RootsChat.Com

General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: densavage on Saturday 08 May 10 07:10 BST (UK)

Title: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: densavage on Saturday 08 May 10 07:10 BST (UK)
Recently I discovered that my uncle served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry proving to me there is always a smattering of truth in family tales, he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, Victory and British War Medal, I have always thought one had to be mixed up in the fighting to be awarded the Star so I am a bit baffled by the record I have just downloaded He enlisted and was at the depot at Deal 1st Jan 1913 to 24 Sep 1913 then to the Portsmouth Division 25 Sep 1913 to the 20 Apr 1914 against this last date it states embarked, then under Depot or Ship it states St Vincent ( query that ship or base) 21 Apr 1914 - 8 Nov 1915 then back to Portsmouth Div, 9 Nov 1915- 4 Sep 1916  the next base or ship looks like Renown ? 5 Sep 1916- 23 Dec 1916 then to Victory RM Brigade? 24 Dec 1916- 16 Apr 1917 after these postings I have made a bit of sense of them He was in the 2nd Battalion RMLI 17 Apr 1917-10 Apr 1918 and the 1st Battalion RMLI 10 Apr 1918- 12 Sep 1919.
If St Vincent and Renown are ships what would Light Infantry be doing on board them and why would he be awarded the Star? and what was the Victory R M Brigade's role?
Thank You Dennis
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Saturday 08 May 10 09:54 BST (UK)
Hi Dennis
Royal Marines served on all ships within the RN
St Vincent was a battleship and so was Renown if you google them theres plenty of info.St Vincent became a shore base at Gosport in 1927.

Victory was the admin centre for the RMs i would think that service overseas with 2nd Batt RM would probably include Western Front...Gavrelle and the likes
as an Infantryman!

As for Campaign Medals yes awarded to all who served in Theatre of war and HMS St Vincent was in the Home Fleet 1914/15 so he would have been in the North Sea so eligible for award

Looks like he missed out on the Battle of Jutland though by the dates you supply off his record

Hope this helps

Ady
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Saturday 08 May 10 09:58 BST (UK)
http://www.1914-1918.net/63div.htm

This may help ref RM Brigades

http://www.royalnavaldivision.co.uk/THE%20ROYAL%20MARINES%20AT%20THE%20GAVRELLE%20WINDMILL.pdf

and this one.

Ady
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: corisande on Saturday 08 May 10 10:32 BST (UK)
His Medal Index Card should show when he landed in France (assuming he did)
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: densavage on Monday 10 May 10 04:37 BST (UK)
Hi corisande,
                       Regarding The Medal Roll how does one access Royal Marine ( Navy) Medal Roll on the National Archives site?as you say it should show when/if  he landed in France, I have tried the site and clicked on Navy and there is no mention of Medal Rolls and he does not appear in the Army list, I obtained his medal details from " Find my Past" and no mention of service places on that site,
As for Ady will get back to you, ploughing through the sites you mentioned at present.
Thank you Dennis
PS Should have known something about the battle wagons being Pompey born and bred!
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Monday 10 May 10 07:00 BST (UK)
RM Medal Rolls arent onlne they are in ADM 171 Files at Kew...Also Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton has a lot of RM records

Do you have your mans name ive got a contact with vast RMLI database he should have the medal roll

There are a few RM medal Index Cards on the Docs online but these are pretty rare

Ady
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: densavage on Wednesday 12 May 10 01:05 BST (UK)
Hi Ady,
            His name was Albert William Knott Savage, Very interesting what one comes across, on enlistment he gave his DOB as the 24th January 1895  age as 17 9 5/30, in reality he was born 27 Mar 1897, and like the majority of fibbers he was found out and was docked service days, The WW1 war diaries for the RMLI are on line and on reading them the best comment I can come up with is that Northern France was a good place to stay away from!
Thank you Dennis 
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Wednesday 12 May 10 21:54 BST (UK)
PO/16650...You need to get papers from ADM 157 file i think they are the only ones you are missing?
(info from an RM expert on Great War Forum) :)

Ady
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: sharonlou on Tuesday 01 June 10 16:18 BST (UK)
*densavage

Hi i have just traced my great great uncle who served in the Royal Marines Light Infantry 2nd Battalion who died in on Nove 1st 1917 but have little more information on him as yet but i will continue with my quest.

Sharon
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Tuesday 01 June 10 19:37 BST (UK)
Sharon
More than likely he will have a record available to download at Kew.If you can post his name and any other info im sure youll get plenty of help

Ady :)
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: sharonlou on Tuesday 01 June 10 21:25 BST (UK)
Thanks Ady

His name comes up as both H R Hancock and Robert Hancock private po 582 s RMLI 2nd bn. I have 2 medals; The Great War For Civilisation 1914-1919 and a 1914-1915  Star. At the moment i don't know a great deal about him and have just begun but would be thrilled of any more information and where/how to start looking.

Sharon
 
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Tuesday 01 June 10 22:07 BST (UK)
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=8192343&queryType=1&resultcount=4

Sharon heres his record..there could be others at Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton.
Will ask a contact RM expert if he has anything.

Just a quick question has he any Barnsley/Yorkshire connections?

Also with a service number like that i suspect he was at Gallipoli with the Royal Marines.

Ady
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: sharonlou on Wednesday 02 June 10 20:52 BST (UK)
Hi Ady

Many thanks for the link i will have a look at it. I don't think he had any links with
Barnsley /Yorkshire although i don't have a lot of information on him as yet.
Many thanks any further information would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards Sharon
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Wednesday 02 June 10 21:24 BST (UK)
Sharon
His real name Robert Harry apparently CWGC have it wrong...you need to download the record from link above from Kew it costs £3.50 that should give more info....a Derby lad...
He was wounded at Gallipoli in the head  and also leg,

He died of a Shell wound in Hospital he must have had severe wound to left thigh.

Do you have Ancestry access?

Ady :)
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: sharonlou on Thursday 03 June 10 20:45 BST (UK)

Hi Ady

Thanks for the information it's much appreciated. I will look at ancestry now. Is there anyway of getting any more information of his time in the Marines? I feel like i owe it to him so he is not forgotten.

Thanks again.

Sharon 
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Thursday 03 June 10 20:55 BST (UK)
Sharon
Youd have to download his service record from Kew on the link in the posts above and that will tell you where he was(The Ancestry Casualty stuff gives a lot of this ) it will then be a task of reseraching the RM unit on the dates theres quite a lot online about the RND (Royal Naval Division)
You should also get in touch with The FAAM at Yeovilton they may have other records.

Ady :)
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Thursday 03 June 10 20:56 BST (UK)
http://www.fleetairarm.com/en-GB/research.aspx

FAAM Link :)
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: joboy on Friday 04 June 10 06:52 BST (UK)
mmm45 is quite right. The Fleet Air Arm site is the way to go ......... it worked for me.
joboy
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: Stambo on Friday 11 June 10 17:37 BST (UK)
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=8192343&queryType=1&resultcount=4

Sharon heres his record..there could be others at Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton.
Will ask a contact RM expert if he has anything.

Just a quick question has he any Barnsley/Yorkshire connections?

Also with a service number like that i suspect he was at Gallipoli with the Royal Marines.

Ady

Hi Andy,
Your question about Barnsley intrigues me. I am looking for information on an uncle Pte. Robert Stanyon No. 756 who enlisted in Jan. 1915 to RMLI Plymouth Div. Victory RM Bde. He served at Gallipoli where he was wounded resulting in the loss of an eye and was invalided out in Aug. 1916.
So far I have only found his ADM 159/176 record and wish to try to locate exactly where and when he was wounded. Any guidance you may offer will be much appreciated.
Many thanks, Stambo
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Friday 11 June 10 19:52 BST (UK)
Stambo

24 Osbourne St Barnsley?  Mum Elisabeth?

Have you downloaded his Service Record off the NA site?

I have a contact who has supplied me with the info you are after..will post if this is/was your uncle.
Ady
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: Stambo on Saturday 12 June 10 14:28 BST (UK)
Spot On Andy.
Elizabeth was the name of my Dad's Mum (Nee Rudd), Robert (Uncle Bob) was the eldest son who elisted in RMLI while my Dad enlisted in the 2nd. Btn. Yorks & Lancs (Barnsley Pals) - both in Jan. 1915. Uncle Bob left Barnsley between WW1 and WWII to live and work in Huddersfield where he had a daughter Ruth and a son Alan.
Unfortunately we lost touch and I don't know the current family situation.

I have been researching my Dad's records to add detail to the momentos I have eg. Soldiers' Book, medals, photos, mess fork, shaving mirror, Victory March notes etc. Reading "The Pals" book it occured to me that Uncle Bob must have been wounded about the time my Dad was fighting in the Somme tragedy on 1st. July 1916; therefor the reason for my intrusion into Sharon's posts (Please forgive me Sharon).
I look forward to receiving any info you are able to give me Andy,
Sincerely. Roy.
ps. Yes I did download his "Register No. 756" record but it contains no detail of locatios - only dates of embarkation and discharge.
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Saturday 12 June 10 21:53 BST (UK)
Source  Thanks to : John from the Great War Forum ..Expert on RMLI  :)

PLY 756/S Pte. Robert STANYON Collier. b. Peterboro, Northants 21/8/1890.
Enlisted: Manchester 5/1/15 age 24. Ht: 5ft. 4 & 1/2ins. Fresh complexion. Eyes: Brown. Hair: Brown. Chest: 35ins.
Wgt: 9st. 6lbs. Ply. Div. UK D Coy. 5/1/15 - 8/5/15. Passed Musketry 2nd Class at Browndown 29/3/15.
Embarked: HMS Victory (RM Bde.) 9/5/15 - 21/7/16 - Plymouth / 2nd RM Bn.
Admitted to 2nd FA Cape Helles ex-Po. Bn. 23/6/15 - BW Head to clearing hosp. 'W' Beach same date.
Wounded Dardanelles 23/6/15 GSW head - to No.11 CCS. To Hosp. Ship 24/6/15.
Admitted to RN Hosp. Malta 3/7/15 Bullet wound head. To HMT Egmont at Malta 19/7/15.
To Base Mustapha, Alexandria 26/7/15. Embarked HMT Saturnia at Alexandria 3/8/15 to rejoin unit.
Joined 2nd RM Bn. Dardanelles 8/8/15. Prob. 2nd RM Bn. Stavros. Embarked HMT Briton at Mudros 7/5/16.
Disembarked Marseille 12/5/16. To 6th London FA 21/6/16 Gunshot wound L.eye. (loss of sight ADM104/147)
To 26th Gen. Hosp. Etaples 23/6/16. Invalided to UK 4/7/16 aboard HS St. Denis.
Granted EA in RM Bde. Comce. Est. Hd Qrs. 22/7/16.
Ply. Div. UK 22/7/16 - 16/8/16 - Discharged: Invalided from RN Hosp. Plymouth for "Ruptured Globe L.eye".
SWB No. RN968 issued 20/10/16.
Next of Kin & address on discharge: Father, Robert, 24 Osbourne St. Barnsley. (Mother, Elizabeth) Ht: 5ft. 6ins.
Gen. Character: VG Sober. (14/15 Star, BWM & Vic. issued early 1920's) Paid War Gratuity £8 14/3/19.



http://freespace.virgin.net/jack.clegg/barnsley%20marines.htm

Have a look at Plymouth Short Service Marines on the above link...Robert features

Ady :)


Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: Stambo on Sunday 13 June 10 18:55 BST (UK)
:) Hi ADY (Forgive the Andy error),
Please accept my sincere thanks to you and John your "Contact" for giving me the detailed account of Uncle Bob's service and movements, I can now read the War Diaries and reports to expand our knowledge of his injury.
I will try to contact Alan, Bob's son, and pass on to him and his family all the history of Bob's service.
"Hats off" to RM LI Records for maintaining the information - I was not so lucky with Dad's service record as it appears to have been lost during the WW II bombing of the Records Office; all I found was his Medal Card
Thankfully "Barnsley Pals" gave me a very detailed history of the 2nd Btn. from raising to disbandment in Jan 1918 when Dad joined the 2nd. DLI
Keep on with your splendid work and service to we descendants of the Veterans,
Roy ;
Hello Ady,
I am pleased to let you know that I contacted my cousin Alan and gave him the detailed records of his Dad's service, wounding, evacuation and discharge. Alan had the understanding that the wound occurred in France but my Dad told me of the Dardanelles; the evac record shows that after treatment at the Cas. Clearing Stn.and Field Amb. at Cape Helles he was transferred to a field hospital in France, from where he was repatriated - hence the misunderstanding.
Again, many, many thanks.
Roy :)
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: penilelly on Friday 09 September 11 19:14 BST (UK)

I have been searching for my grandfather's Royal Marine records & have just accesed them via Fleetairarm museum. He served on HMS Carnarvon & was involved in the battle of the Falklands in 1915. His name is James John Pearce, private although he was promoted to corporal in 1918/19 when he was on the Hood. Does anyone have knowledge about either Carnarvon, Bellona or Hood?

Penilelly
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: mmm45 on Friday 09 September 11 19:27 BST (UK)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bellona_(1909)

Heres Bellona when was he onboard? he may have been at Jutland

Carnavon here http://www.vlib.us/medical/hanks/index.htm

Ady
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: penilelly on Friday 09 September 11 21:28 BST (UK)

Thanks Ady, I have read the extract from Hanks, very interesting. My grandfather was on the Bellona 1918-1919, so after war ended. He served on Carnarvon from1913-1917.

Penny
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: Juliet34 on Tuesday 08 October 24 17:36 BST (UK)
Evening All,

Always had family rumours that one of my relatives had died in Gallipoli and finally tracked it to a great great uncle, can I find out more details on how he was KIA? Details as follows:

Name, Rank & Service No.
FRANK HERBERT CRAFTS
Colour Sergeant
Service Number: PO/6400
Unit, Regiment, Country of Service Portsmouth Bn. R.N. Div
Royal Marine Light Infantry
United Kingdom
Date of Death
Died 06 May 1915
41 years old
Commemorated at
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 2 to 7.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)

He enlisted in Derby on 7 July 1892 and re-engaged 7 July 1904. He was promoted corporal on 25 October 1896, to sergeant on 19 January 1900 and to colour sergeant on 27 February1910. He was awarded the RN Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, effective 7 July
1907. He was discharged on 6 July 1913
having completed length of service..
He was mobilised 2 August 1914 and drafted to the Portsmouth Bn. He was at Dunkirk 19 September 1914-2
October 1914 and served in the defence of Antwerp from 3 October 1914-13
October 1914. He served in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 28 February 1915-3 May 1915.
Papers missing from ADM/157/2661.
RND Casualties of the Great War, 'All Portsmouth Battalion casualties at
Gallipoli are recorded on CWGC as having died on 6 May 1915. However, it is most likely that they were killed in the charge up Razor-Back Hill, Monash Valley, on 3 May 1915.

Thanks
James
Title: Re: Royal Marine Light Infantry Records Query
Post by: Juliet34 on Tuesday 08 October 24 17:36 BST (UK)
Evening All,

Always had family rumours that one of my relatives had died in Gallipoli and finally tracked it to a great great uncle, can I find out more details on how he was KIA? Details as follows:

Name, Rank & Service No.
FRANK HERBERT CRAFTS
Colour Sergeant
Service Number: PO/6400
Unit, Regiment, Country of Service Portsmouth Bn. R.N. Div
Royal Marine Light Infantry
United Kingdom
Date of Death
Died 06 May 1915
41 years old
Commemorated at
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 2 to 7.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)

He enlisted in Derby on 7 July 1892 and re-engaged 7 July 1904. He was promoted corporal on 25 October 1896, to sergeant on 19 January 1900 and to colour sergeant on 27 February1910. He was awarded the RN Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, effective 7 July
1907. He was discharged on 6 July 1913
having completed length of service..
He was mobilised 2 August 1914 and drafted to the Portsmouth Bn. He was at Dunkirk 19 September 1914-2
October 1914 and served in the defence of Antwerp from 3 October 1914-13
October 1914. He served in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from 28 February 1915-3 May 1915.
Papers missing from ADM/157/2661.
RND Casualties of the Great War, 'All Portsmouth Battalion casualties at
Gallipoli are recorded on CWGC as having died on 6 May 1915. However, it is most likely that they were killed in the charge up Razor-Back Hill, Monash Valley, on 3 May 1915.

Thanks
James