Personnel > Royal Navy
Fathers Service Record
n4mv3t:
G'day all ... I have recently obtained my deceased fathers Royal Navy service history from Swadlincote. He joined the RN on 23 June 1937 (Wildfire) and his first ship was HMS Arethusa 15 Sept 1940 (rank from 23 June 1941 to 4 Oct 1942 was temp acting Leading Seaman. Rank then changes back to AB on 5th Oct 1942-why??) he then left the Arethusa on 16 Oct 1942. On 17th Oct 1942 he joined HMS Petard, as an AB, and left that ship on 16 Aug 1944 (with the rank of temporary acting Petty Officer, which he had held from 5th April 1943).
I have researched both the Arethusa and the Petard on the net and so I think I have a fairly good handle on that period, but my problem is with his post war record because I know he was in Malta for about 3 years (my younger brother was born there in 1951, plus 53 years ago I met the Maltese family that knew him and my mother) however understanding the Navy "shorthand" is a tad difficult.
His details are as follows:- William MacGregor RUSSELL, official number SSX21417 / JX768990 (he re-entered for 12 years on 15 July 1946) any offers of help in understanding the Navy shorthand will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks “Doc”
PhiloNauticus:
Could you post your Fathers record here or say what the "Navy shorthand" is
re: "temp acting" - means temporary, acting in the rank - it is used to fill a vacancy. When the gap is filled by someone qualified and of rank then the 'temp acting' person reverts to their old rate
n4mv3t:
--- Quote from: PhiloNauticus on 17 July 2018 09:25:11 am ---Could you post your Fathers record here or say what the "Navy shorthand" is
re: "temp acting" - means temporary, acting in the rank - it is used to fill a vacancy. When the gap is filled by someone qualified and of rank then the 'temp acting' person reverts to their old rate
--- End quote ---
Thanks for your reply ... I'll scan the record today and post it asap ... 'Doc'
n4mv3t:
--- Quote from: n4mv3t on 17 July 2018 11:45:09 pm ---
--- Quote from: PhiloNauticus on 17 July 2018 09:25:11 am ---Could you post your Fathers record here or say what the "Navy shorthand" is
re: "temp acting" - means temporary, acting in the rank - it is used to fill a vacancy. When the gap is filled by someone qualified and of rank then the 'temp acting' person reverts to their old rate
--- End quote ---
Thanks for your reply ... I'll scan the record today and post it asap ... 'Doc'
--- End quote ---
OK here's the front page of his Service Record ... hope someone can help with the "Navy shorthand" ... Doc
PhiloNauticus:
Ships
Apart from time in shore bases (Wildfire and Pembroke at Chatham = Dryad at Portsmouth) he served at sea -
cruiser Cumberland in 1938 rated as Boy / Ordinary Seaman
cruiser Kent 1938 – 39 rated OS/Able Seaman
cruiser Arethusa 1940 -43
destroyer Petard 1943-45
then discharged to RFR (Royal Fleet Reserve)
later
destroyer Gabbard in 1947
(see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Gabbard_(D47) )
aircraft carrier Triumph in 1948 - she was then serving in the Mediterranean Fleet
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Triumph_(R16) )
depot ship Forth 1949 – 51 - she was based at Malta throughout this time – see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Forth_(A187)
aircraft carrier Glory 1953 – 54
see: http://www.hms-glory-assoc.org.uk/history.htm
The column ‘non-substantive’ – shows his trade rather than rank. He originally joined and was trained as a Gunner = Q.R means Quarters Rating; the numbers indicate class. When he re-joined in 1947 he retrained as a radar plotter – RP
The badges column shows he obtained his Good Conduct Badges (to get the maximum of three) – these would have been worn as chevrons on the left arm
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