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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: mlr0663 on Saturday 06 October 18 14:58 BST (UK)
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Hi
I am looking for some assistance please into where the various battalions of the RNVR would have been.
The particular man I am researching is Evelyn Hadley Charles Milliard - TZ/1043. He enlisted on 21/7/15 and according to his demob papers he was with the 4th reserve Battn at Blandford until Jan 1918, he then was transferred (if that is the correct terminology) to Nelson Battn BEF on 26/1/18 and then on 15/3/1918 to Hawke Battn.
I have read around the RNVR quite a bit so understand a little of the history - that there were 8 Batts named after various admirals and ships and that these men, who were too numerous to all serve aboard a warship, then wore the uniform of the British Army and found on land alongside their army counterparts at places like Gallipoli for instance.
What I was wondering was, does anyone know the progression my man would have made - I can't pinpoint where he would have been at any one time, given the list of batts above.
If anyone can be of help at all that would be fantastic
Thank you so much in advance
Margaret
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Hi Margaret,
Have you obtained your man's full Service Record?
My late Father was in the RNR during WW1 and his Service Record lists all of the ship's that he served on. I also have a photograph of him in naval officer's uniform. I've never heard of them wearing army uniforms.
Romilly.
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He was in the Royal Naval Division who were the RN men fighting on land and, as I think you have seen, the problem is to find which battalion he was with and when. Here is some background that goes a bit further:
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/63rd-royal-naval-division/
Just need to track him if we can in the Navy lists. Back soon
MaxD
PS The RN medal roll has him as Millard.
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Thanks both
Much appreciated
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Sorry MaxD - my fat fingers adding an extra "i" to his name ::) ::) - it is indeed MILLARD
Margaret
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I'm being a bit dense. From what you say be first went overseas (British Expeditionary Force) in Jan 1918 to Nelson Battalion and later moved to Hawke Battalion in March.
There are war diaries covering that time frame for £3.50 at the National Archives:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7355472 Nelson
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7355471 Hawke
His officer's service record says he was appointed Sub Lieutenant in August 1917 and demobbed in April 1919 (there is nothing else on it).
More in a mo
MaxD
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Hi MaxD - am trawling the War Diaries at the mo on Ancestry - me that's being dense I suspect.
Just trying to get a sense of his movements during the War - he died in 1935 in a TB Sanatorium in South Wales, according to the family he contracted TB in the war and was "never the same" again health-wise due to this.
He was the first student at the College I am researching the signed up while still a student - which is why I am interested in him - he was half way through his teacher training at the time, but never returned to complete the course and instead when into the Inland Revenue, becoming at one stage the youngest Tax collector in the country - what a claim to fame!
Margaret
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I don't seem to be able to find his pre-commissioning papers (which I am assuming cover the July 1915 to August 1917 period). Guessing a bit he started as a seaman, was commissioned but spent only the dates you gave overseas with the fighting battalions. Does that make sense so far?
MaxD
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Makes sense yeap :)
Noticed on his discharge sheet it says CS & AB - 14/9/15 and then LS 28/9/15 and PO 20/11/15 - do they stand for Continuous Service, Able Seaman, Leading Seaman and Petty Officer?
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Actually it says OS he would have been an Ordinary Seaman to start with then progressed through the others.
I've now turned up all there is on your man. RN records are notoriously thin on detail, his seaman record says nothing about where he served before commissioning. His commission in August 1917 followed immediately by a posting (for training) to the Reserve Battalions at Blandford and then the battalions in France are a bit more straightforward.
His arrival with Nelson Battalion coincided with the break up of that battalion during February 1918 (not his fault!) and he may never have actually served with them even though his posting was to them. I did find a reference to him in the Hawke battalion diary (and promptly lost it!).
In any event I think you may be a bit further forward now? I'll have a look at the 63 Division HQ diary and the 189 Brigade diary when I have time to see if I can find anything more.
MaxD
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Thanks so much MaxD - as always a fantastic font of knowledge and amazing help
Found the mention of him in the Hawke diaries - rejoining the Batt from Div Wing on June 6th 1918. So will have a peak at those diaries if they are on Ancestry
Have a lovely Sunday and once again thanks :)
Margaret
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My pleasure. I am continuing to dig, I don't think we know enough about his pre-commissioning service. More hopefully later.
The diaries are on Ancestry. In the search box for the France/Belgium/Germany diaries, put 3114 in the keyword box and nothing else. In the results click on the first Nelson Battalion entry and fast forward to Jan 1918 when he was, on paper at least, posted to them. Do the same with the Hawke battalion.
MaxD
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Thanks Muchly :)
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There's a lot of information about his service 1915-1917 on the back of his discharge record card.
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fadm339%2f0282-milb%2f00160&parentid=gbm%2fadm339%2f31920
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and more on the next image:
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fadm339%2f0282-milb%2f00161&parentid=gbm%2fadm339%2f31920
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Thanks so much ShaunJ - those never appeared when I did a FindMyPast search for my man - only the front of them, strange as I have a full subscription - but that helps a lot.
Thanks muchly
Margaret
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There's more to his officer's record too:
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fadm339%2f0021-mell%2f00043&parentid=gbm%2fadm339%2f4589
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fadm339%2f0021-mell%2f00044&parentid=gbm%2fadm339%2f4589
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Thanks so much ShaunJ - those never appeared when I did a FindMyPast search for my man - only the front of them, strange as I have a full subscription - but that helps a lot.
You have to use the arrow on the right of the screen to move on to the next image in that set
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Argggghhhh - why did I not notice that!! Ah well
Thanks ShaunJ
Happy Sunday
Kindest
Margaret
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I shall now spend the remainder of the day in the corner with the class dunce's cap atop my addled head! Well done ShaunJ.
MaxD
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There's no room MaxD - I'm already there!!!!