extracts, I can find no record of my Grandfathers bravery and or the type of medal he was awarded. Sadly he died in 1971 aged 84 but I do know he was a very hard working upright man after leaving the Navy. Always strong and helpful setting up his own Gardening Firewood Business in Gravesend after bring is family son & daughter my mother, back from Canada helping to build the Canadian National/Pacific Railways Any help or records from the Logs or other records of the award of Medals for Courage would be most welcomed. Thank you in advance Barry M. Jordan MICWCI On 10/10/2016 at 13:49, seaJane said: The National Archives has five RN seamen called Percy Lawrence (and one Percy Lawrence Wells), some with middle names, born in Kent, but none on that date: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=Percy+Lawrence+ADM+Kent On 10/10/2016 at 12:07, BARRY M JORDAN said: Trying hard to find where details of the Royal Navy's Military Service Medal for my Grandfather Petty Officer Stoker Percy Lawrence born on the 24th June 1887 at St Mary's Hoo, Kent married on 17th April 1911 to Sylvia my Grandmother. He joined the Royal Navy at an early age and served on HMS Sapphire and when I recall he told me he was on board at Sheerness (But it may have been Chatham or elsewhere) He was recognised by the Admiralty for an act of courage. A lighting unit, which in those days was fed by steam, blew up while he was on watch below! His prompt action in groping his way to the master switch and turning this off put him in hospital with burns, but his actions averted what might have been a tragedy. I have tried the Log Records of HMS Sapphire but although it appears they appear in Summary Extracts, I can find no record of my Grandfathers bravery and or the type of medal he was awarded. Sadly he died in 1971 aged 84 but I do know he was a very hard working upright man after leaving the Navy. Always strong and helpful setting up his own Gardening Firewood Business in Gravesend after bring is family son & daughter my mother, back from Canada helping to build the Canadian National/Pacific Railways Any help or records from the Logs or other records of the award of Medals for Courage would be most welcomed. Thank you in advance Barry M. Jordan MICWCI On 10/10/2016 at 12:25, james_harvey said: Have you tried ancestry or find my past for his service record? sheerness was also a naval base. i can find 2 Percy Lawrence and neither born kent 1 served ww1 only in RNAS the other served from 1906 as a boy until 1938 also awarded lsgc medal service number 235023 Percy Charles Lawrence 24 Sep 1888 born London , his record from 1922-1941 is at the documents online at the national archives website and will cost £3.50 this will also give a discharge date and may include his 1939 record see below he rejoined in 1939 with a new number p/jx163002 which the mod will have the record. Unless your grandmother is alive it will cost you £30 to retrieve it from the mod. Check the tna documents online site first mind. Could he have been awarded the medal after 1922 and upto ww2 or during ww2 as no sign of sapphire on his record until 1922 contact me via PM or leave contact details if you need the ww1 record? Thank you for this helpful info to help further I attach extracts from the Gravesend Reporter at the times of my Grandfathers Golden and Diamond Anniversary. I hope these statements will help find exactly what and when he was awarded the Medal. He was not one for telling untruth's In meantime I will continue my own search via the web sites noted. Best Wishes Grandson Barry M. Jordan Proud of my Grandfather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BARRY M JORDAN Posted 10 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 10 November , 2016 Good Afternoon, Thank you for this info. I have placed two extracts from the local Gravesend Reporter at the time of my Grandfather's GOLDEN & DIAMOND wedding anniversary.(Married in 1911) to my Nan Sylvia. My Grandfather was a Petty Officer Stoker and his full name was Percy Richard Lawrence I have a photograph of him proud to be wearing his Naval Uniform circa 1912 ANY FURTHER help will always be appreciated Thank you again Barry M. Jordan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 10 November , 2016 Share Posted 10 November , 2016 This man, Percy LAWRANCE (in ADM 188 at Kew) but Percy LAWRENCE in (in the ADM 171 RN medal roll,) has the correct date of birth but at "Coombes, Kent". ADM 188 record of service is here:- http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6775061 Enlisting in 1906, the medal roll shows him qualifying for Victory and British War Medals (no 1914-15 Star) as a Leading Stoker. The ADM 188 record may show the bravery award you seek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaySearching Posted 10 November , 2016 Share Posted 10 November , 2016 I think you will find the sailor identified by Horatio2 above is your grandfather Percy Lawrance 309771 (Chatham) Note as pointed out by Horatio2 (Lawrance on servivce paper) Joined in 1906 for a period of 12 years served on Sapphire from 1906 -1910, shore by purchase 1910 rejoined RFR Chatham 1910 called up for service Aug 1914 Shore on demob Dec 18 As well as on the National Archives from the link provided by Horatio2 his service document can be found on Ancestry Here or Find my past Here Maybe one of our navy experts will be able to give you a breakdown of his service from the document Regards Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BARRY M JORDAN Posted 13 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 13 November , 2016 On 10/11/2016 at 17:36, horatio2 said: This man, Percy LAWRANCE (in ADM 188 at Kew) but Percy LAWRENCE in (in the ADM 171 RN medal roll,) has the correct date of birth but at "Coombes, Kent". ADM 188 record of service is here:- http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6775061 Enlisting in 1906, the medal roll shows him qualifying for Victory and British War Medals (no 1914-15 Star) as a Leading Stoker. The ADM 188 record may show the bravery award you seek. Dear Ray & Horatio 2, This is wonderful news Thank you both very much, yes these records seem to be certainly my Grandfather Percy Richard Lawrence ADM 171 RN, my records show that he was born COOMBE HOUSE, St May's Hoo in Kent 24th June 1887 I will now try the web site you note above for the medal roll. Please let me know when time allows what ADM stands for and why there appears to be 2 ADM's (188 at Kew and ADM 171 RN and the mention of Percy LawrAnce 309771 (Chatham) See snap attached You both will have gathered that I am so proud of my Grandfather who after the Navy worked hard to raise my mother Vera and her brother Richard. With my Gran Sylvia, they all went to Canada for my Grandfather to work as a Foreman on the Canadian Pacific/National Railway Construction at Rivers just outside of Winnipeg. I shall continue seeking help and information for my Portfolio of such a man of those days gone by. Shame many of the men today in authority are not with my Grandfathers ethics. Best Regards Barry M Jordan HNC/MICWCI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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