Hi - does anybody know which squadrons were based on the UK South Coast and equipped with magnetic aerial torpedoes in 1939, i.e. torpedoes with magnetic pistols using the Duplex Coil Rod (DCR)?

Hi - I'm looking to get in contact with family members of those who served on HMS Bruce, the Scott class destroyer completed in 1918 and sunk by aerial torpedo on 22 November 1939.

I have my Late Father Royal Navy Service Docs, but no photograph of him in uniform,  also I am looking for information on how and where he received his wound.  If anyone can assist in this matter or point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.  I have appended his details below.

Norman John George Tonge
Off No JX298178
Signalman
Served 1940-1946

I have got this Error message (HTTP Error 500) a number of times over the past 6 months when trying to post information on the Forum with another message saying something similar to the Navy Forum is unable to take your information at this time. I was thinking it was because I had an old computer, but it is the same with a New one I now have. A google search suggests that the problem is not at my end, but it is at the receiving web site.

If this is posted I suspect that it is because there are no photos involved with this post.

Thankyou

Philip L

Researching some Family History and come across an interesting character, interesting for all the wrong reasons.
Initially he joined the RN at Portsmouth as a Domestic in 1899. The Service Record shows the period of service as 11 July 99 to 23 Aug 99 and reason for Discharge as Shore.
My question is, did he buy himself out?
Following his discharge he joined the Scots Guards, not mentioning on his attestation his RN service. He deserted the Guards imprisoned as a civilian for forgery, rearrested on release by the Guards and deserted once again. Rejoined the RN using an alias in 1906 at Portsmouth as Stoker 1st class Engineer Writer, sentenced to 4 years imprisonment in 1910 for forging numerous travel warrants.
In December 1914 he reappears in RNVR in Bristol as Leading Seaman and  makes CPO in 1915. He is convicted and sentenced to 3hears imprisonment in 1916 but dies at HMP Parkhurst in 1917.
Is it possible that his final Service Record can be deciphered?

The bases / ships are:

COLLINGWOOD      training establishment  Portsmouth
VICTORY         naval barracks, Portsmouth
ASSEGAI         training establishment, Durban [SA]
LANKA         naval base, Colombo
GARUDA         aircraft repair yard, Coimbatore
BHERUNDA      air station,  Colombo
MAYINA         holding/transit camp,   Colombo
VICTORY
LEANDER         cruiser

Hi wondering if anyone can help cannot read some of the ships/bases

Thanks Tony

Thank you. Yes I have read the O'Byrne entry.

HERMES             1 Dec 1812      Masters Mate      8 April 1814
WARSPITE           9 April 1814          -   ditto -      17 August 1814
CONFIANCE    18 August 1814   Able Seaman      24 August 1814
    “   “            25 August      Masters Mate      9 Sep 1815
Prisoner of war – August 1815

RAMILLIES   6 Sept 1825      Lieutenant      12 Dec 1826
Thence onto Half Pay

He was not a prisoner in France, but rather, the USA and in September, not  August   The Confiance was serving on the Great Lakes in Canada and was in the hard fought battle on Lake Champlain, and captured, – see

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Confiance_(1814)

I presume that you are aware of his entry in O’Byrne ? 

I'm trying to decipher the attached service record with some difficulty. Can anyone read it for me? And how do I go about finding out when he was taken prisoner etc.?