James Hilton Alston
The following details come from the Royal Navy Artificer Apprentice class lists.  These were handwritten in large ledger books, and at one time they were kept near to the Captain’s Office in HMS Fisgard in Torpoint.
James Alston was in Benbow Division.
His trade is given as Fitter and Turner (E)
Official Number MX 52225
He was rated Engine Room Artificer 5th Class (Leading Hand equivalent) on 1st January 1940
He was discharged on 6th January 1940, and allocated to Devonport.

Artificer Apprentices at Chatham from January 1932 were accommodated in the Old Detention Quarters, which was renamed Fisgard Block.  They were trained in the Mechanical Training Establishment inside HMS Pembroke, RNB Chatham.
In 1939 it became increasing clear that Chatham would be vulnerable to air raids during a future conflict, so plans were made to evacuate Apprentices in the event of war with Germany.  It was decided to construct a new training establishment in Torpoint, East Cornwall.  Temporary accommodation would be provided in Portsmouth and Devonport until such time as this new establishment could be built. 
On 1st September 1939, the order was given to implement the evacuation plans.  Six hours later Apprentices were on the move.  This meant the end of Fisgard Block and of Apprentice Training in the MTE, Chatham.
Following the order to evacuate Fisgard Block, the most senior class, J Class, was drafted to Port Depots to join operational ships, thus missing the last six months of their formal apprenticeship.  Of the remaining classes A, C, E and G Classes were transferred to the Ebenezer and St. Marks Church Halls in Devonport, which had been requisitioned and converted for this purpose.
B, D, F and H Classes moved to HMS Argus, then HMS Frobisher, and then to wooden huts erected in the Naval Barrack, Devonport.  Academic instruction took place within the Barracks and with workshop training in the Dockyard.
The Church Hall accommodation proved to be totally inadequate, so E and G Classes were transferred to the MARSHALL NEY, an old monitor which formed part of the Devonport MTE, in which all Apprentices received instruction.  In December 1939 the Apprenticeship was shortened to four years because of the urgency for trained men at sea in the Fleet.
In February 1940 the Devonport Apprentices were moved into the more acceptable Stoke Dameral High School for Girls (the young ladies had vacated earlier!)  In May 1940 the Devonport Apprentices were joined by Apprentices from Portsmouth.
Also, in 1940 the construction of the new establishment in Torpoint began.  Half the current Apprentice Classes (at Stoke Dameral School) took up residence at the RNATE in Torpoint in July 1940.  The remainder joined them in October 1940.  The Senior Classes remained at Stoke Dameral School when engaged in practical ‘Afloat Party’ at work on ships in the Dockyard until 1942.
Books that explain this are:
‘The Story of HMS Fisgard’ by Lieutenant Philip Payton RN (1983)
‘Sons of Tubal-Cain’ by John North (2019)

Hi,
New to the forum, so here goes. I am researching the histroy of North hill on Papa Westray, Orkney. Part of the history of the hill is that during the second world war as a precursor to D-Day the hill was shelled from out at sea in readiness for the invasion. I have some local anecdotal info about the shelling, but I dont have any factual information from the Royal Navy postion, which ships were involved, where they shelled the island from and the purpose of the exercise etc..
Any info at all will be very gratefully received or links to who might be best to contact.
Thanks for reading.

Jonathan - Papay ranger

I am seeking as much information as possible about John Edward Dolan (known as Jack) a distant relation to me and wonder if readers could help me find more detail on this gentleman. He was a RN Lieutenant Commander in wartime but very sadly left the Navy under a cloud having experienced two Courts Martial. The reasons for his misdemeanours I understand can be attributed to family as he suffered the tragic death of his child (all of who are buried near to me in Cornwall) in the late 1940s. He was awarded the MBE and I had the good fortune to view his medal (photo attached) from his daughter recently. Any assistance would be most welcome as finding out more about Mr Dolan (who I remember well as a child) would be much appreciated by his daughter who is in her 80s now. To us Mr Dolan was a hero and I hope it might be possible to provide comfort to his daughter of anything that might details his experiences.

Thanks for reading this.

Some years in 2019 ago a helpful forum member posted this information:

Apparently joined Royal Navy in 1927 as a Boy Seaman.  Evidently selected for accelerated promotion, as he had reached Warrant rank ten years later.  His career can be traced in Navy Lists after this.

Promoted to rank of Gunner 1 April 1937   
Appointed: HMS St Vincent June 1937   
Appointed: HMS Bridgewater 20 September 1938
Awarded MBE in New Year’s Honours List 1 Jan 1941
Promoted to Acting Lieutenant 31 May 1942   
appointed: HMS Porcupine  1 July 1942
Confirmed Lieutenant, and seniority adjusted to 2 April 1939
Appointed: HMS Lewes  26 January 1943
Appointed:  HMS Renown 25 April 1944
Appointed:  HMS Highflyer  28 March 1945 as an acting Lieutenant Commander
Confirmed Lt Cdr ...1946
Appointed HMS Daedalus … 1947
Appointed HMS Pembroke … 1948

He seems to have ended his career on a low note, with two courts-martial for drunkenness:
August 1947: found guilty by court-martial of five charges of assault, being drunk and generally behaving badly at RAF station Hednesford. Sentence:  severely reprimanded; dismissed his ship.   Evidence was given that he was celebrating “an addition to the family” and the session did not end well…
 March 1948:  found guilty by court-martial of being drunk on duty: severely reprimanded; dismissed his ship; loss of six months seniority. I have no details of this incident

It says Philippeville.  Nowadays known as Skikda

I am compiling the history of this hospital ship for inclusion in the RN Reach Archive but have encountered an undecipherable port of call on her movement’s card held by the National Archive.

During August to December 1943 she was operating in the Mediterranean calling at, or at anchor in, North African, Italian and Sicilian ports, most of these are identified but one alludes me – see attachments – the place underlined in red are the port of call in question. Can anyone decipher this name and locate it on a map?

Greetings All.

On reflecting on this matter, I do see two options that could explain this anomaly.

Firstly, a Fulmar from FAA No. 808 Squadron was in fact launched, on a day earlier in the search, i.e. 25 May.

Secondly, one or more aircrew of FAA No. 808 Squadron flew in a Swordfish during the initial search for the Bismarck, and/or during the subsequent attacks launched against the Bismarck.

Can any Member shed any light on this apparent anomaly please?
Kind regards, Michael.

re: Shore bases
He would not necessarily have been there - they acted as Accounting Bases for small ships, so when you have an entry of St Angelo (Bryony) it means that the admin / paperwork / pay etc was administered by  HMS St Angelo - the shore base at Malta - the name in brackets shows the ship he was on - the corvette Bryony
https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4724.html

As for the mysterious name, is it possible for you to post up a copy of his service record? Lile doesn't ring any bells, but someone may be able to decipher it if we could actually see it

I've just come across another one.... Is this correct
St Angelo (Bryony) He spent three months on it whatever it is.
Carol

Hi
I am trying to write up my uncles service record and I am stumped.
Under name of ship one entry is Lile (I think). The first letter could be something other than L.
Can anyone point me in the right direction please?
He was posted to it from 20.11.1044 to 12.03.45. He had just finished a stint on the Argonaut and I know he manned the guns.

Also why did they keep going back to shore bases? Was it for down time?

Sorry if this is in the wrong category I couldn't find one for this problem.

Many thanks
Kind regards
Carol

I have found the 'Naval History' website to be a useful reference. However, I have also found that it can, on occasions, have errors and lacks details. For example, the page for the destroyer HMS Windsor - http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-09VW-Windsor.htm - fails to include details of HMS Windsor's participation in the search for the Bismarck. Other sources show that HMS Windsor sailed with the Home Fleet from Scarpa Flow circa 2300hrs on 22 May. And then was detached to refuel in Iceland, together with all the other destroyers, on 24 May. These details are not in the 'Naval History' summary of HMS Windsor.

Assuming that "Fulmars did not participate" in the search for the Bismarck, 23-27 May 1941, then I do not understand how FAA No. 808 Sqn was granted the Battle Honour 'BISMARCK' and FAA No. 807 Sqn was not granted the Battle Honour. If no aircraft were flown then surely neither squadron should be granted the Battle Honour. If by simply having been present onboard HMS Ark Royal, and there having been a clear intent to launch Fulmars which had been thwarted by the weather, then both squadrons should have been granted the Battle Honour. What I don't comprehend is how one squadron was granted the Battle Honour and the other was not.

Can anyone explain this anomaly please?
Kind regards, Michael.