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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: ritthichai on Wednesday 31 August 11 06:58 BST (UK)

Title: "Blue hair" in the Royal Navy
Post by: ritthichai on Wednesday 31 August 11 06:58 BST (UK)

One of my ancestors was a stoker in HMS James Watt, and in the muster he is listed as having run off (not quite the same as deserted, apparently) on 22 January 1855. Intriguingly, his description suggests he had blue hair (see picture).

Does anyone know if blue hair was a tradition in the 19th-century Royal Navy? Or have I misinterpreted the description?

Title: Re: "Blue hair" in the Royal Navy
Post by: IrishOrigins on Wednesday 31 August 11 07:56 BST (UK)

Looks to me as though the colours had been initially entered in the wrong order and that numbers had been added after the words "Hair" and "eyes" later to show which entry should have gone where.

If that's the case then it should read "hair - brown; eyes - blue".

It's quite possible I've misinterpreted here, but it's a thought.

Philippa

 ;)

Title: Re: "Blue hair" in the Royal Navy
Post by: HeatherLynne on Wednesday 31 August 11 08:03 BST (UK)

I agree with Philippa  :)  although blue hair would be more interesting!  ;)

Heather

Title: Re: "Blue hair" in the Royal Navy
Post by: Deb D on Wednesday 31 August 11 08:49 BST (UK)

One doubts they would have found him, when he "ran off", with that description to go by  ::)

Title: Re: "Blue hair" in the Royal Navy
Post by: crimea1854 on Thursday 01 September 11 07:49 BST (UK)

Hi

If he served on HMS James Watt then he may be entitled to the Baltic Medal, however, if he did Run (which does mean deserted) then this may have been forfeited.

Martin