Author Topic: Navy Service Record Queries  (Read 453 times)

Offline AlexNoodle

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 493
  • The Large Family circa 1906
    • View Profile
Navy Service Record Queries
« on: Sunday 15 May 22 16:36 BST (UK) »
Hi all. I recently received a copy of my husband's paternal grandfathers WWII Navy record. Typically it doesn't provide much information but he was a Stoker but did not actually serve on ships as he was posted at airfields - namely HMS Raven, HMS Ringtail and HMS Wagtail. As a stoker rank presumably his duties at an airfield would be different to those of a stoker on a ship - would it be right that he would have served more like a fireman?

He was discharged in August 1946 for being Invalided - Pronounced Unfit for Naval Service after having been at the Royal Naval Hospitals in Plymouth and Sherborne from March 1946. There is no other information about why he was in hospital and the only notation about it states "Invalided 3/8/46 DNA3AR/E Nil FSL." Does the DNA3AR refer to the Royal Patriotic Fund? And Nil FSL - means no Foreign Service Leave?

I'm guessing we might not find out much more about the reasons behind the hospitalisation - do the Royal Navy Hospitals typically provide information on deceased servicemen if you contact them?

Thanks in advance

:)
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk<br />Marshall: Leeds/Silkstone/Ashton/Hyde. Griffiths: Llanrhaeder ym Mochnant/Glyn Ceiriog/Ashton. Pilley: Chelmsford/Maldon. Hallas: Ashton/Stalybridge. Large: Tarvin/Manchester/Mossley. McDonald: Ireland/Whitfield/Mossley.

Offline martin hooper

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 340
    • View Profile
Re: Navy Service Record Queries
« Reply #1 on: Monday 16 May 22 11:29 BST (UK) »
I have RN stokers in my family. It's easy to imagine they were all shovelling coal, but not the case. As far as I know the term was used to refer to ratings who worked in the engine room.  An uncle was a stoker on HMS Royal Oak - she was an oil burner. Another uncle was a stoker on a submarine.

But what a stoker was doing on a shore base I don't know.

Martin

Offline tonepad

  • RootsChat Aristocrat
  • ******
  • Posts: 1,513
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Navy Service Record Queries
« Reply #2 on: Monday 16 May 22 13:00 BST (UK) »
The two Royal Navy Hospitals referred to are both closed:

Royal Naval Hospital (East Stonehouse) in Plymouth
Records exist for this hospital, but looking at the details of the database below, there are no records for patients.

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=2576&page=5&hospital=royal


Coldharbour Hospital in Sherborne was a Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital around WW2 and later was used to care for patients with learning difficulties.

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=5b5b4183-41ce-4156-94ec-2d7bc49c3982&resourceID=19191

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2322398



Tony

Aucock/Aukett~Kent/Sussex, Broadway~Oxfordshire, Danks~Warwickshire, Fenn~Kent/Norfolk, Goatham~Kent, Hunt~Kent, Parker~Middlesex, Perry~Kent, Sellers~Kent/Yorkshire, Sladden~Kent, Wright~Kent/Essex

Offline AlexNoodle

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 493
  • The Large Family circa 1906
    • View Profile
Re: Navy Service Record Queries
« Reply #3 on: Monday 16 May 22 22:38 BST (UK) »
Thank you Martin and Tony.

I shall check out the links Tony.

I am getting a couple of books about HMS Ringtail which I think my husband will find very interesting.
Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk<br />Marshall: Leeds/Silkstone/Ashton/Hyde. Griffiths: Llanrhaeder ym Mochnant/Glyn Ceiriog/Ashton. Pilley: Chelmsford/Maldon. Hallas: Ashton/Stalybridge. Large: Tarvin/Manchester/Mossley. McDonald: Ireland/Whitfield/Mossley.