I posted a little while ago, I have now found the service record for John Kitt, and am looking through it but some terms are unfamiliar. I am assuming P.O is Petty officer, but SPO? Also I noticed he changed from a leading stoker to a POSM(Arm), again not sure about this. I have his medals, Long Service and Good Conduct, Defence Medal, 39-45 Star, Burma Star, Africa Star,
South Atlantic Star, which pretty much reflect serving on HMS Newcastle throughout WW2 as per Service Record.
I am doing some digging for a family member, the medals were tucked away in a drawer, I will be framing them but also like to do a bit of research to go along with it, so if anybody can help with abbreviations it would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Dear Reader,

I have recently come across some documents and photographs that belonged to my grandfather - Felix Nauta. I would like to share these photographs and also see if I could learn more about his campaign during the war. How do I go about doing this?
Most importantly I would like to have his name added to the list of pilots that flew in his Squadron - the 1840 squadron. I have his flight log book if this would be of interest.

See attached a picture of him with his squadron on the deck of the HMS Furious. Below he hand wrote the names of the men on the photo. I believed he added a cross to mark those who had not made it however his own name is marked so this cannot be as he did survive the war. I still need to have the original digitalised for better resolution.

Any help is much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

A Nauta.

Help to identify a cap badge was posted on the RNRA Forum, with a photo, under the heading Royal Navy on 28 October 2018 (Now on Page 3). It came up in Google search results. A reply was posted - It’s a RN officers' badge from 1952 onwards as it’s QE2 crown.

Queen E 2 came to the throne on 6th February 1952. I cannot tell from this photo what type of crown is on the badge. If you can ascertain that is a QE2 crown it may indicate that the relative served in the Royal Navy after this date. 

Philip L

I cannot trace him in the Navy - he is better known apparently as the original illustrator of Thomas the Tank Engine, and seems to have been a professional illustrator, rather than a naval officer.

see: https://ttte.fandom.com/wiki/Reginald_Payne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLPuLbCymx4

Hello!

I am looking for any details for an individual in the Royal Navy named Alexander Reginald Payne. From what I can find he was a naval correspondent during WWII for the Boy's Own Paper magazines, and often illustrated cover art and wrote articles for them, which he signed as A.R.Payne. Two examples of which I have attached. He was born in 1909 in Surrey, and would've been in his early-mid 30s during his time in the Royal Navy.

I'm not certain whether they are the same person, but I did find there was an "A.R.Payne" with the rank of Lieutenant that served on the H.M.T.S "TRYME" in the Tanganyikan Naval Volunteer Force.

Does anyone happen to know of any photographs or records matching this description, or perhaps could recommend someone/somewhere that may better help my inquiry? I would very much appreciate it!

A similar looking (But different) cap badge in diagram 53 on page 28 from Manual of Seamanship 1937 (Printed 1941. Refer to Books) may give a clue to what the cap badge is. The Chief Petty Officers cap badge in diagram 53 looks similar to me. The leaves on the branches (If that's what they are) look a different size to me. To me (As a non expert with limited knowledge on  the subject) this may suggest that it is Petty Officers cap badge from a different point in history, may be before 1937 or after 1947. Or may it is from the Merchant Navy. Only a guess really.

Philip L

I would say yes, from their uniform, they are indeed Cadets (Osborne  or Dartmouth).

What they are doing, and why Sidcup, I cannot say ...

I recently bought this splendid postcard which I believe shows an image in or near Sidcup.

1
Can anyone confirm or deny that these are naval cadets?

2
Can anyone confirm the location.

3
Can anyone hazard what the event might be - the year is 1910.


Thank you.

Some information from Manual of Seamanship, 1937 (Printed 1941). Volume one. By Authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Refer to Books.

TIME-WATCHES
Page 28 and 29 (Page 28 is different subject. Cap Badges). Time, Divisional Organisation.

Page 30 and 31. Watch Organisation, Duty Men.

Page 32 and 33. Tricks, Other Duties provided from the Watch on Deck, Special Sea Duty  Men.

The information may give some idea of Watch keeping on WW2 Destroyer.

Philip L

Many thanks for that and the link to DEMS; perhaps MA refers to Maritime Artillery or similar. My father had an accident whilst in Malta and was in hospital for some time, (attached to the shore base HMS St Angelo) and missed the fateful return of Troilus.