RN Shore Training Establishment: HMS Vivid

[dpratt123]

My Uncle Fred's records from W.W.I indicate he served for a time on both HMS Vivid and HMS Vivid II.

Now, I'm confused. I figured out that the Navy barracks at Devonport was known as HMS Vivid.

Then does anybody know what "Vivid II" might relate to.

[kc]

Hi.

In WW1, specifically 1914 - 1915, Vivid II was an 'Accounting Base' at Devonport. There were several Vivids at the time, Vivid III was an 'Accounting Section' also at Devonport Sep 1917 - ~ Dec 1918, Vivid IV was an 'Accounting Base' at Falmouth around that time and Vivid V was another 'Accounting Base' at Milford Haven c.1919.

This info from 'Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy' , Warlow.

This is from a post on another forum:

'An accounting base was not the same as a fixed base, like Pembroke the RN Chatham barracks, because personnel were more likely to be on detached duty and it was a flexible system of allocations, it could mean they were in Chatham, on the river, on shore assignments, in small vessels, the list is huge.'


hope that helps :)

[dpratt123]

I haven't quite figured out how to make this "forum" thing work. But ......
My thanks to KC for the kind and most-helpful response.
I'll keep on trying to learn and no doubt keep asking questions about various things.

[Scribs]

Hi.

In WW1, specifically 1914 - 1915, Vivid II was an 'Accounting Base' at Devonport. There were several Vivids at the time, Vivid III was an 'Accounting Section' also at Devonport Sep 1917 - ~ Dec 1918, Vivid IV was an 'Accounting Base' at Falmouth around that time and Vivid V was another 'Accounting Base' at Milford Haven c.1919.

This info from 'Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy' , Warlow.

This is from a post on another forum:

'An accounting base was not the same as a fixed base, like Pembroke the RN Chatham barracks, because personnel were more likely to be on detached duty and it was a flexible system of allocations, it could mean they were in Chatham, on the river, on shore assignments, in small vessels, the list is huge.'
hope that helps :)

An accounting base was set up to deal with a set of circumstances : whilst Warlow doesn't specify why Vivid II and Vivid III were set up, it could well have been, especially for Vivid III, that the office was set up to look after the escorts' pay accounts, service documentation and victualling and stores accounts following the introduction of convoys in 1917.

A similar organisation would appear to have been set up as Vivid IV, at Falmouth. So accounting bases were fixed for as long as they were required e.g. VICTORY IV, based in HMS VICTORY, then the RN Barracks, was in existence from 1952-1961, to look after the Portsmouth Squadron and other ships, such as those in refit, at Portsmouth.

Those accounting bases which weren't fixed were the depot ships which looked after the submarines, destroyers and minesweepers etc. who would follow their flocks around to where ever they were required.

Whilst an original set of service documents will detail where people worked, as well as the accounting base eg RECLAIM (VICTORY IV), or in earlier times VICTORY IV (RECLAIM), the records that can now be downloaded from the National Archives do not include details of the Tender ie RECLAIM in the current instance and will only include the accounting base eg VICTORY IV or VIVID II, so, unless you are very lucky and there's a note to the effect, one is rarely able to work out precisely where someone might have been serving prior to 1923, although someone serving on List 12 can usually be assumed to be serving on a tender, whilst someone serving on List 5 will probably be Ship's Company (the list and ship's book number are included in service records down loaded from the National Archives, which would appear to have been re-constructed from the ledgers, understood to have been destroyed in a bombing raid in 1940).

[Patwalker37srpen]

At least you have answered a long standing question I have had about my Grandfathers postings. He was Lt J L Field at the time he was in Torpedo Boat Destroyers and his service record shows for 22/11/1915 Posted to Vivid for Minstral. It makes sense when you know Vivid is a stone frigate.
He spent a lot of his time commissioning newly built ships from the dockyards and training young Midshipmen.
Moving forward many years when he rejoined the Navy for WW2 he was O/C of HMS Fortitude the base at Ardrossan and was in charge of the funeral cortege for those bodies found after the disaster to HMS Dasher.
It is pretty certain he would have known any details about the `Man Who Never Was ` because there is compelling evidence that this body was taken from one of the hapless crew who had drowned.

[greenrw]

Hi,
My Grandads service record indicates "HMS Vivid I" listed as part of the Royal Fleet Reserve (RFR).
At that time it was a training establishment.
The period of service shown on his record was from 27th November 1905 to
15th December 1905. Could it be, that your relative was there at the same time and that their paths may have crossed.???
Following his brief posting to "Vivid", on the 16th of December he was assigned to HMS Vengence until March of 1917. He was involved in the engagement at "Jutland", which he survived.
Bob W. Green

[BobK]

Does anyone have a photo of HMS Vivid (WWI)? I haven't been able to find one in other sources.

BobK

[rumrat]

Bob ,
Is this the VIVID that you mean ?
Regards
Dave

[BobK]

Yikes! Dave that would be a surprise if it is.:D was this a training ship?

My grandfather (WWI) served on the Conqueror, Donegal, Vivid, Illustrious Surfteure, Suffolk, Dauntless, Orion, and Thunderer.

The Conqueror, Orion, and Thunderer were all sister ships (dreadnaughts)

The other vessels are unknown to me but I assume them to be battleships of some description.

I'm trying to get photos of each of them.

BobK

[alanbenn]

Bob, if you search Vivid in the search box above you will find this has been covered before for people like yourself who are trying to get info on service records etc.. Hms Vivid was the barracks at Devonport in WW1 prior to being renamed Drake barracks.


Good luck and regards

Alan

[kc]

HMS Vivid photo. Not the best for recognising old family members, but.......

http://www.worldnavalships.com/images/hmsvividcrew.jpg
Men from HMS Vivid

[rumrat]

Bob,
Here's pictures of the other vessels you mentioned.
Regards
Dave

[rumrat]

SWIFTSURE

Dave

[BobK]

Thanks gentlemen,

Heck a couple of those vessels looked as if they were museum pieces even by 1914 standards :)

BobK

[kaz24]

hi ... i have just joined and am looking for a way to trace my grandfathers servic records - cant seem to figure out how to find him on national archives - all i know is that he was training in devenport on hms vivid in 1916 and i also have his number .... he was a stoker II..... does anybody have any advice...thanks;)

[qprdave]

Hi Kaz

Welcome to the Forum

As you already know, you need to get his service record.

Have a look here for information as to how to get his Docs

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1340

Good luck with your search and don't hesitate to ask if you need any help

Dave

[Dreadnought]

Hi Kaz24,

Welcome to the Forum. I have merged your thread into a couple of others regarding HMS Vivid ... I thought you might find some of the information of interest.

Good luck with your research, and as Dave has said, if you need any help with anything, you only need to shout.

[antglfc]

hi i was walking thru my local graveyard the other day when i came across a grave of a man that had died on or servd on hms vivid he died 1917 his name was s.e.r. mansell think his service number was 13555 just wonderd if anybody had any pics of this brave service man. His grave is in the church at Winshill Burton on Trent Staffordshire i would love to hear from any body who new this man.

[jutland121]

Hi i would like to start by thanking the administrator for this great site.
Don't you just love the net? I recently bought Three medals appointed to the gentleman James Johnston, stoker, the victory, campaign and long service & good conduct and managed for the first time through the national archives for a cost of a mere £3 download Mr James Johnson's history WOW! he was only 12 when he enlisted in the navy, this was on Oct 1899 and was at the navy barracks Vivid II at Davenport i can find some conflicting dates on well known sites, i know James through his many ships and training establishments was last there at Vivid II on the 23/4/1920, James was 1st at see an board HMS Cambrian 21/10/99 - 31/12/00 still 12 years of age though he had turned 13 by the end of this tour.
Great stuff
Best regards Geo

[jutland121]

hi i was walking thru my local graveyard the other day when i came across a grave of a man that had died on or servd on hms vivid he died 1917 his name was s.e.r. mansell think his service number was 13555 just wonderd if anybody had any pics of this brave service man. His grave is in the church at Winshill Burton on Trent Staffordshire i would love to hear from any body who new this man.

Hi you might find a bit if not all of this gents history through nationalarchives.gov.uk
Best regards geo

[jbryce1437]

hi i was walking thru my local graveyard the other day when i came across a grave of a man that had died on or servd on hms vivid he died 1917 his name was s.e.r. mansell think his service number was 13555 just wonderd if anybody had any pics of this brave service man. His grave is in the church at Winshill Burton on Trent Staffordshire i would love to hear from any body who new this man.

Hello antglfc and welcome to the Forum. Your curiosity can be satisfied by downloading his record from the National Archives website for the princely sum of £3.50
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7266830&queryType=1&resultcount=103

Jim

[seaJane]

Just to add to the VIVID records:

- her staff surgeon, from 31 October 1899 to 22 November ‘99, was the Royal Naval Medical Service's only VC holder, William J. Maillard.

[hedwards]

I have hunted high and low for the answer to this query but just cannot find it. I understand that HMS Vivid was the Navy barracks at Devonport.

Is HMS Vivid 1 therefore the 'same' place - the barracks?
Or a different part of the barracks
Or a different time at the barracks.

i.e what is the difference to someone being in HMSVivid or HMSVivid 1?

:confused: wants to be :)

[John Brown]

I have hunted high and low for the answer to this query but just cannot find it. I understand that HMS Vivid was the Navy barracks at Devonport.

Is HMS Vivid 1 therefore the 'same' place - the barracks?
Or a different part of the barracks
Or a different time at the barracks.

i.e what is the difference to someone being in HMSVivid or HMSVivid 1?

:confused: wants to be :)

Hedwards...welcome to the form.

I'm not sure if you will find exactly the information you require but there is already an existing thread on the subject of the Vivids. Have a look here....

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6632


Goodluck with your research.

Regards...John

[Rob Hoole]

Unfortunately, Ben Warlow's excellent 'Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy' only mentions VIVID and VIVID II to V but someone in an entry here (http://www.maritimequest.com/guestbook/guestbook_msgs_51_74.htm) on the Maritime Quest website states:

...HMS VIVID I was the signals centre associated with the Devonport Barracks but not actually inside the perimeter...

This statement seems to be borne out by other online references to VIVID I.

[hedwards]

John - Yes I saw all those messages that is what led me to ask the question on the forum - What a great forum.

Thanks also to the reply from Rob which now clarifies the 'difference'. Great :)

However as I am a bit of a layman can somone clarify what a 'signals station is?

With much appreciation

[Rob Hoole]

It depends what era you're talking about but for most of the past century a naval signals station was a hub for transmitting, receiving and relaying radio messages between shore bases and ships at sea around the world.

[hedwards]

Thanks again. Very Interesting.
In this instance it is late 1890's then 1900-1910. and he was a boy 2nd class the first time shown there on records and second time a Petty Officer.
The rest of entries on his record are mainly ships and a few times at HMS Vivid itself.