Royal Navy service personnel and their ships during the First World War.
Horace BUTTERFIELD born 29 Aug 1897 Bolton, Enlisted 7 Sep 1914, Ser. No. 17737 Pte. 'B' Coy., No. 4 Mess Royal Marines, Dated 22 Feb 1915
More detail »Horace BUTTERFIELD, front row, 2nd. from left, Ser. No 17737 Royal Marines, R.M.L.I. Battery, Jan 1915, 10th. 'R'. He survived the war and was demobbed. The message on the card reads: Best Wishes from H BUTTERFIELD 22 Feb 15.
More detail »C H Stevens was aboard the battle cruiser Edgar when he was part of a party of Marine Commandos who were landed from a submarine onto the Greek island of Rhodes. The missionwas to destroy German searchlights which were preventing the safe passage of Allied ships. This was successful.
Chief Petty Officer C H Stevens was born in Hull but was on duty at Hartlepool Water Works during the Bombardment, later joining te Marine Commandos.
More detail »A testimonial letter from CMEW written for Charles Henry Stevens in 1915, believed to help him enlist with the RNVR as an engine room artificer to fight in the Great War. It seems to have been successful as Charles served on the protected cruiser, HMS Edgar, seeing action in the Mediterranean and The Dardanelles.
More detail »A studio portrait of George Palliser Blackett who served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. After the war, George worked in the shipyards, part of a squad of men that travelled around various shipyards when their special skills were required.
More detail »J. A. HENDERSON Ser. No. Z26173T Seaman 'D' Coy., 3rd. Plat., 275th. 2nd. Royal Naval Division, was a Prisoner of War but survived and was demobbed.
More detail »John William JARPS born 5 Nov 1887 West Hartlepool Ser. No. S7089 Stoker H.M. Motor Lighter X91 Royal Naval Reserve.
More detail »Arthur Gerald Lythall born 21 Aug 1894 West Hartlepool Ser. No. T3649 & S7459 Stoker, Mess 20, H.M.S. Benbow, Royal Naval Reserve. The message on the card reads: ‘With kindest regards from John Lythall’.
More detail »A photograph of Martin Kaiser, probably taken in the early 1920s. Family history research carried out by Martin's Great Niece, Liz Harrison, shows he served in the Royal Navy between July 31st, 1918 until he was demobbed on February 12th, 1919, and subsequently joined the Merchant Navy.
More detail »A First World War photograph of Martin Kaiser (left) and his cousin John Kaiser (right). Martin and John were both in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), and both were demobbed in 1919.
Viv Morrison has let us know that the person in the middle of the photograph is her Grandfather, Oliver Kaiser (born 1898), a younger brother of John Kaiser. Oliver enrolled in the Durham Royal Engineers as a Volunteer Reserve on March 15th 1918 and was discharged November 11th 1919.
More detail »F. Miles, seated far right. West Hartlepool Lads at Sea. The message on the card reads: ‘don’t Laugh to much when you look at this it should be called the comical group. The chap that took it has not taken any since ?’
Crew of the HMS Agincourt.
More detail »Fred Thomas Miles, Ldg. Sto. R.N.R. The message on the card reads: ‘With all Good wishes F.T. Miles H.M.S. Agincourt’.
More detail »Frederick Thomas Miles, born 26 Jul 1875 Portsmouth, Ldg. Stoker 52 Mess, Royal Naval Reserve, H.M.S. Agincourt. The message on the card reads: ‘From Fred T. Miles With Compliments’.
By the photos there appears to be an age difference between the F Miles' so may not be the same person but all had the same rank & on the same ship.
More detail »Ralph Noddings born 30 Sep 1890 West Hartlepool, Ser. No. S7139 Stoker {Cap} H.M.S. FALMOUTH later H.M. Motor Lighter, 'R50' Royal Naval Reserve. The message on the card reads: ‘To my Darling wife .......................... From Your Dear Husband Ralph’.
More detail »Robert Robertson Wainwright and his wife Alice Annie (nee Huntley), during his naval service. Robert's cap band shows HMS Pembroke, the Naval Barracks at Chatham, which he returned to for training between ship postings. Robert served on a number of ships, including HMS Duncan (1914-15); HMS Apollo (1915-16); and HMS Crescent (1916-18).
More detail »Robert ROSS, born 24 Oct 1897 West Hartlepool, Ser. No. M28779 Engine Room Artificer H.M. Torpedo Boat 82, Royal Navy. The message on the card reads: ‘Yours Sincerely Bob’.
More detail »John William SHARP. Ser. No. Z6359. Seaman, 5th. Nelson Batt. R. M. Royal Naval Division. Discharged Under Military Age, August 7th, 1918. Appears to have re-joined as J. William Sharp, 'E' Coy., 5th Durham Light Infantry. He survived the war and was demobbed.
John William's great-great grandson, Cameron Sharp, has kindly informed us that around 1914 John William's father, Samuel Sharp, lived at No.26, Stirling Street, West Hartlepool.
Wilfred STABLER born 26 Nov 1888 Whitby, Ser. No. S4709 - S444 Stoker Mess 12, H.M.S. IMPERIEUSE Royal Naval Reserve. The message on the card reads: ‘Dear Brother Just a few lines to let you know I am well...........W. Stabler’. He survived the war and was demobbed.
More detail »Cliff TUCKER Royal Navy Training Establishment. H.M.S. GANGES No further details known.
More detail »Ernest TUCKER Stoker 2nd. Class, H.M.S. FITZROY, Royal Navy to Mr Marsden Ernest.
More detail »Harry WARD Stoker Mess 14, H.M.S. BENBOW Royal Navy. He survived the war and was demobbed.
More detail »Thomas Fletcher WILLIAMS born 10 Jul 1897 West Hartlepool, Served from 2 Dec 1915 Occ: Clerk, to 26 Jun 1919, Ser. No. M17853 - 48011 Ships Stewards Assistant No 15 Mess, H.M.S. HANNIBAL, Royal Navy.
More detail »Thomas Fletcher WILLIAMS Ser. No. 48011 H.M.S. VALERIAN, Royal Navy, The message on the card reads: ‘Yours Sincerely Thos. F. WILLIAMS’. He survived the war and was demobbed.
More detail »James WORMALD born 15 Jul 1895 West Hartlepool, Ser. No. Kitchener P/257 Joined 3 Sep 1914 Pte. D.L.I. transferred to R.N.V.R. 10 Sep 1914 Drake Bn. Influenza -UK, G.S.W left shoulder -UK, Frostbite legs, Gassed -UK, returning to Drake Bn. on each occasion. Awarded the Military Medal 1917, Mentioned in Despatches 1918, Died of wounds in 45th. Casualty Clearing Stn., 8 Sep 1918, Ldg. Seaman Royal Naval Division, Aged 23yrs., Nephew of Joseph Wormald, of 15, Christopher St., West Hartlepool, Buried at Bac Du Sud, British Cemetery, Bailleulval, France, Cross inscribed ‘STILL TO MEMORY DEAR’ {C.W.G.C}
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