大象传媒

From 1899 until 1921 a family produced 8 sons and 3 daughters. The eldest Harold No.1 Son joined the Royal Navy in August 1917 and served 4 years as a Sickberth Attendant at RNH.Haslar until 30th August 1921.
One son was unfit for military service the remainder served in the Army and the Royal Navy, on the ships listed from 1921 until 1967.

William. No.2 Son. Born 07/04/1902 Killed in Action whilst serving in the R.N. 04/07/ 1940. (1 Ship)
He enlisted in the Dorset Regular Army. And was posted to the 3rd Battalion on 23/06/1919. He was then 17 1/2 he did not attain the age of 18 until 1920. He was posted to the 1st Battalion on the 26/07/1919, then to the 2nd Battalion on the 30/11/1922.
He was then sent to Egypt serving there from 15/12/1922 until 06/01/1924 alternating between Malta and Egypt until 03/12 1926 the Regiment then shipped out to India until 11/12/1928. This then was a 6-year tour with no Home leave. He was returned to Depot on 12/121928. Transferred to Section 鈥淏鈥� Army Reserve on completion of engagement in Section 鈥淎鈥� Army Reserve 17/06/1930. He re -engages for Section 鈥淒鈥� Army Reserve on 23/06.1931 and is then discharged on 22/06/1935. Reason for Discharge, Termination of Engagement. Regretfully when WW11 broke out he tried to rejoin the Army; they rejected him, as they no longer required Grooms. Somewhat angered at this decision he then tried for the R.N. He was accepted and joined on the 22/01/1940 did his training as an Ordinary Seaman at HMS.Collingwood and was eventually drafted to the first Merchant Ship to be converted to a Warship. This was HMAMS Foylebank and she was an Auxiliary Anti Aircraft Vessel.
On the morning of the 4th July 1940 she was attacked by 22 enemy Stuka Dive-bombers and sunk within minutes with the loss of the ship and most of her Crew. Sadly William was one of the casualties.
He had served in the Army for 9 years and the RN for 6 maths. Number of Ships served on (1)

Joeseph. No 3 Son. Joined HMS Impregnable 22/02/1921 as a Boy Seaman 2nd Class, left the RN. in 1945 as CPO.CGM. having served 25 years in the Royal Navy.
Serving on the following Ships. HMS.Vivid - Hood-Vivid-Barham-Glorious-Codrington-Witch-Eagle-Wrangler and Tyne. Number of Ships served on (10.) On completion of his time in the RN. Joe then did another 15 years with the Admiralty Police.

Reginald. No 4 Son. Joined HMS Victory at Portsmouth in 1928 as a Stoker 2nd Class left in 1950 as a CPO.CSM. having served 22 years in the Royal Navy.
Serving on the following ships. HMS. Vimy-Malcolm-Durban-Restless-Calcutta-Bee-Diomede-Erebus-Frobisher Wrestler-Sirius-Loch Quoick-Nicad-Commis. Number of Ships served on (15.)

Fredrick No. 5 Son. Joined the RN. At HMS St.Vincent on the 10/07/1932 as a Boy Signalman. Left the RN in June 1946. as a CPO. Yeoman of Signals having served 13 years in the Royal Navy
Serving on. HMS. Barham-Royal Sovereign-Cumberland-Dainty-Daring-Eagle-Hermes-Fearless-
Perrywinkle-Largs- Campania. Number of ships served on (11)

Leslie No. 6 Son. Joined HMS Victory 18/01/1937 as a Stoker 2nd Class, left in 05/03/1949 as a CPO. Mech.1st Class having served 12 years in Royal Navy
Serving on the following ships. (8) Grimsby- Figi-Birmingham-Furious- Vengance-Magiceine-Minstrel-Alacrity. Number of ships served on (8)

Arthur No. 7 Son. Joined the RN. at HMS St.Vincent as a Boy 2nd Class, left the RN in 1967 as CPO. SPTI. Having served 30 Years in the Royal Navy. Was Mention in Dispatches during Operation Jubilee. (The Raid on Dieppe 1942). Awarded British Empire Medal in 1966

(8) Caledonia-Cardiff-Dorsetshire-MTB.344- ML292. -ML.910. -Alamein- Vengance. Number of ships served on (8).
Consider the following: --

During World War 1. The eldest son served as a Sick Berth Attendant (In civi. language a Male Nurse)
Between the Wars. The 2nd eldest son served 9 years in the Regular Army.
During World War II. There were 6 members of the Family serving at sea in the Royal Navy. Before. During and after World War II. None were conscripted they were all volunteers.

Between them, the brothers managed 106.5 years service with the Royal Navy, 9 years service with the Colours and if you include the 15 years with the Admiralty Police, this then makes grand total of 130.5 years to the Country and the Monarch. Having served on 53 different Ships.

Bibliography: CPO. Means Chief Petty Officer.
CGM. Means Chief Gunners Mate.
CSM. Means Chief Stoker Mechanician.
CYS. Means Chief Yeoman of Signals.
C.Mech. Means Chief Mechanician.
CSPTI. Means Chief Staff Physical Training Instructor.

The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Neither yet bread to the Wise,
Nor yet riches to men of understanding,
Nor yet favour to men of skills.
But time and chance happeneth to them all.

This record was researched and listed by the last surviving member of this family. Who is now in his 83 year and lives in Exeter, Devon.

Word Count. 837.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.