Transport Ship

[John84]

Do any Pals know what transport ship was used to take Anson Battalion, R.N.V.R.. on overseas service. 20th-28th March, 1915 are the dates I am looking for, plush the date the ship left England.....any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John.

[bobbluesboy]

Cannot say for certain but Nelson Battalion left Avonmouth docks on 1/3/15 as part of MEF on board the Franconia.Howe and Deal battalions on HMT Alnwick Castle left sameday as part of MEF with destroyer escort.On 18th March all Transports except Franconia left for Gallipoli peninsula to feign diversionary attack stayed for 2 hours and returned 19/3/15 back to Lemnos.Franconia left Lemnos 24/3/15,arrived Port Said Egypt 26/3/15.On 1st April Half battalions of Drake,Nelson,Howe and Anson battalions sent to man Suez Canal defensive positions to counter threat of Turkish attack from Sinai desert.While away rest of RND inspected on moring of 3,4,15 by C-in-C MEF Gen Sir Ian Hamilton.On 4,4,15 Suez force returned.If you play around on Google with above info may find more out.My guess is between 20 - 28th March Anson would have been on Lemnos and then on transport to Port Said, and then encamped Port Said,Egypt.Hope this helps Bob.

[michaeldr]

The fleet carrying the RND to Gallipoli left Avonmouth on the 27th & 28th February 1915

The ‘Grantully Castle’ carried the

2nd Brigade HQ [4 officers & 21 other ranks]

Hood Battalion [31 officers & 996 other ranks]

Anson Battalion [31 officers & 996 other ranks]

Info as pub by Len Sellers in his magazine ‘RND’ Issue No.2 Sept 1997

Per Len the info is from the NA file ADM137/3088A Schedule B

I have to check further if the Anson stayed with the Hood on the Grantully Castle –

However [and until then] the foll is from Len’s book on the Hood Battalion

The Grantully Castle entered Mudros Bay on the island of lemons on the 11th March 1915

On the 17th the RND was ordered to sail into Turkish waters the following day. This was a feint used during the navy’s ill fated attack in the forts in the Straights on 18th March. They returned to Lemnos and sailed again on the 24th March arriving at Port Said on the 28th.

Hope that this helps

Michael D.R.

[John84]

Cannot say for certain but Nelson Battalion left Avonmouth docks on 1/3/15 as part of MEF on board the Franconia.Howe and Deal battalions on HMT Alnwick Castle left sameday as part of MEF with destroyer escort.On 18th March all Transports except Franconia left for Gallipoli peninsula to feign diversionary attack stayed for 2 hours and returned 19/3/15 back to Lemnos.Franconia left Lemnos 24/3/15,arrived Port Said Egypt 26/3/15.On 1st April Half battalions of Drake,Nelson,Howe and Anson battalions sent to man Suez Canal defensive positions to counter threat of Turkish attack from Sinai desert.While away rest of RND inspected on moring of 3,4,15 by C-in-C MEF Gen Sir Ian Hamilton.On 4,4,15 Suez force returned.If you play around on Google with above info may find more out.My guess is between 20 - 28th March Anson would have been on Lemnos and then on transport to Port Said, and then encamped Port Said,Egypt.Hope this helps Bob.

Bob, yes its a big help, thanks very much for your info, it is much appreceated.

Thanks again

John

[John84]

The fleet carrying the RND to Gallipoli left Avonmouth on the 27th & 28th February 1915

The ‘Grantully Castle’ carried the

2nd Brigade HQ [4 officers & 21 other ranks]

Hood Battalion [31 officers & 996 other ranks]

Anson Battalion [31 officers & 996 other ranks]

Info as pub by Len Sellers in his magazine ‘RND’ Issue No.2 Sept 1997

Per Len the info is from the NA file ADM137/3088A Schedule B

I have to check further if the Anson stayed with the Hood on the Grantully Castle –

However [and until then] the foll is from Len’s book on the Hood Battalion

The Grantully Castle entered Mudros Bay on the island of lemons on the 11th March 1915

On the 17th the RND was ordered to sail into Turkish waters the following day. This was a feint used during the navy’s ill fated attack in the forts in the Straights on 18th March. They returned to Lemnos and sailed again on the 24th March arriving at Port Said on the 28th.

Hope that this helps

Michael D.R.

Michael....super stuff,..just what I was after..it wolud be great to know if you could find out for me if Anson stayed with the Hood on the Grantully Castle....thanks a bunch.

John.

[michaeldr]

John,

Douglas Jerrold’s history of the RND has the division “in the original transports” at the time of the feint 18th/19th March so it seems almost certain that the Ansons remained in the Grantully Castle until they reached Port Said.

The division’s reshipping at Port Said was the result of them having been incorrectly loaded as for a peace-time change of station

The Ansons were then [briefly] detached from the RND and given to the 29th Division to act as Beach Parties [fatigue duties]

May I enquire what your interest is in the dates 20-28th march 1915?

regards

Michael D.R.

[John84]

John,

Douglas Jerrold’s history of the RND has the division “in the original transports” at the time of the feint 18th/19th March so it seems almost certain that the Ansons remained in the Grantully Castle until they reached Port Said.

The division’s reshipping at Port Said was the result of them having been incorrectly loaded as for a peace-time change of station

The Ansons were then [briefly] detached from the RND and given to the 29th Division to act as Beach Parties [fatigue duties]

May I enquire what your interest is in the dates 20-28th march 1915?

regards

Michael D.R.

Cheers Micheal your info is very much appreceated.....My interest in the transport ship arond these dates, is that a youg lad from our village who was a member of Anson Battalion, died on the 27th March, 1915 onboard it. He was buried at sea the following day, with naval honours.

Thanks again

John.

[michaeldr]

John,

Have a look at Len Sellers’ book ‘The Hood Battalion’ [pub 1995 by Leo Cooper – part of Pen & Sword] in particular in chapter 6 ‘The voyage’ pages 51-56 which will give you an idea of this transport as it sailed to the eastern med

Regards

Michael D.R.

ps: Also Joe Murray’s book ‘Gallipoli 1915’ just republished by Cerberus in 2004

describes the voyage of the Grantully Castle; see pages 36-44

Edited 16 April , 2006 by michaeldr

[John84]

John,

Have a look at Len Sellers’ book ‘The Hood Battalion’ [pub 1995 by Leo Cooper – part of Pen & Sword] in particular in chapter 6 ‘The voyage’ pages 51-56 which will give you an idea of this transport as it sailed to the eastern med

Regards

Michael D.R.

ps: Also Joe Murray’s book ‘Gallipoli 1915’ just republished by Cerberus in 2004

describes the voyage of the Grantully Castle; see pages 36-44

Thanks Michael..I have just ordered the books from my local library.

John.

[horatio2]

Do any Pals know what transport ship was used to take Anson Battalion, R.N.V.R.. on overseas service. 20th-28th March, 1915 are the dates I am looking for, plush the date the ship left England.....any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

John.

A bit last replying to this as only just signed up to the Forum. Able Seaman John William Palmer of Anson Battalion is recorded as having died of fever on board HMT Grantully Castle at Port Said just after the RND transports arrived there from the Aegean. He was the only RND death on 27 Mar 1915. He is buried in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. He would not have been buried at sea as the ship was alongside in Egypt.

[John84]

A bit last replying to this as only just signed up to the Forum. Able Seaman John William Palmer of Anson Battalion is recorded as having died of fever on board HMT Grantully Castle at Port Said just after the RND transports arrived there from the Aegean. He was the only RND death on 27 Mar 1915. He is buried in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. He would not have been buried at sea as the ship was alongside in Egypt.

Thanks horatio2

You are of course correct, William does have a grave in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery. Looks like the newspapers of the day got it wrong, as the report states he was buried at sea on March 28th, with Naval honours.

Thanks again

John.

PS...Welcome to the forum.