Contemporary newspapers also report some printing activity onboard ship:

It was reported that when Napoleon landed in Egypt in 1798, he issued a series of printed proclamations on his arrival, which had been “ … composed and printed on l’Orient during the passage from Malta to Alexandria”
[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/: Kentish Gazette 5 Oct 1798]

Sir Sydney Smith (who had a press onboard his flagship in the Med.) had one earlier –
“Sir Sydney Smith has given orders for erecting a printing press on board his ship, the Antelope, now lying in Dover roads”
[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/: Hampshire Chronicle 4 Nov 1805]

Somewhat later, in 1843, it was reported that HMS Belleisle had a printing press onboard, set up and operated by an army officer, Capt. Edie of the 98th Regiment, who happened to be onboard
[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/:  Halifax Guardian 2 Sep 1843]

The various Arctic expeditions of the 1840s and 1850s are reported to have the ability for simple printing – playbills and newssheets etc – for the crew

Thank you for that information, which is the first concrete information that has come to light so far.  Tunstall, for example on p. 129, says that "on the day [that he arrived at New York], 12 July [1776], Howe issued his printed Signal Book for the Ships of War."  Since Howe issued HIS printed signal book that suggests that he printed it on board, for issuance to his fleet.  If anyone has information to support that, I would be grateful for it.

I can find  no mention of printing presses onboard ship during the 18th C., although they may have done - I have found this brief mention, referring to the Mediterranean squadron off Toulon 1812 - 1814:

"... both the flagships, the Caledonia, bearing the flag of the Commander in Chief, and Sir Sidney's ship (Hibernia), had onboard of them, very complete printing presses, with all the necessary types and furniture..."
[chap XII in vol.2 of Memoirs of Admiral Sir Sidney Smith  by Edward Howard (1839)]

Did 18th Century flagships have small printing presses on board?  Brian Tunstall's NAVAL WARFARE IN THE AGE OF SAIL seems to indicate that many admirals issued their signal books to their fleets and shows examples that appear to have been printed.  If so, where will I find information on this topic?

Thanks again! much appreciated.

No date of discharge is shown, but it would have been during 1945: the de-mobilisation started straight after VE day in June 1945.

Thank you so much for this. The information is extremely useful, Just 1 last request, when would say he was demobbed from the service?

Many Thanks

The card indicates that he left the Navy in 1/1931
31 Jan 31 - C(ontinuous) S(ervice) expired   and the notation Joined R(oyal) F(leet) R(eserve) 1 Feb 31

The RFR was basically a list of recently discharged ratings from the Navy, that could be recalled in an emergency

He was called back to service in Sep '38 for just three days, before being de-mobilised again: this would have been in response the the Sudetenland Crisis of September 1938, when it was feared that war would break out with Germany; it was defused when Prime Minister Chamberlain got an agreement for 'peace in our time' with Hitler

Re-called for service again in August 1939.   His rating was GL - gun layer; for service on DEMS - defensively equipped merchant ships

He remained serving with DEMS, being promoted to Leading Seaman 17 Oct 1941 and then Acting Petty Officer in October 1942

He blotted his copy book by being found guilty of negligence of duty, which led to him being deprived of 1 GCB (good conduct badge) in January 1945

For DEMS see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensively_equipped_merchant_ship#:~:text=Defensively%20equipped%20merchant%20ship%20(DEMS,against%20enemy%20submarines%20and%20aircraft.

and:
http://merchantships2.tripod.com/dems/handout.html

Hi, I am new to this group and before I ask a question I should declare that I do not have any “first hand” experience of the Royal Navy other than speaking to ex sailor`s whom I worked with in the Fire Service.

My interest is that of family history. I firmly believe that any individual who served for us in any capacity and particularly at times of conflict, that their service and contributions should be recorded for the family. “Lest we forget”

That said, I am currently researching a relative a “Career” Sailor who enlisted as a Boy on the 9 July 1916. I have managed to follow his Service Record up to the record being transferred to Continuous Record Card in January 1929. His name was George Newell service number J55442.
Over time I have managed to decipher most of the entries of his service and hopefully accurately recorded it.

However some of the entries on his card are being difficult to interpret or are confusing. Perhaps someone within this group may be able to help?  I have included a copy of his card here. Most of the abbreviations I am aware of but some of them are being illusive! I would be most grateful for any help. Many Thanks

Does anyone have an details on HM LCI 184 (a 200ft 500 ton Infantry Landing Craft).  I know it was built in Newark, New Jersey, in 1941 and my Grand father collected it from Norfolk Virginia after being fitted out in January 1942 and sailed it in convoy to Gibraltar (via Bermuda). There are no known photographs of this craft and I am looking for information, pictures or details of it.