dean mans Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Hi all Can anyone help. My grandfather died recently, he left me hid Dads & Brothers Medals. He himself was a fitness indtructor for the Royal Navy. My Mother tells me my great grandfather was Master at Arms on the HMS vindictive during the Zeebrugge invasion, His name Henry Champion. Master at Arms? Also she said my g'fathers brother also served also during this time, Name Harry Champion. I don't know what posistion he held. I have searched high and low for information on my 2 relatives to see if they had served on HMS Vindictive during the zeebrugge invasion and i can't find anything. i would be so delighted if anyone can help with any information or can lead me to someone who may be able to help. Good Luck ALL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Pending searches, can say that 'Master at Arms' is a Merchant Navy rank, rather than Royal Navy. If it is the correct rank, then maybe he served on one of the ferries used in the raid? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master-at-arms Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domwalsh Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 I can't find a Champion on the Zeebrugge muster lists for Vindictive, Iris or Daffodil. Using the service numbers for both relatives inscribed on the medals, you should be able able to find their service records on the National Archives website at a cost of £3.50 each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean mans Posted 5 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Pending searches, can say that 'Master at Arms' is a Merchant Navy rank, rather than Royal Navy. If it is the correct rank, then maybe he served on one of the ferries used in the raid? Ian Hi Ian Then maybe not master at arm, On the medals i have is H. Champion r.p.o HMS VINDICTIVE Also H.Champion L.S .RN HMS VINDICTIVE AND ONE WITH L.S.R.N 1914-1919 I Don't know if that helps. Many Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domwalsh Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Here is link to seamen's records of service: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...amp;queryType=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian turner Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Master at arms - well, I stand (or sit as the case may be) corrected! Please ignore my misleading post therefore Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domwalsh Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 I've found one Master at Arms on Zeebrugge muster, a Charles Dunkason who received DSM. Here is London Gazette entry: To receive the Distinguished Service Medal. H.M.S. Vindictive. M.A.A. Charles George Dunkason, O.N. 191301 (Po.). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Johnson Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Isn't R.P.O. Regulating Petty Officer? Probably just lower in rank than the Master at Arms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Hi, Master at Arms is most certainly a Royal Naval rank instigated in the 17th century, he was the senior man on the lower deck and as such was the only man on the lower deck to carry a sword and wear a frock coat. Regulating Petty Officer is equivalent to a Ships Corporal 1st Class and was instigated with the Regulating Branch on the 22nd July 1919. Having RPO on his medal states he was in the Ships Police/Regulating Branch. It would be worthwhile tracing his Naval Record, as Vindictive(Blockship) was sunk (10/05/1918) before the RPO existed. The next rank up from Regulating Petty Officer is Master At Arms so he could well have made it to the rank. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean mans Posted 5 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Hi, Master at Arms is most certainly a Royal Naval rank instigated in the 17th century, he was the senior man on the lower deck and as such was the only man on the lower deck to carry a sword and wear a frock coat. Regulating Petty Officer is equivalent to a Ships Corporal 1st Class and was instigated with the Regulating Branch on the 22nd July 1919. Having RPO on his medal states he was in the Ships Police/Regulating Branch. It would be worthwhile tracing his Naval Record, as Vindictive(Blockship) was sunk (10/05/1918) before the RPO existed. The next rank up from Regulating Petty Officer is Master At Arms so he could well have made it to the rank. Regards Charles Thanks Charles Excellent many thanks. On another medal inscribed on back is H.Champion A.B.R.N Medal is a star crown on top crossed with2 swords with circular wreath with a V inside a G scribed 1914-15 With all medals inscribe H.Champion i cant work out if they are for great grandfather or Great Uncle lol Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domwalsh Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Hi Dean, The medals you list, though having two different numbers, are to one man, Herbert Champion. If you follow the link I gave you you can pull off the two records of service. The medal with Vindictive on sounds like a Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. He would have served on the Vindictive much later than the Zeebrugge raid, and the rank of Regulating Petty Officer, as has been pointd out, is also a later rank. If he had served at Zeebrugge, it would say so on his record of service. Cheers, Dom Description Name Champion, Herbert Official Number: J15219 Place of Birth: Ashford, Kent Date 19 March 1895 Catalogue reference ADM 188/677 Dept Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies Series Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services Piece 15001-15500 Description Name Champion, Herbert Official Number: M35830 Place of Birth: Ashford, Kent Date 19 March 1895 Catalogue reference ADM 188/1089 Dept Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies Series Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services Piece 35501-36000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean mans Posted 5 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Hi Dean, The medals you list, though having two different numbers, are to one man, Herbert Champion. If you follow the link I gave you you can pull off the two records of service. The medal with Vindictive on sounds like a Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. He would have served on the Vindictive much later than the Zeebrugge raid, and the rank of Regulating Petty Officer, as has been pointd out, is also a later rank. If he had served at Zeebrugge, it would say so on his record of service. Cheers, Dom Description Name Champion, Herbert Official Number: J15219 Place of Birth: Ashford, Kent Date 19 March 1895 Catalogue reference ADM 188/677 Dept Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies Series Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services Piece 15001-15500 Description Name Champion, Herbert Official Number: M35830 Place of Birth: Ashford, Kent Date 19 March 1895 Catalogue reference ADM 188/1089 Dept Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies Series Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services Piece 35501-36000 Hi Dom Manny many thanks your a star Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 As Paul Kendall recently posted on another Zeebrugge-related thread, another ship was named Vindictive later in 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgamesh of Uruk Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Vindictive, ex-Cavendish. Improved Birmingham class cruiser. She was converted to an aircraft carrier. From memory, commissioned before the Armistice. Sounds to me as if he was a "Crusher" in her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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