Hi There,
Can anyone help me with my grandfathers records?
There are several times where it looks like he's at shore establishments, but it says "duty".  What is duty?

And where it says "Lent"...does that mean he left the ship he was on to go to the ship listed beside the word lent?

Hello,

I’m looking for the relevant archive locations for records of RN demolition parties running out of Vernon, Portsmouth in May and June 1940. These are XD parties. I have an RN commander’s report sent from Vernon to the Admiralty at the end of June. I have a rating badly injured in a mission who then died. I’m trying to track the reporting chain from the operation to his home base of Devonport.

Many thanks,

Louise

Awards for Heroism. News, Friday, 23, February 1940.

Officers and Men in Epic Battle win Awards for Heroism. Publication by the Admiralty of awards for Officers and Ratings of Achilles, Ajax and Exeter for their victory over Graf Spee.

APA citation
OFFICERS AND MEN IN EPIC BATTLE WIN AWARDS FOR HEROISM (1940, February 23). News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved June 7, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131543520

Philip L

To Complete the Life Saving Chapter from Manual of Seamanship 1937 (1941 Edition). Page 402 to 406.

This part is more about old lifesaving methods than about life saving equipment. But I have posted it in case someone is interested in old lifesaving methods such as Resuscitation Drill for example.

Philip L

Start of Chapter 2 (Ensigns and Personal Flags). Manual of Seamanship 1937 (Reprint Edition 1941).

Photo 1. P35, Signals.

Photo 2. P36 and Plate 1 (A and B). Plate 2C is omitted from this Reprint.

Plate 3 is in Reply 4 above. The plate shows the White Ensign, Blue Ensign and Red Ensign.

Plate 4 is Commonwealth of Australia Flags and New Zealand Flags.

Plate 5 is Canada, Union of South Africa and India Flags.
Vessels belonging to and Merchant ships of other British Dominions or Colonies wear the Blue Ensign and the Red Ensign respectively with the Badge of the Dominion or Colony in the Fly.

Plate 6 is the Royal Standard.

Photo 3. Plate 7 (Admiralty Flags).

Photo 4. Plate 8 (Flags flown by Flag Officers).

Photo 5. P37 (Admiralty and Admiral's Flags)

P 38 and Plate 9 is in Reply 1. Plate 10 and 11 is in Reply 2. P 39 and Plate 12 is in Reply 2.

Philip L

Continuing after Page 50-51 which was posted in reply 3. Page 51 started the section, Signaling with Morse flag.

Photo 1. Page 52 and photo (Man with flag)

Photo 2. Page 53. Continuing from page 52/

Photo 3. Page 54 and 55. Boat signals.

Photo 4. Page 56 and 57. Salutes in boats.

Page 58. Reply when hailed at night, is in the First post above.

Photo 5. Plate 3. The plate shows the White Ensign, Blue Ensign and Red Ensign. This is part of the Ensigns and Personal Flags section after Page 35. Page 35 to 37 and some other plates have not been posted at this stage. Page 38 and Plate 9 is in reply 1.

Philip L

Thank you so much.  I am learning so much.  After I sent my last message I happened upon the record of someone who I think fits the bill of 'photoman' in terms of joining and leaving has good conduct and is made a petty officer.  He also has the surname of Stevens which also fits.  unfortunately the record does not give any other details such as where he was born etc so it's going to be difficult to see if he 'belongs' to my tree.  I've not got someone of that name as yet but that's not to say that I won't at some point. 

....would that have been his rank from the outset ....

Unless he was an engineer, then no, he would have had to progress through the ratings -  Boy [if under 17 and  half] - then  Ordinary - Able - Leading rates and then Petty Officer.

Specialist engineers were known as Artificers [marine engineer / electrical / ordnance etc] were different, serving as Apprentice, then rose through 4th/3rd/2nd/1st class, but always wore Petty Officer style uniform, but with no rank or rate badges

As 'photoman' clearly has rate badges, then he isn't an artificer, so must have been through the ranks outlined above

Hello, it's me again.  If this gentleman was a petty officer, would that have been his rank from the outset (a bit like graduates today) or something he moved up to? Thanks

Oh no that's not the news I wanted to hear!  I'm glad I asked though.  Back to the drawing board.  I think possibly he is still related but not the man in the photo.  Thank you for your continuing assistance though.  I really appreciate it.