SS/7863 Ordinary Seaman Ernest Cleverly

[Robin Garrett]

This man is buried in the churchyard of St Peter's West Tytherley. I have the following information on him:

His RN Seaman's Record shows that he was born on 25 April 1899 in Marlborough and that his occupation was gardener. He joined the Royal Navy on 29 May 1917 and in 1918 was on the books of HMS Victory, a shore establishment, but was living on HMS Redoubtable, a tender to Victory. He died of Tuberculous Meningitis on 23rd April 1918. 

Was he undergoing training or some other role. I know HMS Victory 1 was an accounting unit for ships sailing out of Portsmouth and, as he was living on Redoubtable he clearly wasn't on HMS Victory 2 which was concerned with the RN Division.

[horatio2]

Although  the CWGC record shows him as HMS REDOUBTABLE, she was just an accommodation ship at Portsmouth. His ADM 188 record clearly shows that he was borne not in REDOUBTABLE but as a supernumerary rating on the books of HMS VICTORY I, This division of the large VICTORY Pay Office did not just carry "ships sailing out of Portsmouth" but also administered men who were drafted ashore to the Portsmouth Base, including those living in the RN Barracks and in the overflow accommodation ships like REDOUBTABLE.

He had been at Portsmouth for some eleven months so had certainly completed his recruit training and was awaiting a sea draft away from VICTORY. His record does not tell is if he was transferred to RN Hospital Haslar or how long he had been ill.

[Robin Garrett]

Horatio 

Thanks for your comprehensive answer.

Robin