Acknown Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 I'm researching the minesweeping trawler HMT 1137 (Corona). Does anyone know the duties of a 'Trimmer Cook'? Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 Wot it says on the tin. He combined the duties of trimmer (= stoker) and chef. Best use of the limited crew in a fishing boat. More than 1,200 RNR ratings were so employed in boats of the Auxiliary Patrol. It is to be hoped that he washed his hands before taking over the galley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Acknown said: Does anyone know the duties of a 'Trimmer Cook'? On a small trawler I would think most crew likely had multiple roles. I'm somewhat guessing ... as a Trimmer - crew member moving coal from the main hold towards feeding the steam engine boiler [i.e. trimming, also to distribute the load of the coal - a stoker/fireman would then feed the fire I believe] and as a Cook - crew member cooking for and feeding the crew. M Edit: I see Horatio has just similarly answered - too slow M, too slow! Edited 27 April , 2023 by Matlock1418 edit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 (edited) Am I right, Horatio, in thinking that stoker and trimmer are not equivalent jobs? Edited 27 April , 2023 by PhilB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekb Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 Born in Liverpool many years ago, when I was young I had many conversations with some old ex sailors, Royal Navy and Merchant Navy. They described Trimmers as being employed to keep coal and later oil storage level/equal so as not to affect the "trim" of the vessel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 April , 2023 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2023 Many thanks. Fastest solutions I have experienced! The sailor is TC123 Frederick Hall who was killed when the vessel went down in 1916. Could you decipher this record extract: What's the first destination? Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 4 minutes ago, derekb said: They described Trimmers as being employed to keep coal and later oil storage level/equal so as not to affect the "trim" of the vessel. Also to avoid fires in the coal stack as may have happened in Titanic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 (edited) Although the RNR listed both Stokers and Trimmers, the Stokers tended to be employed alongside RN Stokers in warships. RNR Trimmers were, broadly, the the eqivalent to Stokers but were employed stoking and trimming in trawlers and drifters in which there was insufficient room to carry both Stokers and Trimmers. The RNR rating of Trimmer was brought forward from the Fishing Fleeet and Mercantile Marine. The RN did not have a Trimmer rating. In terms of the work they carried out they can be considered equivalent. Edited 27 April , 2023 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 The hired Grimsby trawler HMS CORONA was taken up by the Admiralty on 24 February 1915 and was fitted out for naval service as a patrol vessel at the Lowestoft base. HMS HALCYON. On 21 March 1915 she was transferred to the Ramsgate base, HMS CETO. CORONA, hired trawler, Adty No 1137. Built 1912, 212grt, Grimsby-reg GY.684. Armament: 1-6pdr, 1-2pdr. In service 2.15-3.16. Mined 23.3.16 near Ramsgate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 34 minutes ago, Acknown said: What's the first destination? It would appear that, as Grimsby RNR District rating, he was employed/trained at the Grimsby base from his enrolment in October 1914 until he was drafted down to Lowestift to man CORONA and sail her down to Ramsgate. There she operated in the local armed defence flotilla until striking a mine laid by UC.6 off Ramsgate with the loss of thirteen crew.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 April , 2023 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2023 Thanks Horatio, I now have all I need. Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 April , 2023 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2023 (edited) No I haven't. Here's his pension entry (FOLD3 via WFA). Can you translate? 25/- awarded and seemingly three payments made. Acknown Edited 27 April , 2023 by Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 Nothing to add regarding these payments, presumably to his widow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 April , 2023 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2023 So three payments only, then ceased? Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interested Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 I may be wrong but if the widow re-marries I think the pension might be stopped. Or wait for an expert to come along who knows more than me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 April , 2023 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2023 Thanks, but she didn't remarry. Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 27 April , 2023 Share Posted 27 April , 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, Acknown said: Here's his pension entry (FOLD3 via WFA). Can you translate? 25/- awarded and seemingly three payments made. The full image of the page at WFA with his widow and children's details offers the solution: The date of birth of his widow [31 August 1873 = aged 43 in 1916] especially helps a lot: 12/6 pw [widow aged 35-45y] 5/0 pw [1st child]] 3/6 pw [2nd child] 2/0 pw [3rd child] 2/0 pw [4th child] = 25/0 pw Children's allowances up to them reaching age of 16 The additional page annotation in red from 1924 indicates a[nother?] file opened then - I would hypothesise/surmise that this was at the time the youngest child reached 16 in that year [1 Oct 24]. 2 hours ago, Acknown said: So three payments only, then ceased? The page available is only a partial record, and the expected main pension file would have the fuller details [sadly the file most likely lost/deliberately destroyed once its use was ended] - so I would suspect likely many more payments until the claim finally ceased when the children and widow no longer eligible [if she didn't remarry or otherways lose it then her pension likely to her death - as few widows gave them up voluntarily!]. M Edited 27 April , 2023 by Matlock1418 typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 27 April , 2023 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2023 That's really helpful, thank you. NOW I have everything I need. Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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