WelshVoices Posted 18 May , 2017 Share Posted 18 May , 2017 Hi all - I am working on a book, to be published Sept. 2018, on the letters of three brothers from Swansea who served in WW1. One of the brothers, Gabriel Eustis, served as a telegraphist on HM Trawler Saxon - a ship which was requisitioned by the navy in Sept. 1914 and converted to a minesweeper. Searching for information about this ship's activities on the web, I haven't found much except for reports of its rescue of the crew of HMS India off Narvik in 1915 (about which there is some information on this forum). Unfortunately, the run of Gabriel's letters that has survived does not cover this event. Also I have found some information regarding the ship's movements in Sept 1917 - Jan 1918 via naval-history.net Can anyone point me towards any other useful resources regarding the activities of this ship during the war? Thanks a lot, Gethin Matthews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 18 May , 2017 Share Posted 18 May , 2017 I presume you found Gabriel's records in The National Archives (TNA)? http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_p=1900&_q=gabriel+eustis If this is the same ship, her log books are in TNA as well - http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_p=1900&_q=Saxon+ADM Or maybe she's this one http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=ship+saxon+104648+BT or this one http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=ship+saxon+112713+BT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 18 May , 2017 Share Posted 18 May , 2017 (edited) The Fleet Air Arm Museum (National Museum of the Royal Navy) has a listing of the parent ships of all the Auxiliary Patrol trawlers, showing where the boats were based and when throughout the war. Day-to-day movements and activities will be recorded in the boat's deck logs. The museum also has the RNVR enlistment papers of Leading Telegraphist Eustis. Edited 18 May , 2017 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little bob Posted 18 May , 2017 Share Posted 18 May , 2017 Find my Past has some of Gabriel's R N V R papers. Taking into account my poor eyesight it looks as if Gabriel didn't join H M T Saxon until January 1st 1916. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeCeeCee Posted 18 May , 2017 Share Posted 18 May , 2017 I've come across that name before, she went aground in the forth in Aug 1915 as, iirc, she was doing duty to the battlecruisers based there, such as ferrying crew to shore, and other odd jobs like carrying stores. I beleive she was around the forth area from early 1915 to at least Dec 1916. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 18 May , 2017 Share Posted 18 May , 2017 S.T. Saxon FD159 The vessel's history is on this LINK but scant info on her war service. I have a couple of news clips on the sinking of the auxiliary cruiser "India" but they add little more than that posted before on the Forum, but will email them to you if you so desire? Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshVoices Posted 19 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 19 May , 2017 Thanks to all for your replies and assistance. I do have copies of the RNVR enrolment form and the 'sea service' card. I have been rather confused by the information on the RNVR form, listing a variety of ships, when his letters from November 1917 to October 1918 all state 'Saxon'. Looking at this again, I guess that the larger ships mentioned (Gibraltar / Brilliant / Ambitious) were the depot ships for Saxon (and presumably for other minesweepers). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 19 May , 2017 Share Posted 19 May , 2017 The "RNVR Enrolment Form" that you have is, presumably, his ADM 337 ledger record from Kew which is not, despite its heading, the enrolment form which he signed personally on joining. HM Ships GIBRALTAR, BRILLIANT and AMBITIOUS were successive Auxiliary Patrol parent ships, based in the Shetlands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshVoices Posted 19 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 19 May , 2017 Thanks Horatio - Yes, it is the ADM337 record that I have. Would there be any further information in the RNVR enlistment papers held at the Fleet Air Arm Museum? Lord Lansdowne is also on the list (between Gibraltar and Brilliant). Also, there is a name on this record which looks like Azaria, but there was no ship of that name. Any ideas what it could be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 19 May , 2017 Share Posted 19 May , 2017 His RNV-1 Enrolment papers will give no more details of his drafts/ships. The mystery ship is HMS ZARIA, parent ship at Scapa Flow (and later Norway). LORD LANSDOWNE was a parent ship at Oban but was probably also active at Shetland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshVoices Posted 23 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 23 May , 2017 Thanks for your assistance. I have just found a 'new' photo of him - he has a design on his sleeve which I guess is to do with his rank as a Leading Telegraphist - can anyone confirm this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARABIS Posted 23 May , 2017 Share Posted 23 May , 2017 The badge in the photo without addition is for an ordinary telegraphist 1909-1958 or boy telegraphist 1909-1956. Telegraphist 1909-34 has a star above. Leading telegraphist 1909-32 has a star above & a star below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshVoices Posted 24 May , 2017 Author Share Posted 24 May , 2017 Thanks for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeCeeCee Posted 24 May , 2017 Share Posted 24 May , 2017 On 23/05/2017 at 15:44, WelshVoices said: Thanks for your assistance. I have just found a 'new' photo of him - he has a design on his sleeve which I guess is to do with his rank as a Leading Telegraphist - can anyone confirm this? Gethin, Is that a confirmed, bona-fide WW1 relic? I ask as that looks modern (post WW2) to me due to the washed hair, the hairstyle and the photographic quality of the photograph. Im no social hitorian but there was reason men used brycream, etc, as shampoo wasn't invented until 1930 (and was terrible) and that lasted until the shampoo we'd recognise was introduced in the 60s which enabled the mop-haired Beatles to be clean mop-haired hearthrobs and the hippies to have long clean(ish) hair. Men of my father (born early 30s) and grandfathers generations used hair-products as, unless you had indoor plumbing, bathday was of a saturday in a tin tub in front of the kitchen fire... or you went to the communal baths in the area. That said, I'm always open to corrections of the better informed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARABIS Posted 24 May , 2017 Share Posted 24 May , 2017 1 hour ago, TeeCeeCee said: Gethin, Is that a confirmed, bona-fide WW1 relic? I ask as that looks modern (post WW2) to me due to the washed hair, the hairstyle and the photographic quality of the photograph. Im no social hitorian but there was reason men used brycream, etc, as shampoo wasn't invented until 1930 (and was terrible) and that lasted until the shampoo we'd recognise was introduced in the 60s which enabled the mop-haired Beatles to be clean mop-haired hearthrobs and the hippies to have long clean(ish) hair. Men of my father (born early 30s) and grandfathers generations used hair-products as, unless you had indoor plumbing, bathday was of a saturday in a tin tub in front of the kitchen fire... or you went to the communal baths in the area. That said, I'm always open to corrections of the better informed. I agree that the photo looks later than WW1 but the three white tapes on his collar are waved. These waved tapes were only worn by the RNVR and dropped out of use during WW1. If it is Gabriel Eustis then the wings crossed by lightning flash badge without addition makes it before 30/12/15 as his service record says he qualified from ordinary telegraphist to telegraphist on that date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeCeeCee Posted 26 May , 2017 Share Posted 26 May , 2017 On 24/05/2017 at 22:39, ARABIS said: I agree that the photo looks later than WW1 but the three white tapes on his collar are waved. These waved tapes were only worn by the RNVR and dropped out of use during WW1. If it is Gabriel Eustis then the wings crossed by lightning flash badge without addition makes it before 30/12/15 as his service record says he qualified from ordinary telegraphist to telegraphist on that date. I would think that that detail prooves it then as a period ww1 image. Thanks for the correction, it's always as well to query things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshVoices Posted 6 June , 2017 Author Share Posted 6 June , 2017 Thanks for the comments, but it is definitely of G E in WW1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshVoices Posted 12 July , 2017 Author Share Posted 12 July , 2017 Here are his ADM files Gabriel Eustis RN info ADM 337-1-266.pdf Gabriel Eustis RN info2 ADM 339-1-11779.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 18 February , 2019 Share Posted 18 February , 2019 (edited) Gethin, Gabriel was my grandfather. His daughter, my Aunt Marianne, is still with us, and lives in Cardiff. 'Gib' as he was always known is remembered on the Imperial War Museum website here: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/6118371 I have just downloaded a copy of his Service record. He is buried in Mynydd Bach chapel, with his wife Docie ( ' Nurse Eustis' ) who was a midwife in Swansea from 1924 until the early 1960s. It would be great if you and others who know his story could click on the file to remember him. I would love to have been at the book launch, as I am also the proud custodian of Ivor's war medals. Do get in touch Roger Eustis this is the MV Zaria : SOURCE http://forums.clydemaritime.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6012#p12052 Edited 18 February , 2019 by Guest photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huttles94 Posted 21 March , 2021 Share Posted 21 March , 2021 I understand that this thread is a couple of years old now but alas I have some information on the HMT Saxon that might be on interest. Not much info mind you but still. What I know is that on the 26th of May 1917 it sailed off from Marseilles after picking up some soldiers and then headed off to Egypt. On route it stopped at Malta on the 28th of May 1917 and stayed there for around six hours. It then arrived in Alexandria Egypt on May 31st 1917. The reason I know this is that my Great Grandfather served with the Essex Regiment during WW1. And luckily he kept a diary of his time in the service in which he writes about the HM Trawler Saxon briefly. I have scanned in his diary so I will include a copy of the pages in which he mentions his travels on the Saxon. I hope these are of help and interest to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 21 March , 2021 Share Posted 21 March , 2021 (edited) Very interesting but this is not HM Trawler SAXON (which never served in the Mediterranean). The diary refers to the Hired Military Transport SAXON (Union Castle Line) which served as a troopship in the Mediterranean from 1917. https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/SS_Saxon Edited 21 March , 2021 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huttles94 Posted 21 March , 2021 Share Posted 21 March , 2021 1 minute ago, horatio2 said: Very interesting but this is not HM Trawler SAXON (which never served in the Mediterranean). The diary refers to the Hired Military Transport SAXON (Union Castle Line) which served as a troopship in the Mediterranean from 1917. https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/SS_Saxon Oh right, thank you and sorry for the mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KizmeRD Posted 21 March , 2021 Share Posted 21 March , 2021 HM Trawler Saxon was engaged in patrolling the waters of northern Scotland during the Great War. MB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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