Crab
27-02-2008, 11:48
In researching the wife's grandfather's RN service (Stoker Petty Officer Attwaters) there are three entries in his service record with ships names followed by a bracketed further name eg
28 May 09 - 24 Jul 09 HMS HECLA (BRAZEN)
04 Jan 30 - 07 Oct 30 HMS EXCELLENT (RESTLESS)
21 Nov 41 - 18 Oct 44 HMS BEEHIVE (ASTROS)
In the case of the second HMS EXCELLENT what was a Stoker Petty Officer doing at a RN Gunnery School unless he was drafted in to help with the HMS EXCELLENT Centennary celebrations in July 1930? I also gather there was an R class destroyer RESTLESS around at the same time.
I think I've discovered the origin of the third entry ie HMS Beehive was a shore base at Felixstowe and ASTROS was a converted steam trawler operating out of Felixstowe.
Finally, SPO Attwaters enlisted in 1909 at HMS NELSON in Portsmouth and was there for four months. Was NELSON the RN Barracks at Portsmouth and basic training unit prior to it becoming HMS VICTORY.
28 May 09 - 24 Jul 09 HMS HECLA (BRAZEN)
04 Jan 30 - 07 Oct 30 HMS EXCELLENT (RESTLESS)
21 Nov 41 - 18 Oct 44 HMS BEEHIVE (ASTROS)
In the case of the second HMS EXCELLENT what was a Stoker Petty Officer doing at a RN Gunnery School unless he was drafted in to help with the HMS EXCELLENT Centennary celebrations in July 1930? I also gather there was an R class destroyer RESTLESS around at the same time.
I think I've discovered the origin of the third entry ie HMS Beehive was a shore base at Felixstowe and ASTROS was a converted steam trawler operating out of Felixstowe.
Finally, SPO Attwaters enlisted in 1909 at HMS NELSON in Portsmouth and was there for four months. Was NELSON the RN Barracks at Portsmouth and basic training unit prior to it becoming HMS VICTORY.