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Author Topic: William Petts  (Read 14824 times)

Dave

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William Petts
« on: 23 October 2019 02:57:31 pm »

Hi,
Can anyone help clarify the information on these Service records, he Joined in April 1914 did 22 years left then rejoined 1939, I am struggling finding where he went and what in was involved in. He was awarded the Star but not sure which one and can't seem to find a medal index card, he got LSGC 1929 and possibly jubilee and coronation medals, he was awarded the 39-45 Medal although I don't really have any information about WW2 service other than HMS Cochrane
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PhiloNauticus

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Re: William Petts
« Reply #1 on: 23 October 2019 04:09:41 pm »

Service Record shows
Born 19 Dec 1895 in Fulham
Joined RN 22 April 1914      official number: K22426

Service:
HMS Pembroke       Apr – Aug 1914   trained as a Stoker
HMS Dido              Aug 14 – Apr 1915
HMS Laurel      Apr 15 – Dec 1918   Parent ship HMS Hecla 15 – 17; Apollo 17 – 18
HMS Pembroke-II   Jan 1919
HMS Attentive-II   Feb – Sep 1919
HMS Pembroke   -II   Sep – Oct 1919
HMS Titania      Oct 1919 – Sep 1920
HMS Cairo          Sep 1920 – Dec 1921
HMS Pembroke-II   Dec 1921 -  Mar 1922
HMS Kellett      Mar 1922 – May 1923   
HMS Pembroke-II   May – Sep 1923
HMS Vega             Sep / Nov 1923          Parent ship HMS Columbine
HMS Wolfhound     Nov 1923 – May 1926       Parent ship HMS Columbine
HMS Pembroke-II   May 1926 – Feb 1927
HMS Ramillies      March 1927 – Sep 1929
HMS Pembroke           Sep 1929 – Apr 1930
HMS Fermoy      Apr 1930 – March 1932      Parent ship HMS Vulcan, then HMS Titania
HMS Pembroke      Mar 1932
HMS Shropshire      Mar 1932 -  Jan 1934
HMS Pembroke      Jan 1934 – Apr 1935
HMS Cairo             April 1935 – Dec 35
HMS Pembroke 2   Dec 1935 – Apr 1936      
Discharged with Pension April 1936

Note: A Parent Ship is a larger ship or establishment that looks after the paperwork etc., for a smaller ship

Re-called to service November 1939
HMS Pembroke      Nov 1939
HMS Beaver      Nov – Dec 1939
HMS Pembroke      Dec 1939 – Jan 1940
HMS Arethusa      Jan – Apr 1940
HMS Cochrane       Apr/ May 1940
Discharged – invalided from service from Hospital at Port Edgar, suffering from a State of Anxiety

I will see if I can do a bit of research on the ships and post it



C & A = character and ability – noted as VG / Sat   or VG / Supr = very good, satisfactory or very good, superior
Medals –   ST = 1914 Star
V = Victory Medal
B = British War Medal
LS & GC =  Long Service and Good Conduct
Rating – Stoker / Leading Stoker May 1927
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PhiloNauticus

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Re: William Petts
« Reply #2 on: 24 October 2019 09:34:33 am »

HMS Pembroke            Naval and base and barracks at Chatham 

HMS Dido              former cruiser, fitted as a Depot Ship; based at Harwich

HMS Laurel      Destroyer.  Built at Cowes, IoW 1913.  Served as part of the Harwich Force 1914 – 17 in the 9th Destroyer Flotilla.  Fought at the Battle of Jutland, screening the 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron.  She picked up the survivors from the Queen Mary after that ship had blown up.   
see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laforey-class_destroyer_(1913)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harwich_Force
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205128705
 
HMS Attentive-II   Naval base at Dover

HMS Titania      Depot Ship; at Portsmouth and then sailed for the China station Dec 1919: Malta - Suez – Aden – Colombo – Hong Kong (arrived April 1920)   for her movements see:
 http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-50-HMS_Titania.htm

HMS Cairo      Light cruiser. Built at Birkenhead 1918.  Served on the China Station from 1919.   Based Hong Kong;  visits to Japan, Korea ;  Singapore; Penang etc – for her movements see:
http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-06-HMS_Cairo.htm

 
HMS Kellett      Survey ship.  Engaged in updating marine charts. In 1922- 1923 she was based at Chatham, surveying the East coast.   
http://forums.clydemaritime.co.uk/download/file.php?id=74439&sid=ae6d4d185056cb32fe447e50f5bad90a&mode=view


HMS Vega            Destroyer built Sunderland 1917. in 1923 part of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla, based at Chatham
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vega_(L41)

HMS Wolfhound     Destroyer built Govan 1918. Based at Chatham 1923 - 26
 http://vandwdestroyerassociation.org.uk/HMS_Wolfhound/

 
HMS Ramillies      Battleship built Govan 1916.  In 1927 sailed for the Mediterranean, to be based at Malta.  In 1928 to West Africa (Lagos / Accra). Visits to Gibraltar, French, Greek and Italian ports.
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1466643

 
HMS Fermoy      Minesweeper. Built Dundee 1919.  She was based at Portland, Dorset 1930-32.   
https://www.worldnavalships.com/directory/shipinfo.php?ShipID=2585

 
HMS Shropshire     Cruiser. Built Glasgow 1927.  Served with the Mediterranean Fleet, based at Malta    
https://www.worldnavalships.com/directory/shipinfo.php?ShipID=437
 
HMS Cairo      Cruiser, as above.  Served in Home waters 1935
 

SECOND WORLD WAR SERVICE
 
HMS Beaver      Naval base established at Hull & Grimsby

HMS Arethusa      Light Cruiser. Built Chatham 1934.   In early 1940 she was based at Rosyth  and engaged in offensive sweeps and patrols in the North Atlantic 
 https://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/ship.php?ShipID=425

HMS Cochrane       Naval base at Rosyth
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PhiloNauticus

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Re: William Petts
« Reply #3 on: 24 October 2019 09:43:57 am »


Some of the links did not seem to load properly; try
 http://vandwdestroyerassociation.org.uk/HMS_Vega/index.html

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Dave

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Re: William Petts
« Reply #4 on: 24 October 2019 10:20:08 am »

Thank you so much for the answers and links PHILONAUTICUS
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Dave

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Re: William Petts
« Reply #5 on: 25 October 2019 01:43:48 pm »

Would this man have been awarded the 1914 star or the 1914-15 star please, as on the paperwork I have just says Star, would he have been given a coronation or Jubilee medal? My Grandmother said he had six, although he also was awarded a 1939-45 Medal which he didn't receive, I have it now.

In 1940 he was in Hospital suffering a metal breakdown that was why he was Discharged, did HMS Arethusa pick up survivors from the sea at any time he was Aboard? Or was this prior to his 1939 re-entry? Are there any Medical records available?

Thank you in advance for any information
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PhiloNauticus

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Re: William Petts
« Reply #6 on: 26 October 2019 08:46:23 am »


It would have been the 1914-15 Star - the three medals awarded became known as 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred'  -
see: 

http://www.worldwar1luton.com/object/pip-squeak-and-wilfred-wwi-campaign-medals

He may well have been awarded the Coronation Medal of 1935, although there is no note of it on his Service Docs.   The Jubilee Medal was not awarded until 1937, after he had left the Navy.     

If your Grandmother can remember six medals, that would mean - the three WW1 medals, plus the 1939-45; with the Coronation and the LS & GC medals.

I will check Arethusa's activities
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PhiloNauticus

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Re: William Petts
« Reply #7 on: 26 October 2019 03:37:23 pm »




The War Diary for the Second Cruiser Squadron may be found here:
 https://www.naval-history.net/xDKWD-HF1940CS2.htm

and a resume of Arethusa’s movements here:
 
https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Arethusa.htm


I cannot see that she was involved in any rescues or picking up of survivors etc.  Between January and April 1940, she in the North Sea supporting operations in Norway.   

During the First World War he was present at the Battle of Jutland, and his ship (Laurel) had picked up the survivors from the battlecruiser Queen Mary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Queen_Mary


Medical Records: I do not believe that WW2 medical records are available …


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Dave

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Re: William Petts
« Reply #8 on: 27 October 2019 06:22:31 pm »

Thank you again for the information, his 1939-45 medal was not issued until a few months ago
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