chrisharley9 Posted 21 September , 2007 Share Posted 21 September , 2007 I strongly suspect that this was a shore base in India possibly at Bombay but I stand to be corrected - any further info would be appreciated Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveMurphy Posted 21 September , 2007 Share Posted 21 September , 2007 Chris, During WWI she was an armed merchant cruiser. During WWII she certainly was the Naval HQ in India. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 21 September , 2007 Author Share Posted 21 September , 2007 Dave thanks very much Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 22 September , 2007 Share Posted 22 September , 2007 Chris, I believe Dave may only be partially correct. The Dalhousie, 1,154 grt, built 1886, 13 knots, was a paddle ship and was used by the Royal Indian Marine as a troopship to Aug 1914, then transferred to the RN. Not sure what it was used for, but not listed by Dittmar and Colledge as either Armed Merchant Cruiser or Armed Boarding Steamer. Became Depot ship in 1916, thro' to 1919. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ionia Posted 22 September , 2007 Share Posted 22 September , 2007 I strongly suspect that this was a shore base in India possibly at Bombay but I stand to be corrected - any further info would be appreciated Chris In August, 1914 the Royal Indian Marine ship DALHOUSIE (built 1886, 1960 tons, 13kts) was lying at Aden where she had been for many years. After serving for a short time as Examination Vessel at Aden, she was refitted for service in the Persian Gulf and later became Base Guard Ship at Basra. By 1922 she was a Receiving Ship at Bombay and from 1928 to 1940 she was RIN's Boys' Training Establishment, moored alongside the breakwater in the Naval Dockyard at Bombay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 22 September , 2007 Author Share Posted 22 September , 2007 David & Ionia thanks very much Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phsvm Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 The records of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve - Hedley Green L/5362 - I'm researching state show part of his service was on HMS Dalhousie but from the above I'm not quite sure where it was or what it was doing at the time he was with the ship. Could someone clarify this for me please - and also what does 'Alert' mean for the period 9 December 16 - 22 April 17? Am I correct in thinking having completed his training he was at home carrying on with his normal line of work and waiting to be called back for active service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 8 minutes ago, phsvm said: The records of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve - Hedley Green L/5362 - I'm researching state show part of his service was on HMS Dalhousie but from the above I'm not quite sure where it was or what it was doing at the time he was with the ship. Could someone clarify this for me please - and also what does 'Alert' mean for the period 9 December 16 - 22 April 17? Am I correct in thinking having completed his training he was at home carrying on with his normal line of work and waiting to be called back for active service? HMS Alert was an elderly sloop which was used as a base ship in the Persian Gulf: http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-50-HMS_Alert.htm RM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 HMS ALERT was a depot ship in the Persian Gulf. Her deck logs can be seen here - http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-50-HMS_Alert.htm HMS DALHOUSIE was also in the Gulf, Deck logs here - http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-75-RIMS_Dalhousie.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phsvm Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 Many thanks. Just shows how easy it is to get things completely wrong! Shows what an amateur I am. How would he have been transported to the Gulf from England and once on board Alert and then Dalhouise what would his roles have been? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 His number was actually L[ondon}. Z/5362 and he had enlisted in the London Division of the RNVR. (RNVR medal roll, findmypast). His record (also findmypast) shows service in HMS Victory VI (Crystal Palace, presumably initial training) HMS Pembroke I (Chatham Barracks, I think) HMS Alert HMS Dalhousie (_._) HMS Dalhousie HMS Pembroke (Chatham presumably ready for demobilisation) The brackets after HMS Dalhousie show that he was being carried on the books of HMS Dalhousie but was serving on a small vessel (un-named) or elsewhere. He was rated Able Seaman after his initial training but nothing on the records indicates a trade. I suspect that he from Chatham to HMS Alert either on a troopship or as a passenger on a merchant ship. I expect that there is someone on the forum who will be able to work out what he actually did. RM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phsvm Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 His trade prior to enlistment was assistant in an Ironmongers store about as far away from the sea as you could possible be in rural Berkshire. I have no idea why he joined the RNVR as all the boys he'd grown up with in his tiny village joined either the Berkshires or the OBLI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 1 minute ago, phsvm said: His trade prior to enlistment was assistant in an Ironmongers store about as far away from the sea as you could possible be in rural Berkshire. I have no idea why he joined the RNVR as all the boys he'd grown up with in his tiny village joined either the Berkshires or the OBLI. I saw the "Ironmonger" civilian trade in his record. I meant his trade qualification in the navy which would tell us more about what he was doing. His service starts from July 1916. All things being equal he would have be liable for conscription. Perhaps he wanted some choice in how he served. RM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phsvm Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 Okay, I see what you mean. I guess if his previous trade had been any relevant occupation he'd have been doing something alinged to it during his service. For example if he'd been a cook/chef previously I guess he'd have been involved in the catering - but I don't know what relevance selling nails would be on a ship (said slightly toungue in cheek) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 27 February , 2020 Share Posted 27 February , 2020 Nice image at IWM: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/17809 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallace2 Posted 28 February , 2020 Share Posted 28 February , 2020 The ship's name probably derives from Lord Dalhousie, Viceroy of India 1848-56. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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