Unidentified - Either HMS Revenge or HMS Hermes [Archive]

mik43

30-08-2008, 15:43

The attached pic shows a band of happy matelots taking it easy! It is either before or after some a formal occasion as medals are being worn. The date is somewhere between 1st October 1937 and 1st July 1940 which makes it either Revenge or Hermes. This is known as Dad (front row, second right -sitting) was a CERA at this time. However this assumes, I know a dangerous thing, that he got new badges of rank or whatever when he got promoted to a Warrant Engineer. If he kept his Chiefs buttons then the date expands to the right a fair bit!! So the big question is what, where and when. With the help of the kind people of the Invergordon website I know it is not around that area. So I'm hoping that I might have more luck with this request than I did for my last one! Over to you gents!!
Regards
Mik

jbryce1437

02-02-2009, 17:05

Nice photo and I am inclined, by the number of Royal Marines in the shot, to think it would be Revenge. The Royal Marines usually manned one, or more, of the gun the gun turrets. I hope by bringing the post back to the top that someone else may be able to comment on it. Without being able to read the name of the ship on the cap tally, it may remain a mystery.

mik43

03-02-2009, 15:40

Thanks for that JB, your comment regarding the booties is a good one and I agree points towards REvenge. Needless to say I had the magnifying glass out to checkout the cap tally on the original photo!! Not with any success, hence the post!!!!
Mik

mik43

04-02-2009, 16:27

Just in hope that I may jog someone's memory, if the ship was the Revenge then the places I know she visited during the time frame are: Gib, Ajaccio, Weymouth, Margate, Scapa Flow and Rosyth.
So, still waiting, searching and hoping!!!
Mik

Blaydon

13-03-2009, 12:46

That may be a tomb of some sort on the left so could this be some sort of church parade?

mik43

13-03-2009, 18:43

I thought about that Kev, but discounted it as I didn't think that a photographer would have present for a church parade. But I do agree that it could be some memorial because of the railings.
Mik

mik43

25-08-2009, 19:37

I've brought this one back to the top again as I know that there are a lot of new members who may not have seen it, and perhaps, just perhaps, someone out there might be able to supply the answer of where it was taken.

Here's hoping!!

Mik

mik43

13-02-2010, 15:40

Since my last post on this one back in August last year there have been a number of new members to the forum. So those who have already seen it, my apologies, but to new members out there, can you be of any help regarding the location of this pic. Very difficult I know with the lack of background detail!!

Mik

steve roberts

13-02-2010, 15:56

Hi Mik.The 2 Badgeman in the first standing row seems to have a very strange branch badge on his arm(the only branch badge visible) It looks like the outline of a Carrier,so could he be a Waffu? There fore making it Hermes?? The plot thickens!....Steve.

alanbenn

13-02-2010, 18:59

Steve, having zoomed in on this photo without losing too much clarity, there are 2 people with that badge. Which appears to be a torpedo with a star above...... I believe this was for a seaman torpedoman.

Regards
Alan

ps. still can't get it clear enough to see the cap tally.

steve roberts

13-02-2010, 19:09

Hi Alan.No ammount of magnifying or high resing seems to work on the cap tallies.I see what you mean about the branch badges,this would seem to throw the ball back to Revenge.I dont think Hermes(Carrier) had tubes?...Regards. Steve.:confused:

mik43

15-02-2010, 17:24

Alan/Steve

Thanks for your comments, I too had a go at magnifying the cap tallies from the original without any luck either!! The only progress I have made that the ship is probably Revenge as Dad would've have had a thin gold 'ring' if it was Hermes.

It's a b****r isn't it when you can't see the detail!!!!!

Mik

Mac Hendry

19-05-2010, 09:05

Is the R.M. far left in the photo holding a bandmasters baton in his right hand ?

steve roberts

19-05-2010, 09:17

John Brown

20-05-2010, 17:57

Similarly, the RM 2nd from left sitting has a stick of some kind. Also...is the sailor 3rd from the right sitting holding a bunch of flowers???

John

steve roberts

20-05-2010, 18:21

Hi John.That RM seems to be holding a silver topped cane? I would not dare hazard a guess as to why! And yes the sailor does appear to be holding a bunch of flowers,very strange!!!
Regards Steve.

qprdave

20-05-2010, 18:58

"I don't think Hermes(Carrier) had tubes?"

Excuse my ignorance in such matters.

Who would have had control of the torpedo's carried for the aircraft on a Carrier at that time?

Dave

steve roberts

20-05-2010, 19:10

Hi Dave.A very very valid point.That, throws the ball up into the air once again!!!
Regards Steve.

stontamar

22-05-2010, 17:14

I doubt if the ships cat would have been at a church parade either (1st JR from right - sitting)!! Also composition is rather odd; why would a photographer pose part of the assembled crew behind railings? Finally there is a mix of non substantive rates represented at the event not to mention RMs. No answers and doubt it will ever be possible to come to a definitive answer as to the reason for the gathering.

Regards

stontamar

alanbenn

22-05-2010, 22:11

I doubt if the ships cat would have been at a church parade either (1st JR from right - sitting)!!

Am I missing something here because try as I may I can't see any ships cat....anywhere.

Another possible theory could it be some sort of wedding contingent?
Perhaps one of the higher ranking officers had them acting as a Honour guard, ushers etc.

Regards
Alan

stontamar

22-05-2010, 22:19

[QUOTE=alanbenn;116452]Am I missing something here because try as I may I can't see any ships cat....anywhere.

Hi Alan I called whatever it is over the ratings shoulder the ships cat because I could not identify what it actually is. Could be a bunch of flowers or for all I know it is the ships cat!! Any other thoughts are more than welcome.

Regards

stontamar

alanbenn

22-05-2010, 22:36

Ah! thank god for that, thought I was going a bit more senile.

I think they are flowers too, which has already been suggested.

Although the occassion was formal I assume due to the wearing of medals etc, the photo is obviously showing them relaxing as quite a few of them appear to be holding cigarettes they are smoking.

Regards
Alan

Mac Hendry

24-05-2010, 13:52

Hi Mac.Well spotted.It looks more like a Drill Instructors "Pace Stick" used to measure the exact distance of a pace taken when marching.This would throw the ball back into the Revenge court.Hermes may have had a RM Band and a very small RM contingent as light guns crew,but Revenge would have had a very large contingent of Royals.Enough to man a complete turret system,a band and uncle Tom Cobbly and all!!!
Regards Steve.

Hi Steve,
didn't RM NCOs carry "walking out" swagger sticks at one time, this might explain why there's a couple of them, and I think a pace stick might be a bit chunkier due to the hinge.
Mac

steve roberts

24-05-2010, 16:25

Hi Mac.I do believe you are right.It could simply be "swagger sticks."Though I do not believe these were ever really official,but carrying them was overlooked as an NCO's "Perk".If officers could use the smaller version,why not NCO's with a much larger one?
Regards Steve.

Cpl of the Gangway

15-01-2012, 22:22

Walking out sticks were issued to all Royal Marines before WW2, with the silver top. They are still issued today to members of a Units Provost staff.
The Pace stick is much longer and thicker.

The Stick you see in the picture is a Walking out stick, when Royal Marines going ashore had to carry them under there arms as I said this practice ceased at the outbreak of WW2.