Bristol RO - 'Formidable' Training Ship Records 1901 onwards

[Preece67]

I am fairly certain I have a relative sent to the Training Ship "Formidable" in 1901 - a person of the right name is confirmed as being there in the 1901 census.

His name is Frank Charles Preece, originally from Newent. He was sent to the ship on 2 March 1901 for 3 years, although only named as Frank Preece both at court and in the census. I cannot locate him anywhere on the 1911 census, family lore says he ended up in Alice Springs, but I cannot find proof of that either!

I am very interested in getting what details there may be in the annual register which I gather is available to view at Bristol RO, together with any other information in allied records. Does anyone have experience of these particular records at all, do they contain family information at all or simply date and name type lists?

Many thanks, Ian

[Hystericalwriter]

Sometimes the Board of Guardians (Workhouse) would recommend sending a boy to a training ship. There are some records of the ship in the Archives at Taunton too, but not sure if there is family information.

[Girl Guide]

There is a death for a Frank Preece in the June Quarter of 1901 registered in the district of Long Ashton.  Age is given as 13 which gives a birth year of 1888.

Long Ashton is where Frank was in the 1901 census.  Could this be your Frank's death?

[KGarrad]

TS Formidable was moored off Portishead - in a stretch of water called King Road.

Then all the boys and staff were moved to the National Nautical School, built in Redcliff Bay (just outside Portishead).

Portishead parish was in the Long Ashton Registration District from 1899 until 1936; and was in Bedminster RD before that.

Hence the registrations in Long Ashton! 

KG - an old Portishead boy! 

[Preece67]

Thanks to GG & KG for your replies yesterday. I have ordered the death certificate for the Long Ashton death as this looks interesting. It will however create some sort of problem as my father is sure he saw letters from Frank in Australia in the 1940's. I am wondering if there are two Franks, as we do have another relative with family in Australia. Must ring my father......

[Preece67]

I now have the death certificate for Frank Preece aged 13 in 1901, and it is certainly the Frank who was on the Training Ship. My task now is to see if this is "my" Frank as I have been assuming, so will be looking into getting copies of records from the Training Ships annual logs which I gather are at Bristol RO.