HMS Royal Arthur 1901-1904

[LouiseB12]

Thanks for explaining.  I posted it on the other site as I thought there might be Portsmouth connections in Hampshire who could help but the info I got from the trove hint has been invaluable.

[treerooter]

   I've just found a report in the New South Wales Police Gazette of 19 Dec 1901 that my relative, Thomas William Beecham (age 23, from Birmingham) was a deserter from HMS Royal Arthur at Lyttleton, NZ. A reward of £3 was offered for his apprehension within 2 years.

  He had deserted from HMS Archer at Wellington, NZ in Sep 1901, and had been captured that same month and returned to the ship. His rank on HMS Archer was given as 2nd class petty officer, while his rank on HMS Royal Arthur was given as AB. Would demotion have been the punishment for the earlier desertion? If he was not apprehended within the 2 years, was the Navy no longer interested in finding him?

   I'm anxious to find out what became of him. I see a Thomas William Beecham on Australian electoral rolls for a number of years. There's a death record in 1941, but the transcription lists the wrong name for the father, and the age is a couple of years off. There are also 2 marriage records on Ancestry, one for Thomas William Beecham to Amelia Gerken in 1908, another for Amelia Gerken to Wm Thos Beecham in 1906. Both show registration # 2470. Could I order a marriage cert by the #, without knowing which year? Would it show father's name & occupation?

   Thanks for any help! This desertion info is the first break in a long-standing brick wall.

[rosball]

Here is the death notice in 1941 for the Thomas William Beecham who married Amelia
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8198907

From Vic BDM his age was 66 and his father was William and registered in Coburg reg 7963

What are the parents names and when was he born (the one you want)?

cheers,
   Ros

adding : sorry you said he was 23 in 1901 so born c1878

[rosball]

Here is what to expect on Australian BDM certs http://www.jaunay.com/bdm.html so yes a Victorian marriage cert  should show father's name and occupation.
I believe you can order by just giving registration number.

But wait a bit as some rootschatters have Victorian resources which show a little more than we can see on the indexes.

cheers,
   Ros

[giblet]

Dont know if this record would be of any use, tho it might have a name for next of kin maybe.

Name    Beecham, Thomas William
Official Number:    174966
Place of Birth:    Birmingham, Warwickshire
Date of Birth:    26 March 1878

You can order it online from National archives UK. Hope the link works 

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D6689177

[treerooter]

Thomas William Beecham was born 26 December 1877, at 19 Sun St., Birmingmam. His parents were Samuel Beecham & Ellen Maria Farrell. (Ellen Maria was my GGM's sister.)

I found that record on the NA last night. Puzzled about the 26 Mar 1878 birth date. Perhaps an error because the birth was registered in the 1st Qtr of 1878? I don't think that the record would help much. I know what became of his family in England --- hoping to find a new one one in Australia.

Thanks so much for the obit! I did search Trove, but didn't find it. So William was his son! Looks as if the son was William Henry, born 1908, died 1967.

I charged ahead & ordered the uncertified marriage cert, but after I hit "Make Payment" I got transferred to a page which is still blank. :-( My credit card company found the charge, so I e-mailed the site.

Thanks, all! Looks as if I have work to do, and may even find some living descendants --- if the man who married Amelia was the same man.

[majm]

NZ Papers Past has lots of information about HMS Royal Arthur and other HM Ships on the Australian Station  circa 1901 
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast

For example
"THE SQUADRON. ITS COMPONENT VESSELS AND THEIR STAFFS" with names 
Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 142, 18 June 1901, Page 2

Some info in the NZ newspaper 
Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 71, 20 September 1901, Page 6

"A deserter from H.M.S ARCHER,  named Thomas William Beecham, was arrested at Paraparaumu yesterday, and was this morning put on board his ship"

Cheers,  JM

[rosball]

There is a service record(s) for WW2 for a William Henry Beecham b 26 March 1908 in Brunswick Victoria.
His next-of-kin is Elsie Beecham.

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/

Just hit begin your search - no need to register.  You can ask for it to be digitised if it is the right family (costs money)

Summary RAAF http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=R&veteranId=869442
Summary Army http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=431791

cheers,
   Ros

[treerooter]

Thanks, Rosball! If I ever get to see that marriage cert, I may know whether it is the right family. Hope I get an e-mail back soon, but I guess I may have to wait until next week.