I have received the record of my brother-in-law's service 1947-1954. I have questions I need help with please!
I have attached the record.
My main concern are the entries in the Rating column. The entry I need help with appears to read NAIM(E)(B)O/Sig..  (I can't read the last character)
I know he was an aircraft mechanic.
I think I can follow the ships he served on, although any help would be welcome.
I am curious about the nature of the information that was redacted.
Finally I am surprised there is no apparent entry for next-of-kin.

Thanks for the ID of Villefranche.. that it surely is.. this also makes it possible to suggest that in fact this is was taken in Feb-March 1920.. as I have found newspaper reports that "the officers and cadets of HMS Carnarvon lying at Villefranche".. were in the locality in the south of France ..and its midshipman ashore.. .. so this was when HMS Carnarvon was  serving as a cadet ship ..mainly 1920 I think ...just before being scrapped.. this would sit well with a relative - then a midshipman.. being aboard.. known to have been a midshipman on HMS Resolution by May 1921... 
A pre-war date would not fit with any relatives .. Many thanks again..

An interesting pic.   Probably in the Mediterranean – could it perhaps be Villefranche-sur-Mer ? This port on the French Riviera was frequently used by visiting warships as an anchorage.

The ship on the right of the photo is a French battleship – I would suggest a ‘Courbet’ class [ Courbet /  Jean Bart  / Paris / France ] launched 1911-12 and commissioned 1913-14   

 The ship on the left is a British cruiser –I agree that it  looks like a Devonshire-class Armoured Cruiser built 1903 - 04

If it is a Devonshire then  it may be one of those in the Third Cruiser Squadron  [Antrim / Argyll / Devonshire / Roxburgh] that were in the Med end- 1913 – early 1914

Thank you for your helpful reply!

I have another family photo of what I think may be a old (maybe Devonshire class?) Cruiser.. presumably in the Mediterranean.. in early? 1920s.

The larger ship on right looks to be flying a tricolour .. There is also a detail of the two ships.  Any identifications welcome.. also as to  where this anchorage might be.. Thanks

Thanks for the ID.. if none the wiser what the significance of this particular ship might be for a family member..

It may not relate to a specific action, but it probably shows an action with a Barbary corsair.

From the appearance of the ship, it looks like late 17th/early 18th century, which would be the correct time.  There were several actions during the numerous campaigns against the Barbary Corsairs – raiders based in the North African ports of Tripoli. Algiers and Tunis - during the 1670s and 1680s. 


See the following paintings on a similar theme:

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/an-english-ship-in-action-with-barbary-corsairs-c-1680-175876

https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-12385

https://www.rct.uk/collection/405224/the-destroying-of-six-barbary-ships-near-cape-spartel
 

Hi, I have an interesting 17th/18th century oil painting depicting a naval battle involving the British. Does anyone know which battle this represents? I'm ensure of the ensign on the burning ship in the foreground as it seems to be similar to those used by the Ottomans, yet I'm unaware of a battle occurring prior to the early 19th century. I appreciate any advice you can offer.

Reg Swanborough has written a book called A life Well Lived. On page 101 (Inside Chapter 23, Operation Pedestal Continued) HMS Manchester is mentioned.

The book can be found fast on Australian search engines such as Google. I would think the same would apply in the UK. I put in Reg Swanborough Gawler SA Australia and a long list of items about Reg comes up. The book is inside the Gawler History (library) listing with the name Reg Swanborough that should be near the top of the page of listings.

Or this link may work.

https://gawlerhistory.com/index.php?title=Swanborough_Reg&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile

A very interesting book which covers some important naval history and battles during WW2 and naval life. A lot of effort and research must have gone into this book.

Philip L

It is a pre-war RN sloop - v. difficult to positively identify, but looks like Egret or Bittern class [built mid-late 1930s]
I cannot see any armament mounted, so could well be one of them that were employed on surveying duties, when the armament was removed -  HMS Stork perhaps - she served in the Far East pre-war.      Most photo's of these ships on the internet show them in full wartime mode, armed and with camouflage,  which make it difficult to pin down