Certificate of Service Royal Navy WW2

Thank you again. I have checked again with a magnifying glass and it still looks like Endeavour which is strange. I looked on line and the HMNZS lent the RN a ship called Endeavour but the dates don't fit.

This have been very helpful.

Janet

 

Steve

I have contacted the Naval Pay and Victualling Records.

Thanks for the advice.

 

Below GREENWICH II is VINDICTIVE II.

GREENWICH II was a destroyer depot ship.
VINDICTIVE II was also a destroyer depot ship.

I will look again when I get home.
Regards
Hugh

 

Thank you

 

Found it, I think. HMS Endeavour was a Survey ship.

Tim

 

Thank you that's fantastic I appreciate all your help. This has given me more if an idea of the life he had. I have two letters here. He had compassionate leave in 1945 as his first wife was I'll. He was recorded as superior and trustworthy. They are great to have.

 

Looks like HMS Endeavour became a Depot ship in WW2 but I think it was still a Survey ship for the time your father was onboard. Not much info on this one - Hugh may be able to help later.
Googling some of the ships listed will often produce a photo of the ship.

Tim
Edit: For the benefit of others your father's entry in the London Gazette - 'For gallantry and outstanding devotion to duty in escorting convoys to and from North Russia' - Page 4023 | Supplement 37211, 3 August 1945 | London Gazette | The Gazette

 

Brilliant the info is invaluable.

I have googled and found some info on the Orwell will look the others up now I have a better understanding of it.

 

Just in case you haven't found it here's the link to the Battle of the Barents Sea. This is the first page, scroll on to the next two as well and you can see what HMS Orwell was doing. Page 5152 | Supplement 39041, 17 October 1950 | London Gazette | The Gazette

Tim

 

Once again thank you. It makes interesting reading and must have been a horrendous time for all involved not just at this battle but the whole war. Reading and knowing my dad was there is quite emotional.

 

Thank you that might explain New Zealand

 

New Zealand. Robert-w is not entirely correct. Within the time frame we are looking at the RNZN did not exist as such, it was not formed until 1941. Prior to that it was the New Zealand Naval Forces, a Division of the Royal Navy. The most likely connection for your father is HMS Achilles which was transferred to this Division around 1936/7 - not exactly sure as yet when. The dates when your father was onboard Achilles are a bit unclear, in his SC copy, but look like March - August 1936. Are you sure of the 1935 date for Rangitane and that he went to NZ on her? MS Rangitane was a passenger liner operating between New Zealand and Britain. It seems there is a possibility your father went to NZ with HMS Achilles and then returned on the Rangitane in 1936.

Tim

 

The date for Achillies is the 6 March 36 to 31 March 36.

I have attached the paperwork in regards to Rangitane. It looks like he was a passenger but says he was in the Royal Navy. He was 22 at the time which makes it 1935. He joined the navy in 1934. Maybe he was there on leave. The second attachment says tourist class.

 

Thanks to a tip off by another Forum member, TD. I've found your father on a Rangitane passenger list. Listed with address 'RN Barracks, Chatham' aged 24. Rangitane departing London 11 Nov 37 for Wellington, NZ. This ties in nicely with the dates on his Service Certificate from leaving Pembroke and transfer to Endeavour. HMS Endeavour must have been in New Zealand! Hopefully the documents you have also refer to the same passage and someone has led you astray by getting his age wrong.



Thanks to TD for getting me on this track.

Tim

 

Tim you are amazing and thank you TD. The wrong age is most likely the answer. Your help has been invaluable, thank you.

I did get information from Kew in the hope I could find out why he was mentioned in dispatches but it wasn't very helpful.

Janet

 

You may also have found several documents/files/records for him on a family tree that is private, but the member is

JANET HIGGINSON
Northern IrelandAge: 60+

Posted are images such as

HMS Orwell



TD

 

TD that's me and that's my dad. He was 13years older than my mum. I believe he joined the territorial army here in Northern Ireland. I think that's his uniform in the picture.

 

Yes I think there was a clue in your username here and your username on Ancestry

TD

 

Hi Janet,
Looks like the guys have done a pretty good job for you.

Just to give you a little of the missing information so far.
TERROR II (BAGSHOT) as Tim already said HMS BAGSHOT was a minewsweeper and the base ship was the Monitor HMS TERROR II at Singapore in 1939.
Is there anything else you are missing?
Regards
Hugh

 

Thank you Hugh they have been great. Not sure at the minute still taking it all in. HMS Terror II makes sense as my elder sister thought he had been in Japan as we had a few souvenirs that looked Japanese.

This forum has been really helpful.

Janet