Hello Philip,

thanks for your reply and trying to find out more info for me. I too have trawled the internet and found out lots about the company, its history and pictures of their products but I have found nothing that remotely resembles this object.... very frustrating! I feel it may be something that is an extension or addition to something else but there is no clue to what! Thanks anyway.

Val

Thanks for the information.
Can anyone advise if he would have been at this estabishment all this time? Or is it possible that he was elsewhwere?

I do not know what the object is but there is some interesting information at the Australian National Maritine Museum about W Ottway and Co.

https://collections.sea.museum/objects/152563/w-ottway--co-ltd-sighting-telescope

Basic Information that I have seen.
W Ottway and Co was established in 1840 at Ealing in London. They were manufactures of Naval and Military Gun sighting, telescopes and a wide range of scientific instruments. They were one of the largest suppliers of sighting equipment to the Royal Navy.

Philip L

This is so helpful, thank you for this information and help with solving this photo mystery.

I believe this instrument is something to do with military, probably naval possibly 1st - second world war. It says W Ottway and co (based in Ealing) on flange..... has anyone got any idea what this is?

Yup, that fits.   He will be the seated figure.

Writers were the ships administrators - responsible for pay, correspondence  and administration.  As such they were [at this time] allowed to wear jacket and shirt etc, not the ‘sailor suit’.   

From his service record, in 1901 he was a Second Class Writer and had been awarded one good conduct badge – the anchor shows the rate and the chevron is the GCB.  He would have had a star with the letter W,  on his right arm.
The standing figure is a Chief Writer – he has the star and W badge on his jacket lapels. 

The Writer branch is still in existence in today’s Navy, see:
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles/writer

His service record is interesting – several short periods on ‘big ships’ – battleships and cruisers, with a spell in  China [1904-08]

I may have found the connection....  A Great Uncle is listed as serving on the Bellona in 1901 (Service record attched). I've also attached another photograph from the set. If my great Uncle was a 2nd Writer could he be one of these gentlemen with regards to uniform?

Navy's Floating Aerodromes. The Advertiser, Tuesday, 19th September 1939.

The article explains the history and development of Aircraft carriers, from 1914 until the sinking of Aircraft carrier HMS Courageous, by German torpedoing, in September 1939. The article explains Aircraft carrier development in the Royal Navy from 1914 to 1939 such as the difficulties involved and how vulnerable Aircraft carriers are to enemy attack. Aircraft carriers mentioned are Courageous, Glorious, Furious, Eagle, Argus, Hermes, and Ark Royal.

The article is in the format of 3 columns. Going to bottom of column 1 to top of column 2 and so on. In the case of the photos, it requires moving between photos in order to read the article in a logical order.

  APA citation
NAVY'S FLOATING AERODROMES (1939, September 19). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), p. 14. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74426694


Philip L

ASSEGAI was a shore base - a training establishment at Wentworth, Durban, South Africa during WW2.

G'day from Down Under!
At 78 years of age, I have just discovered through ancestry and DNA who my father was.  However, that is a story for another day!
I was able to obtain some of his military records, which indicate he was on Assegai from October to December 1943. Some of the details appear to have been redacted!  And I was hoping to fill in some missing details, please.
His name was Sidney Charles WEAVER, and his Register No was X 3242.
Any information would be greatly appreciated, or if you can point me in the correct direction so I can contact those who may know more.
Regards Harps.