HMS Birkenhead 1914-1921

[Kiasu]

Please see enclosed photo of the crew and ship HMS Birkenhead.

I found this in my granfathers photo album and it is possible that he served on this ship as a stoker. His name was George Grinyer.

Does anyone have any more info on this vessel or a crew listing from around WWI or WW2 period.

Many thanks


Mark

[Melv.]

Well, being ex-RAF (!) I can tell you that the aircraft in the background is a Sopwith Camel or possibly for the purist historians amongst us a Sopwith Baby.
This aircraft belonged to the fledgeling RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service).

So HMS Birkenhead would have almost certainly been employed on fleet protection duties if She was carrying an aircraft for spotter work.

[stontamar]

Hi Mark to add to the previous post from Melv, HMS BIRKENHEAD (ex Greek ANTINANARKOS CONDOUROTIS) was purchased by the Admiralty whilst still on the stocks. Launched on 18 January 1915 she served with 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron, Grand Fleet, from completion through to the end of the war in 1918. She was finally sold for scrap to Cashmore, Newport, on 26 October 1921.

She was fitted with a revolving flying off platform forward in early 1918 and from 22 April 1918 through to October 1918 she carried, at various times, at least five different Sopwith 2F1 Camel single seater biplane scouts, including aircraft allocated the following serial numbers N6753, N6759, N6833, N6844 and N6847.

HMS BIRKENHEAD fought at Jutland on 31 May - 1st June 1916 with the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron which included Falmouth (flagship of Rear-Admiral T. D. W. Napier), Yarmouth, Birkenhead and Gloucester and I believe she came through that battle without sustaining any hits or suffering any casulties.

As the ratings shown in the photogragh are dressed in winter rig I would date this photograph to a period in September or October 1918.

A picture of HMS BIRKENHEAD showing her carrying a 2F1 Camel is available from the Imperial War Musuem under their photographic reference IWM SP165.

As far as your grandfather is concerned his service record may be available on line from The National Archive at Kew at a cost of £3.50 (ADM188/948). I can only find one George Grinyer, he was born in Brighton, Susex on 2 February 1899 and as his service number (K40752) identifies this man as a stoker it may very well prove to be the right man. Please see link:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7217672&queryType=1&resultcount=1

If you do obtain the service record and you need any further help to decypher the contents please contact me.

Regards

Dave - stontamar

Mod:-
E-Mail removed for personal security

[Kiasu]

many thanks for the info.

I'm quite excited over this as I can't believe there were two stokers on this ship called George Grinyer and he was in fact born in Brighton.

However, I was confused by the birth details until I just spoke to my mother who said that my granfather lied about his age so he could join up.

I will order a copy of the details that you mention and will be in contact again once I receive them.

Thank you all so much for the comments and advice as prior to this, the photo had no point of reference other than my believing it was a ship that my grandfather may have served on.

I will ask my mother if she can recognise him in the photo.


Regards


Mark

[Batstiger]

Hi Mark,
There are some very good people who restore photographs on the Service pals forums and I took the liberty of posting the picture of the crew members
to them to see what they could come up with. I think you will be pleased with the results. Also another picture of the Birkenhead.

Bob.

[Kiasu]

Thank you so very much Bob for getting the photo patched up and for the other pic of HMS Birkenhead.

Although my mother is elderly and her memory is not so good these days I showed her the patched up photo and she believes that her father is in the back row third from the left.

Also, following on from info given to me by Dave earlier in this thread I have managed to obtain a copy of my grandfathers service record.

Very interesting as one can see that he lied about his age to get into the Navy. Not by much, but he said he was 18 in Feb when in fact his real birthday was a month later. However, I understand that this was common practice around the time.

This did cause some confusion when double checking if I had the right person but he was born in Brighton and served on HMS Birkinhead. Both of these match up with my grandfather's details and when I told my mother about the birth date discrepancy, she recalled him telling her that he lied about his birthday to join up earlier.

The odds of two stokers called George Grinyer both born in Brighton and serving on the same ship at the same time does not even bear serious consideration.


I would really like to post his service record on here as there are some parts that I cannot read bearing in mind it is hand written. However it is a 104kb .pdf doc and although I have tried, I cannot seem to be able to upload it for some reason.

I will try again now but if anyone has a bit of IT knowledge that would allow them to upload it for me maybe by reducing the size or something, please let me know as I would be more than happy to e mail it to you.


Many thanks for all the advice, links and photos as I really did not expect any responses. This is a truly ine.


Mark

[stontamar]

Hi mark

If you can either send me The National Archive link or e-mail the document to me I will try and help to understand the contents of the document.

stontamar@googlemail.com


Regards

Dave

[HMS Bergamot]

The Birkenhead class consisted of two ships, the Birkenhead and the Chester. Chester came up against the German cruisers Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, of the High Seas Fleet. It was at this part of the Jutland battle that Boy Cornwell, aged 16 1/2, won his posthumous VC. Before fatal damage could be caused, the pressure was relieved by Admiral Hood in HMS Invincible, who crippled Wiesbaden, and reduced another cruiser to 12 knots.

The other thing that I am able to tell you is that the Birkenhead class were armed with ten 5.5" guns, a most uncommon calibre at that time. Must have been a nightmare for the armourers!

Regards,

[ludsie]

The Birkenhead and HMS Chester were originally ordered by the Greeks for their navy. However WW1 got in the way and the royal navy borrowed them for a while.

The 5.5" guns were of a new type that was also used on HMS hood

[John wells]

Hello Mark
Just joined the forum to find out more about my fathers naval service.
From his original service record he served on the Birkenhead from August 1915 to March 1918. To our surprise, we think, the person standing back row second from left,next to your relative, is my father. His name was Bill Wells.
Under the thread 'Royal Tournament' I have written about some of his sporting achievements in the navy. Do you have any other photos or history ?
Regards John

[Phil Sawkins]

Hi Mark
My Grandfather Robert Bone was a stoker on HMS Birkenhead in 1918, not sure when he joined her married 4 children. Prior to that he was on HMS Neptune as stoker 1st class 416 in the 1911 census, he was single at that time. Don't think he is in the photograph.

Phil