Uniform enquiry - photo

[LindaN]

I'm wondering if anyone can help me identify this uniform? The man is Frederick Tyrrell b.13 Mar 1831 in Kessingland Suffolk. We know he was in the Navy and Coastguard. I'm just wondering if anyone may know any more about the uniform. Thank you.

[Maggsie]

Hi Have you got his Navy papers?
He was on a ship called Penelope.
He had grey eyes, 5ft 6 1/2ins tall.
I will save them for you.
Maggsie

[philipsearching]

If there are photographer's details on the reverse this may help to narrow down a date.
Philip

[LJReb123]

Evening,

not an expert but I would say Royal Navy Warrant Officer about 1870. Three buttons on the cuff, sword and double breasted jacket. (Dates might be a bit out)

Hope this helps,

David

[LindaN]

Thanks for the help. I have seen that he has a record of entry to the Greenwich Hospital School on the National Archives and I have found entries referring to him being in the Navy and a couple of ships he was on in Ancestry but I haven't paid to see the full details yet. In 1861 he is on the census as a Boatman C Gunner and by 1871 he was in the Coastguard.

I'll attach the back of the photo but nothing on there means much to me except his name. I did a quick search for JC Clarke Photographer but haven't found much yet.

[crimea1854]

He is wearing the uniform of a Chief Boatman in the Coastguard. If you look at his service record this should provide a date range. I note the back of the photo says Gravesend which should narrow down the date.

Martin

[LindaN]

Thanks Martin,

I had been trying to work out that word. Gravesend makes sense as the 1881 census has him living there as a Chief Boatman Coastguard. I'm wondering what 'Swann' means on the back of the photo, maybe a boat name?

[crimea1854]

I'm afraid I cannot throw any light on 'Swann'.

Out of interest how much do you know of his navy service? I ask because I'm particularly interested in CG men who served in the RN during the Crimean War, and Frederick was one such man, serving on HMS Belleisle in the Baltic. At the outbreak of war he was serving on the Revenue Cruiser Dolphin, returning to her when his navy service ended. It was from this boat that he was nominated to the land-based CG service in 1858.

Martin

[LindaN]

Hi Martin

We don't know much about his navy service at all. I found a record in the National Archives that might be his but I didn't want to pay that much if it wasn't the right person. I would definitely be interested in any links etc that relate to him. I also found on his application to Greenwich Hospital School that his father George Tyrrell joined the Navy under the name James. We have no idea why that might be or what his service was either. We believe George may have died in the Coastguard service though.

Linda