Humphrey Bogart's Naval Records

[Fattyowls]

Humphrey Bogart served as an Coxwain (or assistant) on the mighty USS Leviathan and from a biography website I noted that he joined the ship on 27th or 28th November 1918. The ship was in Liverpool at the time. I now can't find the website in question which leads me to question my facts. Does anyone know if Bogart's naval records are available? Even if I could find the bio I'd like to double check.

Thanks in anticipation chums,

Pete.

[seaJane]

50 minutes ago, Fattyowls said:

Humphrey Bogart

His records are in the US National Archives (see https://aotus.blogs.archives.gov/2010/06/04/stars-and-heroes-shine-in-our-military-personnel-records/), which I haven't searched, but   https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veteran-humphrey-bogart.html confirms his service.

sJ

[Fattyowls]

That is brilliant sJ. I've found his records and he was transferred from the training base as Pelham Park in New York to the USS Leviathan on the 28th (I think) but since the ship was in dry dock in Liverpool it is not immediately obvious if he was actually in England on that date. I've only skip read the records but you could interpret them as just being a transfer from one command to another. It is ambiguous, so I'll have another look tomorrow after a strong cup of coffee.

I'm in your debt,

Pete.

[seaJane]

11 hours ago, Fattyowls said:

I'm in your debt,

I take payment in chocolate .

No, but, seriously; glad I was able to help.

sJ

[KizmeRD]

I take it that you already have a photo of him in his uniform? 
 

MB

[Fattyowls]

I do have that one but much smaller, thanks MB.

Pete.

[KizmeRD]

As I understand it, he was fairly well-educated (he could have gone to College) but opted to join-up instead. After some five or more months of training at Pelham, he passed out as ??? (Asst. Coxswain???) Boswain’s Mate Second Class. If so then he would have been a petty officer responsible for overseeing seamanship evolutions and small boats, as well as the maintenance of all deck equipment. In port, his job would have been to supervise the standing Watch, ensuring that ship’s routine/daily orders were being followed, and at sea (as a Quartermaster specialist), he would have assisted the Navigating Officer and/or Officer of the Watch by performing such duties as steering the ship, acting as bridge lookout, and he was even trained to take bearings and soundings and to plot these on the chart (a bit like the role of a Seaman/Navigators Yeoman specialist in the Royal Navy). From what I understand, his record of discipline wasn’t too great and on one occasion he even went AWOL (ending his brief navy career as a lowly Seaman Second Class).

MB

* Additional help required from one of our American Forum Pals please - in the photo it appears that Bogie has his crow, but without any stripe below it.  What does this equate to (presumably one rank below Coxswain third class, but was there such an enlisted rank?) Could it be some sort of class leader designation, only used during basic training? The specialisation badge below that looks to me like a ships wheel (Quartermaster’s badge),:but could be something different.

Edited 19 March , 2022 by KizmeRD

[Fattyowls]

Thanks MB, that really helps. The mystery to me is that when he was transferred from Pelham to USS Leviathan the ship was in dry dock in Liverpool, so where exactly was he? I can see now why the biography I found was ambiguous. He certainly went AWOL and missed the sailing of his ship; there is quite a bit in the records about that.

Pete.

[KizmeRD]

I can only assume that he was given home leave until the ship got back to New York on 15th December.

MB

[Fattyowls]

4 hours ago, KizmeRD said:

I can only assume that he was given home leave until the ship got back to New York on 15th December.

MB

That sounds eminently plausible MB, thank you.

Pete.