Waiter or sailor?

[DianneReuby]

We recently received this scanned photo of my husband's great-grandfather, born in 1854 in Devon, UK. Census returns show him as a waiter in an inn in London, as a housekeeper, and as a restaurant manager. This certainly doesn't look like the outfit worn in those occupations - the square collar that can be seen at the back and the lanyard make me think of a sailor. Any opinions? (It could be fancy dress, of course!)

[Winterbloom21]

From other photos I've seen, it seems to be fairly similar to 19th century RN sailors uniform, so could be real.     Could he have served for, say 3 years, before he became a waiter etc.?      I mean, did he have the time?     If he was born in 1853, what do the 1871 and 1881 censuses say about him?    It's always possible that even if they both describe him as a waiter, he could have served a few years in between those two censuses, maybe as a naval steward.

[old rowley]

The uniform is that of a sailor in the RN. Could this be him in the link below.....

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=6812777&queryType=1&resultcount=4


OR.

[DianneReuby]

I'd found him as a boy in 1861, and as a waiter in 1881, but 1871 was eluding me! Finally found him today and he was in the navy, a Boy 1st Class on HMS Foudroyant, a gunnery training ship. He was way down in the search results as his given name had been abbreviated to "Willm" so that's why I didn't pick him up sooner.

[Winterbloom21]

Well done - glad you found him.     

[crimea1854]

Hi

There is another record for William available on the National Archives website, this is ADM 139/910  which covers is his pre 1873 service.

If, when you have the records, you see that he served on HMS Rattlesnake (ships No.163) then he received the Ashanti Medal (1873-74).

Martin

[DianneReuby]

I saw that entry, but I wasn't 100% sure it was him, as the census doesn't give service number. I've got both records now - thanks for pointing me!