Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Finding more information.


Robert Donat

Recommended Posts

Hi all,

I,m hoping that someone may be able to point me in the right direction.

I have came across this site after finding my great grandfather’s service records from the Royal Navy. Unfortunately the service records are not very detailed as far as I can tell.

is there anywhere else that I can acquire extra information?
 I have attempted to search the national archives for information on the ships that he sailed on, but all the information is temporarily unavailable…

 

thanks in advance. 

 

Rob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

@Robert Donat

Post his ADM 188 Record here & a mate will be along to assist you in interpreting the entries.

Edited by RNCVR
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome to the GWF.

It would be most helpful to know the name of your GGF and whether he served as an officer or as a rating. What are these "not very detailed"  records that you have "found"? As @RNCVR has suggested, posting what you have (or a link) is better than trying to describe any records.

ADM 188 records are those for naval ratings held in (and downloadable from) the UK National Archives.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi, 

many thanks for the welcome.

my GGF name was John Hennessy & his DOB: 28/04/1888

And hopefully I have attached the correct document.

regards.

43343_509_0-00467.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, as it turns out - quite a lot of information is shown on his ADM 188.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised what will now be revealed.

And welcome to the Forum!

MB

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes that is the correct document.  First off, John Hennessy was a Stoker rating. He ent'd the RN as a Stoker 2nd class on a 12 yr engagement 6 Mar 1907.

Whilst serving on HMS Carnarvon he got into a spot of trouble & was deprived of his 1st GCB (Good Conduct badge) 18 Jan 1915, & got sentenced to 5 days in cells. This could have been for almost anything as the RN had a myriad of offences for which ratings could be punished. His offence would not likely have been a major offence, possibly something like refusing duty, AWOL returning from leave, disobedience to a superior, drunkeness, etc etc.  In any event he would have lost pay & allowances for his cell time & been deprived of his Good Conduct pay for the period of his GCB deprivation.  He likely also forfeited his daily issue of rum ration for a period of time.

His GCB was subsequently Restored on 24 July 1915, at which time his pay & allowances were restored. However he had not learnt his lesson(s) as he was again Deprived of his restored GCB on 22 Dec 1916 & this time he was also reduced in rate to Stoker 1st class (he had been advanced to Leading Stoker on 12 Sep 1914.  His GCB was subsequently Restored on 22 Dec 1917.  He was again advanced to Acting Leading Stoker on 1 Feb 1918 & Leading Stoker on 31 Aug 1918. 

He had successfully passed for advancement to Stoker PO on 6 Sep 1916, & Educationally passed for PO on 9 & 31 Aug 1918.

He never received any more than 1 GCB.  Had he not lost time he would likely have qualified for 2 GCB's.

He was Demobilized 30 Apl 1919. 

His ships can all be looked up on the internet.

Hope this assists you somewhat.....

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hennessy subsequently joined the RFR (Royal Fleet Reserve) as a Leading Stoker on 3 Sep 1919 & served on the books of HMS Vivid (Devonport) from 11 Apl to 7 Jun 1921, when he was again Demobilized.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just in case you have any difficulties reading the handwriting, here is the list of ships that he served on…

Vivid II Stoker 2nd class   6th March 1907 30th April 1907
Carnarvon Stoker 2nd class   1st May 1907 27th August 1907
Carnarvon Stoker 1st class   28th August 1907 14th April 1909
Vivid II Stoker 1st class   15th April 1909 6th June 1909
Blake Stoker 1st class   7th June 1909 12th August 1912
Vivid II Stoker 1st class   13th August 1912 16th August 1912
Magnificent Stoker 1st class   17th August 1912 30th June 1913
Exmouth Stoker 1st class   1st July 1913 27th February 1914
Indus Stoker 1st class   28th February 1914 1st August 1914
Amphitrite Stoker 1st class   2nd August 1914 11th September 1914
Amphitrite Leading Stoker   12th September 1914 17th January 1915
Amphitrite Leading Stoker   23rd January 1915 21st June 1915
Vivid II Leading Stoker   22nd June 1915 13th August 1915
Laburnum Leading Stoker   14th August 1915 15th November 1915
Colleen (Laburnum) Leading Stoker   16th November 1915 21st December 1916
Colleen (Laburnum) Stoker 1st class   22nd December 1916 20th October 1917
Hecla Stoker 1st class   21st October 1917 31st January 1918
Hecla Acting Leading Stoker   1st February 1918 30th April 1918
Gibraltar (Laburnum) Acting Leading Stoker   1st May 1918 15th August 1918
Victorious (Laburnum) Acting Leading Stoker   16th August 1918 30th August 1918
Victorious (Laburnum) Leading Stoker   31st August 1918 30th September 1918
Laburnum Leading Stoker   1st October 1918 9th October 1918
Vivid II Leading Stoker   10th October 1918 17th December 1918
Dreel Castle Leading Stoker   18th December 1918 27th January 1919
Attentive II (Kilmacrennan) Leading Stoker   28th January 1919 14th March 1919
Hermione (Kilmacrennan) Leading Stoker   15th March 1919 25th March 1919
Vivid II Leading Stoker   26th March 1919 30th April 1919
Vivid II (RFR) Leading Stoker   11th April 1921 7th June 1921

MB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As can be seen from the above service history, he started off serving on cruisers, then moved on to pre-dreadnought battleships, and once war broke out he was serving on sloops. A lot of his wartime service was based over in Ireland. Ended his career on Kil class patrol boat.

MB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Small amendment to what I said above, HMS Amphitrite was part of the 9th cruiser squadron on the Finisterre Station at the start of the war, before going into reserve, at which time he transferred to HMS Laburnum (sloop) which was based initially at Queenstown, Ireland.

MB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't thank you all enough for the information you have given me.

This has far exceeded my expectations of anything I could have expected, and I am dooo grateful for everything. 

 

Thank you.❤️

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...