A J Avenell Posted 12 April , 2021 Share Posted 12 April , 2021 Would a sailor, i.e. a stoker wear a tunic without any badges or insignia on it in 1899 or 1915? The attached photo has the year 1915 crossed out and replaced with 1899. This person joined the Navy in 1895 and trained as a stoker he gained his 1st GCB in Nov 1898. He served 12 years in the RN, then RFR then Merchant Navy then back to RN Aug 1914 to March 1919 then back to the MN. I find it unusual to see a picture of him without any badges etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 12 April , 2021 Share Posted 12 April , 2021 There is a hint of two Good Conduct badges on his left arm. Right arm (stoker branch badge) is obscured but red bages on a dark blue jumper do not photograph well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A J Avenell Posted 12 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 April , 2021 Thank you, I have blown the photo up but still did not see that, thank you, off I go to Specsavers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 12 April , 2021 Share Posted 12 April , 2021 I can see his 2 GCB's left arm, & Stoker rate badge just barely on his right sleeve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A J Avenell Posted 12 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 April , 2021 So 2 GCB means he must have served at least 8 years I suppose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 12 April , 2021 Share Posted 12 April , 2021 That photo could not have been taken in 1899 as he just re'd his 1st GCB in Nov '98, & he is wearing 2 GCB's in the photo. Also expect after 8 ys service he might likely have been a Stoker1 by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 12 April , 2021 Share Posted 12 April , 2021 2 minutes ago, A J Avenell said: So 2 GCB means he must have served at least 8 years I suppose? Yes that is correct, he would have a minimum of 8 yrs service when that photo was taken. Have we been down this path before? Name is familiar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 12 April , 2021 Share Posted 12 April , 2021 Yes, back in Feb - George Thomas Avenell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A J Avenell Posted 12 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 April , 2021 Probably we have been down this path before, I have gone through all your old posts but I could not be sure, he received his 2nd GCB in Nov 1903 and promoted to stoker 1st class in July 1905. I apologise if we have been over this before, but I keep finding old photos and information which I find quite daunting. Thank you for your help and patience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 12 April , 2021 Share Posted 12 April , 2021 (edited) No apology necessary, I too looked back to your post on George as I had recalled you showed a photo of him wearing a Leading Stoker rate badge, & thought I recognized his face in this photo. We spoke about his service\rate at that time. Edited 12 April , 2021 by RNCVR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A J Avenell Posted 12 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 12 April , 2021 We did indeed but I get very confused with the information and dates my father has written on old photo's and it takes some time to sort and clarify, thank you so much for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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