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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: BobWatsit on Monday 29 January 24 19:35 GMT (UK)
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Hello
I am hoping that someone might help. I have found a bracelet in a box that came from my grandfathers house after he died which is in the name of B.Calver and has a naval service number on it of P/JX 381328 (I have attached an image).
I think this will relate to Portsmouth, however I cannot seem to identify the person that this relates to. My interest is that although I have been researching the family for years I do not know of a B.Calver in the family that was in the navy.
Is there someone who knows how to obtain these records from the Naval ID who might help?
It is a little confusing at the moment.
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I'm no expert but it looks like a 2nd World War ID bracelet.
Found this from an old post (2008 Ships Nostalgia):- "J" stands for Long Service Seaman or Comunications. "X" after the main letter indicates that the rating was engaged after the the new pay code of the early 1930s was introduced.
The above would suggest that he was in the 2nd World War.
Below is a reply from the poster, don't know if that was you?
I wish I knew when he was in the navy that is only part of the info I am looking for. All I have is his name and service number. I know he came to Australia and my dad had a fight with him some years ago. I would ask my dad but he has past away.
Does Australia feature in the family history at all?
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I'm not convinced it does say Calver.
The first two initials look to have been altered.
There's a dot after the "c".
To me it looks like the original name was E.L.Alver.
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Hello Thank you for the replies
In relation to the name on the bracelet I think it is the image causing the issue. I agree in the image it looks like an extra dot. However having checked the bracelet itself just now it is definitely B. Calver. My grandfathers name was Ronald Calver (which is frustrating as it definitely does not look like a R at the start either which would have been the most obvious answer).
In relation to Australia. Yes there are Calver family links to Australia. However the previous post mentioned in the first reply was not from me. So I don't know who that would relate to.
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How much do you know about your grandfather's family? Did he have any siblings, when & where was he born?
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Hello, I have a fairly extensive knowlege of my grandfathers family as I have been researching this for several years. Currently I am confident in most of the family tree back to the early 1800s.
He was born 18 June 1924.He was born in Ipswich and his full name would be Ronald Albert Edwin Calver.
Siblings would be Reginald, Irene, Ivy and Joyce. Father is Henry. There is a Aunt called Beatrice which is the only Calver relative that has a name beginning with a B, however it does not seam likley that it would be hers.
So it is a bit of a conundrum.
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Any possibility of further back and then down the cousin line?
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So,
No, there are no cousins I can see that would have a relevant name.
I think that the only way will be to id the sailor front the id number. However I don't seem to be able to get the information
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I wonder if it may be worth contacting the National Museum Royal Navy to ask their advice. You would have nothing to lose by asking.
This is the information needed to contact them:-
For general and ticket enquiries
Email: enquiries@nmrn.org.uk
Telephone: 023 9289 1370
They may be able to point you in the right direction. You won't know unless you ask.
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have you waded through these?
they don't unfortunately appear to have their 'number' but it might identify suitable candidates.
https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/93506066
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Ronald Albert Edwin Calver b. 1924 was indeed a Royal Navy officer.
Firstly, looking at the bracelet the RN official number is indeed for a Portsmouth based seaman/communicator rating so it would seem that he was promoted from the lower to the upper deck at some point. You would need to apply for his service record to find out more about him.
He is shown in the 1945 Navy List as a Tempy Acting Sub-Lt (Sp Br) (Cy) - he would have been a Special Branch officer employed on cypher duties.
Regards
Hugh
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Thank you everyone who has replied.
Hugh that is interesting. Are you able to point me in the right direction to apply for the war records?
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https://www.apply-deceased-military-record.service.gov.uk/
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May or not be of some help, but could the 'SIG TO' indicate 'Signalman, Tactical Branch' i.e a member of the communication branch dealing with semaphore, flag hoists and general message handling, rather than communication by radio telephoney and morse code which would be done by a telegraphist?
Ashjo
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So my grand father was in the signals so that would have relevance of the bracelet turns out to be his.
I am wondering if they got his name wrong on the bracelet.
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I am wondering if they got his name wrong on the bracelet
It's an unofficial ID tag so it's quite possible.
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As far as I am aware civilians also wore ID tags or bracelets. I have my mother's and the letters and numbers relate to the 1939 Register. It gives the E.D. letter code, the schedule number and the sub number.
This would have been a means to identify anyone killed during an air raid.