Inland Water Transport: Tug names and their roles

[InkyV]

Hello,

I am doing research on Laurence Copland, "Sergt. Major, Copland, R.E., i/c Tug H.S. 39" for the Inland Water Transport during WWI. I have two orders he received dated 21 May 1917 and 13 July 1917 telling him who to escort, where to go and what to do. I'm trying to piece his story together and believe these orders may be related to a rescue he made that first got him courtmartialed and then resulted in his receiving an OBE. 

The orders mention:

- 21 May 1917: Leave Dover with tug HS39, in company with Tug HS 72, proceed to Gravesend; tow bucket dredger P.L.A.6 back to Pegwell Bay, hand over to the Richborough Tug there; then return to Dover

- 13 July 1917: On arrival at Holyhead, from Plymouth, hand over the B328, take in coal and water, proceed to Pieston Dock, Lancs, to escort the Stern Wheel Tug S40 down to Plymouth. 

Does anyone know if there is a list anywhere that would identify the names of the tugs? Also, any resources that can help me better understand the context of these missions and what Laurence was doing during the war? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Kind regards,
Karen

[GreyC]

Hi,

if nobody is able to help you here try:

https://www.naval-history.net/index.htm

Best,

GreyC

[InkyV]

Thank you for the link! I was able to find the following:

SCOTTISH (ex-HS.39), tug. One of some 50 War Department tugs and steam lighters transferred to Admiralty towards end of war for HM Dockyard service and given a name. Built 1903, 141grt. Probably sold in 1920's although six of group served in WW2.

PETREL (ex-HS.40), tug. One of some 50 War Department tugs and steam lighters transferred to Admiralty towards end of war for HM Dockyard service and given a name. Built 1892, 55grt. Probably sold in 1920's although six of group served in WW2.

COR IV (ex-HS.72), tug. One of some 50 War Department tugs and steam lighters transferred to Admiralty towards end of war for HM Dockyard service and given a name. Built 1912, 112grt. Probably sold in 1920's although six of group served in WW2.

[GreyC]

Well done!

GreyC

[KizmeRD]

Copland, Lawrence, Sergeant-Major Lawrence Copland - G. L. (I.W.T.).  
30730 - 4 JUNE 1918
Awarded an MOBE (not OBE).

’As master of a deep sea tug displayed zeal, courage, and loyalty in the performance of duties of an arduous and dangerous nature’.

Medal Card available to download from TNA Ref. WO 372/5/20031
 

MB

Edited 17 October , 2021 by KizmeRD

[KizmeRD]

On 12/10/2021 at 23:49, InkyV said:

Also, any resources that can help me better understand the context of these missions and what Laurence was doing during the war? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Hello again Karen, 

It appears that during 1917/18 Sgt-Maj. Copland served as Master of a sea-going tug operated by the Inland Water & Docks Section of the Royal Engineers. The IWT Section was originally formed in December of 1914 in order to operate transport barges on the canals and waterways of France and Belgium. 

In the summer of 1916 Mesopotamia also became a part of IWT responsibilities, and during the course of the war its scope was further extended to cover overseas operations in Egypt, Salonika, Italy, British East Africa and ultimately in Northern Russia too.

At home in U.K. sea-going tugs like the one Sgt. Maj. Copland was in charge of were operating primarily from RE facilities at the specially constructed wartime Port of Richborough (on the River Stour near Sandwich, Kent) and to a lesser extent also from Dover, Southampton, Fowey, Poole, London and Hull.  The main work of the sea-going tugs was to tow loads comprising of two to five barges varying in size from 50 up to 1,000 tons each across the Channel to IWT facilities in France & Belgium, supporting the army’s operations on the Western Front. The contribution made by the cross-channel tugs and their barge deliveries helped to increased the supply of vital war materials and relive congestion at the ports caused by difficulties in offloading ordinary cargo ships. In addition (as can be seen from some of HS 39’s jobs detailed in your post), the sea-going tugs were also be employed moving special items and supplies around the UK coast).

To understand the scale of activities, the relatively unknown Port of Richborough covered 2,200 acres and in just two years of operation loaded 9,654 barges and sent over a million and a quarter tons of war supplies to the Front.

Although the work of the IWT was somewhat mundane and unglamorous, it was nevertheless of the utmost importance, and could at times be quite dangerous. The sea-going tugs were sailing through waters where U-boats operated, mines were laid and were well within the range of enemy aircraft.

Sgt. Maj. Copland’s post-war award of the MOBE was not for any single act of gallantry, but rather reflects an acknowledgement of the quality and value of his service, in a position of responsibility. He was one of a number of other IWT tug masters awarded MOBE’s all in the same batch.

What can you tell us about the Court Marshall/Court of Inquiry incident?
 

MB

Edited 17 October , 2021 by KizmeRD

[InkyV]

Hi MB,

Thanks so much for your detailed information about the IWT, that provides great context. Laurence Copland was a Shetlander, and I am researching his service to include in a book about the village he came from, North Roe. Like many of the local young men, he went to sea young, joining the merchant service and taking his mate's and master's certificates. In 1915 he joined the IWT, RE. It is this wartime service that I would like to include in the book.

• According to his descendants, he received both an MBE and and OBE. They have his OBE medal, and have sent me a photo - it looks the same as the one here: https://www.jbmilitaryantiques.com.au/product/rare-ww1-era-medal-of-the-order-of-the-british-empire-military-in-case-obe/
• Here is an extract from the London Gazette, 11 June 1918, 6895, which seems to corroborate that he received an OBE: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30738/supplement/6895   

Central Chancery of the orders of Knighthood, St James Palace, 3rd June 1918

The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire upon the undermentioned persons for services in connection with the War, in which great courage or self-sacrifice has been displayed - ....

Copland Lawrence, Sergeant-Major, G.L. (IWT): As master of a deep sea tug displayed zeal, courage, and loyalty in the performance of duties of an arduous and dangerous nature.

• According to family tradition: "as master of a tug during WW1 he was ordered not to retrieve a barge of soldiers that had drifted into a mine field. He disobeyed the orders and retrieved them and was consequently court-martialled. The outcome instead was a recommendation of an award." [His granddaughter believes that this may have happened in the time frame of the only two original typewritten orders that he kept and were summarized in my original post.]
• It is this latter story that I am trying to find further details about. When his granddaughter was at the National Archives, she noted that his records contained files "of advocate general", but she did not obtain a copy of the records. Do you know how we could get copies of them? I am in Canada and she is in New Zealand, so we are researching at a distance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Karen

Edited 14 October , 2021 by InkyV

[KizmeRD]

3 hours ago, InkyV said:

Hi MB,

• According to his descendants, he received both an MBE and and OBE. They have his OBE medal, and have sent me a photo - it looks the same as the one here: https://www.jbmilitaryantiques.com.au/product/rare-ww1-era-medal-of-the-order-of-the-british-empire-military-in-case-obe/
• Here is an extract from the London Gazette, 11 June 1918, 6895, which seems to corroborate that he received an OBE: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30738/supplement/6895   

Central Chancery of the orders of Knighthood, St James Palace, 3rd June 1918

The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire upon the undermentioned persons…

Karen

Sorry, but you are obviously unaware of the five different categories of the order, and I suggest that you at least Google this information in order to address the deficit.

As you correctly state, he was awarded the MEDAL of the Order of the British Empire.

Good luck seeking collaborating ‘family tradition’, you have set yourself a tricky task. Take a closer look at some of the other awards announced to IWT tug Masters at the same time, a couple of these correspond more closely to the story you are telling.

(He might of course have also been awarded an OBE later in his life for other worthy achievements, but that would be unrelated to his WW1 activities).

MB

Edited 14 October , 2021 by KizmeRD

[InkyV]

Hi MB,

Thanks again for the time you have taken to respond -  I will certainly follow through on your recommendations to conduct further research on both the OBE categories and the other awards announced to IWT tug Masters.

Kind regards,

Karen

[KizmeRD]

Hello Karen,

The Order of the British Empire was instituted in 1917 by King George V to reward both civilian and military personal for exceptional wartime service. There were five levels of membership of the order and below that a medal (associated with the order) awarded to individuals who demonstrated courage or self-sacrifice. After reforms to the honours system in 1922, the medal of the order became commonly known either as the British Empire Medal (for meritorious service), or the Empire Gallantry Medal (where actual acts of bravery were involved).

From your last post (with your link to the Gazette), it’s clear now that your man was awarded just the medal of the order (neither an MBE or an OBE).

And examining the other awards to IWT tug masters included with in the same batch, it seems reasonable to believe that there could well have been some notable incident involving IWT tugs sometime during 1917, or the first half of 1918.

The citation for Act. Sgt Maj. John Walter Hacquoil reads ‘Whilst in command of a War Department tug, on passage with and considerably hampered by a tow of barges, gallantly went to the assistance of a vessel steaming in company with him which had been sunk by enemy action, and by promptness and good seamanship succeeded in rescuing nearly all the crew’.

Whilst the citation for Act. Company Sgt. Maj. Charles William Brown reads ‘Whilst in command of a War Department Tug showed great courage and perseverance in difficult and dangerous circumstances in rescuing a ship in distress.

Four other tug masters (Carruthers, Copland, Wady & Yardley) have identical citations ‘As master of a deep sea tug displayed zeal, courage, and loyalty in the performance of duties of an arduous and dangerous nature’.
 

It suggests to me that all six tugs were sailing in company with one another and that the tug skippered by Hacquoil rescued the crew of a ship in distress (from enemy action), whilst Brown’s tug was instrumental in saving the ship itself. Very likely the other tugs also helped render some sort of material assistance as well.

There may well have been a Court of Inquiry convened to pick over the circumstances of this event, but it seems unlikely that a Court Marshall of IWT individuals then followed, particularly since medals got issued to those concerned.

Further research may well reveal the details of what actually occurred.

MB

 

 

 

Edited 14 October , 2021 by KizmeRD

[InkyV]

Hi MB,

Once again, thank you for explaining in greater detail. I must admit that even with research I have found it difficult to understand, and I want to make sure that anything I write up about Laurence is correct. 

I have attached an image of his medal card. It does say "MBE" on it. Can you please explain what that means in the context of his receiving the medal of the order? Is that for the same incident, or would be it mean something else? Any other interpretation of the other information contained on the card would also be most helpful.

We are working with the National Archives to see if there is a way we can obtain a copy of his service record. Otherwise, as you say, it might be difficult to find corroborating evidence of the oral history shared in the family. Regardless of whether or not we can find that, his accomplishments (as with many of his peers) are noteworthy, starting as a crofters' son and advancing himself at sea to become a ship's captain both before, during, and after the war. Laurence died in 1932, at the age of 44.

Again, much thanks.

Karen

 

[KizmeRD]

Hello again Karen,

Yes, I can understand your difficulty getting your head around this, and it doesn’t help that ‘MBE’ was incorrectly annotated on his medal card (it initially had me confused too). However please take the time to read the beginning part of the listing in the Gazette where it clearly states that the recipients are all being awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire (i.e. he’s not being made an officer of the order or a member of the order - which in any case, due to his rank, he wouldn’t have an entitlement to).

Please bear in mind that this was a brand new honour, less than a year in being, and it’s understandable that some people at the time were a little confused as to how to refer to it. Also bear in mind that the medal of the order carried no entitlement to post-nomial letters. Also,there was a subsequent re-jig in 1922 when the BEM and EGM were instituted in place of the MOBE. Only a little more than 2,000 MOBE’s were ever issued and around 800 of those were awarded to Allies as areward for their cooperation and assistance.

Finally (without further research) the only incident I can think of involving war department tugs was the assistance given to HMS Duke of Cornwall (an examination vessel that got into trouble off Dieppe in October 1917.  This involved HS 18.

MB

 

 

[KizmeRD]

On 14/10/2021 at 20:46, InkyV said:

We are working with the National Archives to see if there is a way we can obtain a copy of his service record.

Hope you locate his service docs. There’s also a strong possibility he received a General List Commission late on in the war. Perhaps he was one of the chaps who went to North Russia with the intervention force?

MB

[charlie962]

On 14/10/2021 at 20:46, InkyV said:

We are working with the National Archives to see if there is a way we can obtain a copy of his service record.

I can see his HLI Svc Record, which includes a number of documents concerning his trf to RE IWT, on FindmyPast here. There is mention he held a Board of Trade Cert as Second Officer.

Here are three extracts of particular interest:

 

 

Charlie

Edited 16 October , 2021 by charlie962

[KizmeRD]

Excellent find, I’m sure it will be very helpful to Karen, and this confirms his subsequent commissioning.

The record also provides clear evidence of his service with the BEF in France from 26.10.15 to 8.8.16. (before and after those dates, home service is noted).

There ought to be some additional references to him in the Gazette.

And with additional research, it should now be possible to find out a bit more regarding his BOT examination dates and Mercantile Marine service.

MB

 

[InkyV]

Wow, thanks so much Charlie! These definitely give us some new clues to pursue. I will have a look on Ancestry as they have the UK Masters and Mates Certificates to give further information about his merchant marine service. Thanks MB for helping to interpret the documents. I don't always know what the acronyms stand for or their significance in the overall context of Laurence's story. I will put together a timeline tomorrow and see if I can start to see everything more clearly. 

39 minutes ago, KizmeRD said:

There ought to be some additional references to him in the Gazette.

 

MB - can you help me understand what events would have been included in the Gazette, and when I should look? Was it based on promotions? And would the promotions have been based on time served, or on merit for particular actions?

Charlie - I can read the middle record you provided, and likely figure out what the acronyms stand for, but I don't know how to interpret it in context. Not coming from a military background, I am unsure of the military culture and significance. For example, was this a typical pathway for many who served? What overarching narrative can I take away from his service record?

Thank you to both for your kindness. I want to capture Laurence's story accurately and portray it in context to his upbringing, and the role he played amidst WWI and transitioning from the merchant service to the military. 

 

[KizmeRD]

1 hour ago, InkyV said:

MB - can you help me understand what events would have been included in the Gazette, and when I should look? Was it based on promotions? And would the promotions have been based on time served, or on merit for particular actions?

Ancestry has a LAWRENCE Copland 1888-1932 listed - who ended up in New Zealand. I believe this could well be the same chap.

And technically he was discharged from the army and commissioned the next day, so his appointment should have been gazetted, sometime late 1918.

See following….

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31016/supplement/13570

MB

Edited 17 October , 2021 by KizmeRD

[MerchantOldSalt]

Karen

Just to add a bit more information for your research to the lion's share already well covered by MB, here are some pages of Service Records from various Ranks serving in the IWT RE on tugs HS 39 and HS 72 which may be of interest, courtesy of Ancestry

Generally speaking the IWT Service Records do not give much information on where sappers served but once in a while they turn up useful stuff, particularly when after the war the marine sections of the IWT had to prove they had Cross Channel Service which entitled them to the British War Medal which Home Service around the UK coast did not. 

The Service Records which you can find on Ancestry if you want more details of the individuals are:

Thomas Quested WR 314847.   Robert Allsopp  WR 314133  Mate of HS 39.  William Henry Griffiths 2nd Engineer HS 72  WR 600331. 

As you can see from Quested's Record he refers to L Copland but cannot remember his name  

Also from his record, HS 39's original name was SCOTSMAN built in 1903 in Hull, Official Number 116114, but by 1914 was owned in Halifax Nova Scotia and continued in that ownership up to 1919 though requisitioned by the War Office.  I am fairly sure that the photo attached is SCOTSMAN HS 39 but cannot be absolutely certain as there have been several tugs named Scotsman over the years all owned by United Towing of Hull.  The HS 39 was purchased in 1923 by Thompson Towage of Hull which, with other tug companies became part of United Towing.  The information concerning the use of HS39 by the Admiralty from 1919, until 1923 comes from British Warships by Dittmar & Colledge, and appears to fit with the dates I have mentioned.  As a new SCOTSMAN was built in 1929 Copland's former tug was probably scrapped about that time or sold for further service abroad, as many were, some managing considerable longevity, HS 22 was scrapped in 1962!

Both the tugs you are interested in were taken up from trade and their civilian occupations by the War Office to serve as HS Tugs of which there were at least 104.  Several of this number were purpose built for the War Office as single or twin screw tugs all of similar design.  Though designated "sea going" tugs many were more accurately better described as harbour tugs which were used for sea going purposes, in several service records mention is made of some of the tugs having poor sea going qualities and not being fit for the purpose to which the War Office put them but most did sterling service.  HS 3 and 4, previously Belgian tugs were captured and sunk by U-Boats, HS 66 sank on the Goodwin Sands, HS 75 was sunk in collision in Le Havre and the Eugene F Moran, an American tug only made it a mile off Halifax Harbour before sinking in a gale on her delivery voyage to the War Office in UK! Towage at sea is a pretty dangerous job, even today, and many Service Record entries commend the tug crews for their excellent work in appalling conditions and many awards were gained by tug crews as has been mentioned.

The S40 mentioned in the reports concerning Copland is not the HS Tug number 40 Petrel that you mention.  The S40 was a stern wheel paddle tug destined for IWT use in Mesopotamia on the River Tigris or Euphrates.  Many vessels like this were built in UK and shipped out in pieces on cargo ships or as in this instance sailed out escorted by HS tugs involved in the "Relay Service" mentioned in Copland's Service Record.  Being of shallow draft to access the rivers and of low freeboard they were temporarily modified so they could make the voyage to Mesopotamia, several being lost on route. The "Relay Service" on which Copland was employed was a system to pass barges and other vessels down the coasts of Britain, to France or on across the Bay of Biscay to Mesopotamia, Italy or Egypt.  The HS Tugs would be stationed in various ports along the route, from UK ports  like Plymouth, Southampton and Fowey to Lisbon, Gibraltar, Malta and Alexandria.  Each tug and Crew would generally stick to a particular section of the route with which they were familiar, but some made the whole voyage to the Eastern Med, one of these was commanded by Lionel Greenstreet newly returned from his position as 1st Mate of the ENDURANCE on Shackleton's exploration voyage to Antarctica and then commissioned into the IWT.

I assume you have read Copland's Service Record by now. His initial attestation to the 17th Service Battalion Highland Light Infantry  lasted from 25.1.1915 to 10.9.1915 Home Service only before he was "noticed" by the IWT Section RE, his Board of Trade 2nd Mates Foreign Going Certificate of Competency 1913 making him an ideal candidate for their employment as were many other Merchant Seamen, Bargeman, Lightermen and Watermen.  The IWT obviously had considerable clout to arrange transfer of large numbers of men from Infantry and other fighting regiments.  Copland's further service with the IWT in the British Expeditionary Force  in France and Belgium would most likely have been on the canals of those countries or possibly the coastal passage between rivers on the smaller AS tugs, where he probably gained his experience in tugs before graduating to the larger HS tugs, holding a 2nd Mates FG ticket does not prepare you for driving tugs and towing.

I can find no details of any Courts Martial involving Copland.

Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on the General List 18.11.1918 until 13.5.1919 his BOT Certificates show he returned to the Merchant Service in 1919 obtaining his 1st Mate's Certificate in July 1919 and his Master's Certificate in November 1919.

His Officers Personnel File is at the National Archives   WO374/15488 necessitating a visit to Kew or contacting them for a copy, although I may be going there in the not too distant future and can have a look for it, these files do not generally contain much of interest regarding what people were doing.

A CR10 Identity Card with photo of Copland in 1920 can be found on FindMyPast  Discharge Book Number 421040

Tony

 

The Crew memeber 

[InkyV]

Hi Tony,

Thanks so much for your additional information and context about the "relay service". That better helps me understand what their role was.

I never would have thought to have looked at service records for other seamen. That does give a bit more detail on locations and what they did. Thanks also for the tip about the CR10 Identity Card. I was able to find it (and several others for individuals from the Shetland village), which is a treasure. 

Perhaps rather than a court martial there was an inquiry. We would really like to see if there is further information about the incident that led to his award (and being commissioned?) If you are able to view his personnel record while at Kew, that would be greatly appreciated. As mentioned previously, I am in Canada and the granddaughter is in New Zealand, so it is difficult to do on-the-ground research.

MB - Thanks so much for finding that reference. I'm learning more about the ranks.

I've attached a copy of the two orders that Laurence passed down to his family. We are unsure if the fact he kept them had some significance related to the events that led to his medal and promotion. Specifically, we are hoping to find what he did, where he was, and when it happened, and anything about the aftermath. But, as MB noted, it might be difficult to find the details after all this time. We hope that there might be something in his record at Kew. Laurie Copland (1888-1932) WWI orders_from Laurie Copland, NZ.pdf

I've also attached a photo of Laurence; he is in the 3rd row from the front, leaning his arm on the edge of the bus (no moustache). I'm not sure who else is in the photo, or what the circumstances were. 

Thanks again to everyone who has helped out with our investigation. I am learning a lot!

Kind regards,

Karen

Edited 18 October , 2021 by InkyV

[Talesofaseadog]

12 hours ago, InkyV said:

Hi Tony,

Thanks so much for your additional information and context about the "relay service". That better helps me understand what their role was.

I never would have thought to have looked at service records for other seamen. That does give a bit more detail on locations and what they did. Thanks also for the tip about the CR10 Identity Card. I was able to find it (and several others for individuals from the Shetland village), which is a treasure. 

Perhaps rather than a court martial there was an inquiry. We would really like to see if there is further information about the incident that led to his award (and being commissioned?) If you are able to view his personnel record while at Kew, that would be greatly appreciated. As mentioned previously, I am in Canada and the granddaughter is in New Zealand, so it is difficult to do on-the-ground research.

MB - Thanks so much for finding that reference. I'm learning more about the ranks.

I've attached a copy of the two orders that Laurence passed down to his family. We are unsure if the fact he kept them had some significance related to the events that led to his medal and promotion. Specifically, we are hoping to find what he did, where he was, and when it happened, and anything about the aftermath. But, as MB noted, it might be difficult to find the details after all this time. We hope that there might be something in his record at Kew. Laurie Copland (1888-1932) WWI orders_from Laurie Copland, NZ.pdf

I've also attached a photo of Laurence; he is in the 3rd row from the front, leaning his arm on the edge of the bus (no moustache). I'm not sure who else is in the photo, or what the circumstances were. 

Thanks again to everyone who has helped out with our investigation. I am learning a lot!

Kind regards,

Karen

A wonderful picture that could be classed as a Charabanc (ie carriage with benches).

Its a great pity that we cannot see the name of the Tourist Company as it is based in Portsmouth.

Later research shows it may be 'Clarendon Road, Southsea Tourist Co. Charabanc proprietors.

The part with the name on drops down to use as a step to get in.

Tony

Edited 18 October , 2021 by Talesofaseadog

[GreyC]

Hi,

maybe this is the go-to forum to identify the bus and its owner:

http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/?page_id=14503

Best,

GreyC

[KizmeRD]

12 hours ago, InkyV said:

We would really like to see if there is further information about the incident that led to his award (and being commissioned?)

At this point in time there is still no evidence of Sgt. Major Copland ever being involved in one particular noteworthy incident that earned him his medal. Without such evidence, it would be reasonable to assume that he was awarded his MOBE for exceptional service during the totality of his time as Master of the tug HS.39 (engaged in Coastal Delivery Service).
The award of the Medal of the Order of the British Empire would have been entirely appropriate for someone of his rank Sgt. Major rendering meritorious service in Home Waters.

HS.39 was one of 50 or so tugs that got transferred from the War Dept. to the Admiralty at the end of 1918.
We don’t yet know what his new role was after he received his commission. We might speculate that perhaps it was some sort of a supervisory position, where having a pip on his shoulder would have better positioned him to exercise authority over his former peers (other tug masters), but that’s just a guess. In any case he seems to have served his time and done sufficiently well to have deserved his promotion - independent of whether or not he may have been caught up in some sort incident along the way.

Also, bear in mind that even after the Armistice there was still a great deal of work required in repatriating vast quantities of military equipment and war supplies from the Front. Accordingly the IWT facilities at Richborough, Dover, Southampton and other south coast ports would have remained very busy for some considerable time. It would of course be interesting to learn what exactly the newly promoted Second Lieutenant was involved with up until he was demobbed, but perhaps we’ll never know for sure.

MB

[Talesofaseadog]

12 hours ago, GreyC said:

Hi,

maybe this is the go-to forum to identify the bus and its owner:

http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/?page_id=14503

Best,

GreyC

An excellent link for the bus picture, which I suspect was made by John I. Thornycroft and Co of Basingstoke.

I would also suggest that someone on this forum who will know better than me help to identify Laurence's rank from the picture which will give you a time frame for the picture.

Given that the picture was in Portsmouth they may be groups of men being trained to operate the tugs who had a day out.

The two civilians are probably the driver and his assistant.

Tony