Ernest Edward TWOSEAge: 79 years1881–1960
- Name
- Ernest Edward TWOSE
- Given names
- Ernest Edward
- Surname
- TWOSE
Birth | September 15, 1881 26 24 |
Residence | April 5, 1891 (Age 9 years) Note: Address at 1891 census |
Military | Royal Navy February 12, 1897 (Age 15 years)Note: Ernest's Royal Naval Service Record and a transcript with explanatory notes.
Most of the information and images relating to Royal Naval vessels featuring in the events which follow originate from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. |
Military Service | HMS Impregnable February 12, 1897 (Age 15 years)Note: Ernest left his job as a Baker's Boy in Bedminster , Bristol and joined HMS Impregnable as a Boy Sailor at the age of 15 years and 5 months. His rating on joining was Boy 2nd Class (B2cl). A boy aged 15 to 17 rated as such on entry to a training ship of the Royal Navy. Such entry was conditional on a boy being of adequate physical height, weight and medical fitness and who possessed evidence of being of 'good character'. The boy's parents or guardians would sign a declaration that the boy would serve in the Navy for a minimum period (usually 12 years). Ernest received a First Enlistment Clothing and Bedding Gratuity of £6. In December 1897 he received a Good Conduct Gratuity of £1.
HMS Impregnable was a training establishment started at Devonport in 1862, and active until 1929. As training ships were replaced or added to the establishment, each was renamed Impregnable when she took on the role. HMS Howe was HMS Impregnable between 1885 and 1911 |
Military Service | HMS Trafalgar June 1, 1898 (Age 16 years)Note: Ernest joined HMS Trafalgar, aged sixteen, as a Boy First Class (B1cl). To qualify for this rate a boy had to be aged 16 to 18 under training and have served for between 9 months and 18 months rated as Boy 2nd Class. He also had to show sufficient proficiency in seamanship and have accumulated at least one Good Conduct Badge (the requirements varied between training ships). His rate of pay was increased on being promoted. He also received a Gratuity of £3.
At this time HMS Trafalgar had been paid off from service as second flagship, Mediterranean Fleet and was a guard ship based at Portsmouth. |
Military Service | HMS Crescent June 22, 1898 (Age 16 years)Note: Ernest was moved on to HMS Crescent still rated as a Boy First Class (B1cl). HMS Crescent was a first class cruiser of the Edgar class launched at Portsmouth in 1892. |
Military Service | HMS Mars August 17, 1898 (Age 16 years)Note: Ernest was next posted to HMS Mars with the same rank of Boy First Class (B1cl)
HMS Mars was a Royal Navy predreadnought battleship of the Majestic class. She had been commissioned on 8 June 1897 for service with the Channel Fleet. She had been present, the year before Ernest's posting, at the Fleet Review at Spithead for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 26 June 1897.
Ernest continued to serve on board HMS Mars. However on the attainment of his 18th Birthday on 15 Setember 1899 he automatically became rated as an Ordinary Seamen and was then subject to the Naval Discipline Act as applicable to adult seamen. This is when he would have signed up for 12 years service with option of re-engaging for a further 10 years to qualify for pension. |
Military Service | HMS Trafalgar June 17, 1900 (Age 18 years)Note: Ernest is posted back to HMS Trafalgar with the rate of Ordinary Seaman.
Trafalgar still had the same role as before as guardship at Portsmouth and she remained as a guardship until August 1902. She remained thereafter in reserve until 1907, when she went to Sheerness to serve as a drill ship for crews of turrets and of submerged torpedo tubes. HMS Trafalgar Note: Officers, crewmen and two dogs on the quarterdeck, at Malta, 1897. This is a little earlier than Ernest's time on the ship. |
Military | HMS Trafalgar Census Record March 31, 1901 (Age 19 years)Note: HMS Trafalgar's home station is Portsmouth but is berthed at Portland at the time of the 1901 census. Although a member of the ship's complement he is recorded as being ashore at time of the census. It is noted that his rate is Ordinary Seaman. |
Military Service | HMS Cressy May 28, 1901 (Age 19 years)Note: Posting to HMS Cressy still with the rate of Ordinary Seaman.
HMS Cressy was an Armoured Cruiser capable of 21 knots built by Fairfield, Govan and launched 4 December 1899. Until 1908, the Cressy class ships served in Home waters, the Mediterranean and the Far East.
On 1 February 1902 whilst still serving on board HMS Cressy, Ernest is promoted to Able Seaman (AB), sometimes referred to as Able Bodied Seaman. He remains with Cressy until February 1905.
His conduct report each year was normally «b»Very Good«/b» but that dated 31 December1904 came out as «b»Good«/b» which seems fairly innocuous. However character was graded VG (Very Good), Good, Fair, Bad (men assessed as Bad were discharged). Officers were allowed no judgement in this. A man started each year as VG. If he was awarded certain laid down (and quite serious) punishment(s) this was reduced to Good, and so on. This indicates then that Ernest, now aged 23, had been a bad boy. We cannot know what his offences were, these were recorded on his Record of Offences Sheet but the rule was that this was destroyed when a rating left a ship and a new one started. |
Portrait | Ernest Edward Twose and his Siblings 1905 (Age 23 years)Note: The photo is taken in Nelson, Lancashire where all his siblings have ended up after the death of their mother. Ernest With His Brother Charles and His Sisters Note: L to R Standing Ada, Charles, Ernest and Nellie. Sitting Laura, Lillian and Florrie. |
Military Service | HMS Excellent February 8, 1905 (Age 23 years)Note: Ernest is posted to HMS Excellent presumably for gunnery training.
HMS Excellent is a Royal Navy "stone frigate" (shore establishment) sited on Whale Island near Portsmouth in Hampshire. Originally housed in a number of hulks named HMS Excellent since 1830, it was formally established in 1869. It moved ashore in 1891. |
Military | HMS Victory I September 3, 1905 (Age 23 years)Note: At this time HMS Victory was a Depot Ship and permanently moored in Portsmouth Harbour. It is unlikely that Ernest was physically posted here rather he was assigned to HMS Victory for administrative reasons. This is because in the Royal Navy, under section 67 of the Naval Discipline Act 1866, the provisions of the act only applied to officers and men of the Royal Navy who are borne on the books of a warship. When shore establishments began to become more common it was necessary to allocate the title of the establishment to an actual vessel which became the nominal depot ship for the men allocated to the establishment and thus ensured they were subject to the provisions of the Act. This also applied to men who were between postings as there was often not a smooth transition from vessel to vessel.
HMS Victory at this time was serving as a harbour ship in Portsmouth. In 1889, Victory was fitted up as a Naval School of Telegraphy. She soon became a proper Signal School, and signal ratings from ships paying off were sent to Victory, instead of the barracks, for a two-month training course. The School remained on Victory until 1904, the year before Ernest's posting.
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Military Service | HMS Bacchante September 8, 1905 (Age 23 years)Note: Ernest's next posting as an Able Seaman was to HMS Bacchante. This vessel was a Cressy-class armoured cruiser launched in 1901. Ernest would have had some time in the Mediterranean on this posting as Bacchante served for a while with the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1906 she was transferred to the North America and West Indies Squadron and served there until she returned to home waters. |
Military Service | HMS Aboukir November 27, 1906 (Age 25 years)Note: Ernest was posted to HMS Aboukir as an Able Seaman.
HMS Aboukir was a Cressy-class armoured cruiser. She was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan, Scotland in 1902. |
Military Service | HMS Essex March 2, 1907 (Age 25 years)Note: Ernest spent two months aboard HMS Essex as an Able Seaman rate.
HMS Essex was a Monmouth-class armoured cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dock and launched on 29 August 1901. She served in the First World War with most of her sisters, and survived to be sold for scrap on 8 November 1921. |
Military | HMS Victory I April 30, 1907 (Age 25 years)Note: Ernest was assigned to HMS Victory I between postings.
The real HMS Victory was still permanently moored in Portsmouth harbour. |
Military Service | HMS Drake May 7, 1907 (Age 25 years)Note: Ernest was posted as an Able Seaman rate to HMS Drake where he spent the next two years.
HMS Drake was a 14,100 tons armoured cruiser of the Royal Navy, the lead ship of her class. She was built at Pembroke Dock and launched on 5 March 1901. John Jellicoe, future First Sea Lord and commander at Jutland captained Drake in 1903-1904. Another notable figure who served aboard Drake was Humphrey T. Walwyn, a future Vice Admiral of the Royal Indian Navy, who served aboard her as a Gunnery Lieutenant. Ernest Twose Centre In White Overall Note: With the help of his shipmates on HMS Drake Ernest is splicing a wire rope. A Close Up Note: The cap ribbon of the sailor opposite Ernest reads HMS Drake. |
Military Service | HMS Excellent July 27, 1909 (Age 27 years)Note: Ernest spent a month at the gunnery training shore establishment at Whale Island, Portsmouth. |
Military | HMS Victory September 26, 1909 (Age 28 years)Note: Ernest was assigned to HMS Victory I for two weeks whilst between postings.
The real HMS Victory was still permanently moored in Portsmouth harbour.
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Military Service | HMS Grafton November 9, 1909 (Age 28 years)Note: He spent almost a year aboard this vessel and on 8 February 1910 he was promoted to Leading Seaman rate.
HMS Grafton was a first class protected cruiser of the Edgar class. She was launched on 30 January 1892. The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above. Ernest Edward Twose 1910 Note: HMS Grafton cap ribbon. Right sleeve indicates Seaman Gunner. Left sleeve Leading Seaman anchor and two Good Conduct stripes. |
Military Service | HMS Britannia October 29, 1910 (Age 29 years)Note: He spent 18 months on board HMS Britannia. On 15 September 1911 he completed his 12 year Continuous Service Engagement. He now had the choice of leaving the Royal Navy or signing on again for another 10 years to ensure he would recieve a pension. He chose to sign on again.
The sixth HMS Britannia of the British Royal Navy was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the King Edward VII class. She was built at Portsmouth Dockyard. She was laid down on 4 February 1902, launched on 10 December 1904, and completed in September 1906, but was made obsolete three months later by the completion of the revolutionary battleship HMS Dreadnought in December 1906. |
Military | HMS Victory I May 25, 1912 (Age 30 years)Note: Ernest was assigned to HMS Victory I between postings. His naval career was about to take a different course.
The real HMS Victory was still pemanently at anchor as a depot ship and slowly rotting away. |
Military | Coastguard Service July 16, 1912 (Age 30 years)Note: Ernest was transferred to the Coast Guard Service. Up to 1923 this service was administered by the Admiralty so this move was more straightforward than it might seem. |
Military Service | Coastguard Service, Eastern, Flamborough Head July 16, 1912 (Age 30 years)Note: Ernest's rate on this posting became that of Commissioned Boatman. This was the Coastguard equivalent of his previous Leading Seaman rate. He was at Flamborough Head for 18 months. The coastguard cottages still exist on Lighthouse Road.
On 16 December 1912 the London Gazette reported a pay rise for the Royal Navy. This meant that Ernest , as a Leading Seaman with 3 years service, now got 2 shillings and four pence a day or £42 11s 8d a year, equivalent to about £3400 pa today. |
Military Service | Coastguard Service Eastern, Speeton March 6, 1914 (Age 32 years)Note: Ernest was moved to Speeton but this posting was about to be interrupted by the start of WW1.
The Coastguard Cottages at Speeton still exist.
The picture of the Coastguard Cottages at Speeton is by courtesy of Yorkshire Guide at http://www.yorkshire-guide.co.uk/reighton-speeton-hunmanby-gap.aspx |
Military Service | HMS Mars August 1, 1914 (Age 32 years)Note: War having been declared on 28 July 1914, Ernest was embarked from Speeton. In other words he was returned to sea going duties for the duration of the War. His rate was recorded as Leading Seaman (Boatman). Ernest had served on Mars early in his naval career and he did not have far to travel as Mars was serving as a guard ship at the Humber when World War I began.
Mars was transferred to the Dover Patrol on 9 December 1914, and was based at Dover briefly before moving to Portland on 11 December 1914. She was based at Portland until February 1915. The Majestic-class ships were by then the oldest and least effective battleships in service in the Royal Navy. In February 1915 Mars transferred to Belfast, where she paid off on 15 February 1915. In March and April 1915 she was disarmed there by Harland and Wolff, retaining only four of her 6-inch (152mm) guns and some lighter guns; her 12-inch (305mm) guns were taken to arm the new Lord Clive-class monitors HMS Earl of Peterborough and HMS Sir Thomas Picton. After that, she was laid up in Loch Goil in April 1915. Ernest Edward Twose 1915 Note: Portrait taken at Portland with his HMS Mars cap ribbon. On his sleeve the anchor denotes Leading Rate. He has three Good Conduct stripes. |
Military | HMS Pembroke I February 26, 1915 (Age 33 years)Note: As HMS Mars had been paid off, Ernest was assigned to HMS Pembroke I an accounting base at Chatham until Mars was laid up. |
Military Service | AMC Ebro April 21, 1915 (Age 33 years)Note: Armed Merchant Cruiser Ebro was on Contraband duties. She was a Ship Taken Up From Trade (STUFT) belonging to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. She was taken into naval service 23 March 1915; and armed with 6 x 6in guns and 2 x 6pounders.
She served with the Northern Patrol, based at Scapa Flow and tasked with patrolling the Iceland-Faeroes/Faeroes-Shetland gaps, stopping and searching neutral merchant shipping and intercepting blockade runners.
On 26 July 1915 Ernest managed to get some leave from AMC Ebro and married Martha Clay in Leeds.
On Northern Patrol on 14 Jan 1916, AMC Ebro stopped the OLIVIA, a Norwegian Barque. It appears that her movements were considered suspicious and an Officer plus four seamen boarded her as an armed guard. Nothing further was heard from the guard or the Olivia until 15 Feb when a boat from the barque was found. Subsequently the men were reported as killed.
On 1 March 1916 Ernest was promoted to Petty Officer (Leading Boatman).
On 21 March 1917 four more men were killed whilst acting as armed guards on a Norwegian Barque.
In March/April 1918 AMC Ebro was in sunnier climes. As part of the Fourth American Convoy she visted Rio de Janiero. It had taken until May of 1917 in WW1 for Britain to introduce the convoy system to protect her merchant fleet from marauding German U Boats. AMC Ebro Crew Note: A group of Convoy Signalmen. The ship was part of the Fourth American Convoy and the picture was taken in Rio de Janiero. |
Marriage | Martha CLAY — View this family July 26, 1915 (Age 33 years) Source: Registration of Marriage Citation details: Leeds Page 36 Entry 92 Quality of data: 4 |
Occupation | Leading Seaman RN July 26, 1915 (Age 33 years)Note: Noted on his marriage certificate |
Military | HMS Pembroke I January 25, 1919 (Age 37 years)Note: Ernest was assigned to HMS Pembroke I an accounting base at Chatham until his next posting. |
Occupation | Petty Officer RN (Baker) February 8, 1919 (Age 37 years)Note: Noted on James Edgar's birth certificate |
Military Service | President IV Eastern - Filey March 1, 1919 (Age 37 years)Note: HMS President IV was the London accounting base, in operation between 1918 and 1926 handling the accounts of the commands of the Coastguard ships and the Reserves.
This meant that Ernest was posted back to the Coastguard Service at Speeton rated as a Leading Boatman. The job included accommodation at the Coastguard Cottages so his wife Martha, daughter Gladys aged 2 and newly born son James moved there to join him from Bowers Row, Kippax.
During 1919 Ernest recieved a War Gratuity. Based on his rate and years of service he would have been entitled to £32. |
Military Service | Coastguard Service Deal December 8, 1919 (Age 38 years)Note: No sooner had Ernest been reunited with his family at Speeton than he was posted to Deal in Kent.
On 26 July 1921 his third child Harold was born. He is recorded as Leading Boatman on Harold's birth certificate Later that year on 14 September 1921 Ernest completed his "12 and 10" ie. his 22 years service to qualify for a naval pension.
Ernest carried on, now working in the New Coast Guard Force but still at Deal. His rate was now called Grade III. However in 1923 responsibility for the Coastguard moved from the Admiralty to the Board Of Trade. Leading up to this there was a reduction in staffing:-
Transcript extracted from London Gazette of 8 May 1923
"Further RN & Coast Guard Redundancies
And whereas by Order in Council of 13th October, 1922, ................... in order to complete the reduction of Your Majesty's Naval and Marine Forces we have found it necessary, subsequently to the 11th August., 1922, to invite further applications from men for discharge from those Forces and to discharge compulsorily additional men from those Forces."
Ernest fell victim to this and on 31 March 1923 his service with the Coastguard finished. He received compensation of £266 16s 8d. In addition he would have had removal expenses to a future residence paid and a civilian clothing allowance. Those discarded could however volunteer for service with The Coast Watching or Coast Preventative Force and the latter seems to have been his next move. Ernest Twose And His Family In 1921 Note: Ernest, Martha, Harold, Gladys And James Ernest Twose C1920 Note: His sleeve bears the crossed anchors denoting Petty Officer rate and his three Good Conduct stripes. The complement of HM Coastguard Deal Note: Ernest is rear left. At the peak of the gable on the Senior Coastguard Officer's house behind the hedge is the RN anchor symbol. This house still stands, The Senior Coastguard Officer's House Today Note: The peak of the gable has changed slightly but the RN anchor is still there. HM Coastguard Deal Lookout. Note: The Senior Coastguard Officer's house is seen behind and the roofs of the CoastGuard cottages. HM Coastguard Cottages Deal Note: Ernest and his family would have occupied one of these. |
Occupation | Coast Preventive Man 1923 (Age 41 years)Note: After being made redundant with the Coastguard, Ernest volunteered for a post with the Coast Preventive Force. His territory included Bridlington Harbour. Ernest Twose In About 1925 Note: Ernest in his Waterguard uniform. The cap badge corresponds to that of the rank of a Coast Preventive Man of that period (see inset) |
Portrait | Ernest And His Family 1927 (Age 45 years)Ernest And Family About 1927 Note: It's not known who the elder boy on the left and the girl in the background are. James, Gladys And Harold are at the front. |
Occupation | Coast Preventive Officer 1939 (Age 57 years)Note: Kelly's Directory 1939 Rocket Life Saving Apparatus Building In 1900 Note: Ernest later had his office in this building. Harbour View Diner Note: The Rocket Life Saving Apparatus Station building today. The Admiralty anchor on the distinctive gable end gives the clue. |
Occupation | Coast Preventive Officer Customs and Excise September 29, 1939 (Age 58 years)Note: Occupation noted at 1939 Register. |
Residence | September 29, 1939 (Age 58 years) Note: Address noted at 1939 Register. |
Occupation | Customs And Excise Officer October 10, 1940 (Age 59 years)Note: On son James' marriage certificate |
Portrait | Sons In Uniform 1940 (Age 58 years)Note: Ernest and Martha photographed with their sons at the start of WW2 |
Portrait | Jack And Sarah Humphries Golden Wedding 1950 (Age 68 years)Note: Ernest and Martha are seated to the left of Jack and Sarah. |
Occupation | Retired Customs And Excise Officer December 19, 1960 (on the date of death) |
Death | December 19, 1960 (Age 79 years) Cause of death: 1 a Myocardial Degeneration 2 Suprapubic Cystotomy for Prostate Gland |
Unique identifier | 884E730AE4684118903BDAAD0968F37D2BC1 yes |
Last change | February 22, 2017 – 14:47 |
Family with parents |
father |
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mother |
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Marriage: September 30, 1880 — The Baptist Chapel, Wellington, Somerset, England |
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11 months himself |
Birth: September 15, 1881 26 24 — Gas Street Death: December 19, 1960 — 84 Windsor Crescent |
3 years younger brother |
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13 months younger sister |
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11 months younger sister |
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14 months younger brother |
Frederick John TWOSE Birth: March 1887 31 29 — Bedminster Death: June 1889 — Bedminster |
2 years younger sister |
Annie TWOSE Birth: June 1889 33 32 — Bedminster Death: September 1889 — Bedminster |
18 months younger brother |
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4 years younger sister |
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4 months younger sister |
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14 months younger sister |
Susan TWOSE Birth: June 1895 39 38 — Bedminster Death: March 1896 — Bedminster |
22 months younger sister |
Mary TWOSE Birth: March 1897 41 39 — Bedminster Death: March 1897 — Bedminster |
2 years younger sister |
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Family with Martha CLAY |
himself |
Birth: September 15, 1881 26 24 — Gas Street Death: December 19, 1960 — 84 Windsor Crescent |
wife |
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Marriage: July 26, 1915 — Leeds Register Office, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
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20 months daughter |
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23 months son |
Birth: February 8, 1919 37 27 — Bower's Row Death: July 1, 1998 — 19 Fosseway Gardens |
3 years son |
Birth: July 26, 1921 39 30 — Coastguard Station Death: December 25, 2001 — Bridlington & District Hospital |
Marriage | Registration of Marriage Citation details: Leeds Page 36 Entry 92 Quality of data: 4 |
Residence | Address at 1891 census |
Military | Ernest's Royal Naval Service Record and a transcript with explanatory notes.
Most of the information and images relating to Royal Naval vessels featuring in the events which follow originate from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. |
Military Service | Ernest left his job as a Baker's Boy in Bedminster , Bristol and joined HMS Impregnable as a Boy Sailor at the age of 15 years and 5 months. His rating on joining was Boy 2nd Class (B2cl). A boy aged 15 to 17 rated as such on entry to a training ship of the Royal Navy. Such entry was conditional on a boy being of adequate physical height, weight and medical fitness and who possessed evidence of being of 'good character'. The boy's parents or guardians would sign a declaration that the boy would serve in the Navy for a minimum period (usually 12 years). Ernest received a First Enlistment Clothing and Bedding Gratuity of £6. In December 1897 he received a Good Conduct Gratuity of £1.
HMS Impregnable was a training establishment started at Devonport in 1862, and active until 1929. As training ships were replaced or added to the establishment, each was renamed Impregnable when she took on the role. HMS Howe was HMS Impregnable between 1885 and 1911 |
Military Service | Ernest joined HMS Trafalgar, aged sixteen, as a Boy First Class (B1cl). To qualify for this rate a boy had to be aged 16 to 18 under training and have served for between 9 months and 18 months rated as Boy 2nd Class. He also had to show sufficient proficiency in seamanship and have accumulated at least one Good Conduct Badge (the requirements varied between training ships). His rate of pay was increased on being promoted. He also received a Gratuity of £3.
At this time HMS Trafalgar had been paid off from service as second flagship, Mediterranean Fleet and was a guard ship based at Portsmouth. |
Military Service | Ernest was moved on to HMS Crescent still rated as a Boy First Class (B1cl). HMS Crescent was a first class cruiser of the Edgar class launched at Portsmouth in 1892. |
Military Service | Ernest was next posted to HMS Mars with the same rank of Boy First Class (B1cl)
HMS Mars was a Royal Navy predreadnought battleship of the Majestic class. She had been commissioned on 8 June 1897 for service with the Channel Fleet. She had been present, the year before Ernest's posting, at the Fleet Review at Spithead for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 26 June 1897.
Ernest continued to serve on board HMS Mars. However on the attainment of his 18th Birthday on 15 Setember 1899 he automatically became rated as an Ordinary Seamen and was then subject to the Naval Discipline Act as applicable to adult seamen. This is when he would have signed up for 12 years service with option of re-engaging for a further 10 years to qualify for pension. |
Military Service | Ernest is posted back to HMS Trafalgar with the rate of Ordinary Seaman.
Trafalgar still had the same role as before as guardship at Portsmouth and she remained as a guardship until August 1902. She remained thereafter in reserve until 1907, when she went to Sheerness to serve as a drill ship for crews of turrets and of submerged torpedo tubes. |
Military | HMS Trafalgar's home station is Portsmouth but is berthed at Portland at the time of the 1901 census. Although a member of the ship's complement he is recorded as being ashore at time of the census. It is noted that his rate is Ordinary Seaman. |
Military Service | Posting to HMS Cressy still with the rate of Ordinary Seaman.
HMS Cressy was an Armoured Cruiser capable of 21 knots built by Fairfield, Govan and launched 4 December 1899. Until 1908, the Cressy class ships served in Home waters, the Mediterranean and the Far East.
On 1 February 1902 whilst still serving on board HMS Cressy, Ernest is promoted to Able Seaman (AB), sometimes referred to as Able Bodied Seaman. He remains with Cressy until February 1905.
His conduct report each year was normally «b»Very Good«/b» but that dated 31 December1904 came out as «b»Good«/b» which seems fairly innocuous. However character was graded VG (Very Good), Good, Fair, Bad (men assessed as Bad were discharged). Officers were allowed no judgement in this. A man started each year as VG. If he was awarded certain laid down (and quite serious) punishment(s) this was reduced to Good, and so on. This indicates then that Ernest, now aged 23, had been a bad boy. We cannot know what his offences were, these were recorded on his Record of Offences Sheet but the rule was that this was destroyed when a rating left a ship and a new one started. |
Portrait | The photo is taken in Nelson, Lancashire where all his siblings have ended up after the death of their mother. |
Military Service | Ernest is posted to HMS Excellent presumably for gunnery training.
HMS Excellent is a Royal Navy "stone frigate" (shore establishment) sited on Whale Island near Portsmouth in Hampshire. Originally housed in a number of hulks named HMS Excellent since 1830, it was formally established in 1869. It moved ashore in 1891. |
Military | At this time HMS Victory was a Depot Ship and permanently moored in Portsmouth Harbour. It is unlikely that Ernest was physically posted here rather he was assigned to HMS Victory for administrative reasons. This is because in the Royal Navy, under section 67 of the Naval Discipline Act 1866, the provisions of the act only applied to officers and men of the Royal Navy who are borne on the books of a warship. When shore establishments began to become more common it was necessary to allocate the title of the establishment to an actual vessel which became the nominal depot ship for the men allocated to the establishment and thus ensured they were subject to the provisions of the Act. This also applied to men who were between postings as there was often not a smooth transition from vessel to vessel.
HMS Victory at this time was serving as a harbour ship in Portsmouth. In 1889, Victory was fitted up as a Naval School of Telegraphy. She soon became a proper Signal School, and signal ratings from ships paying off were sent to Victory, instead of the barracks, for a two-month training course. The School remained on Victory until 1904, the year before Ernest's posting.
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Military Service | Ernest's next posting as an Able Seaman was to HMS Bacchante. This vessel was a Cressy-class armoured cruiser launched in 1901. Ernest would have had some time in the Mediterranean on this posting as Bacchante served for a while with the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1906 she was transferred to the North America and West Indies Squadron and served there until she returned to home waters. |
Military Service | Ernest was posted to HMS Aboukir as an Able Seaman.
HMS Aboukir was a Cressy-class armoured cruiser. She was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan, Scotland in 1902. |
Military Service | Ernest spent two months aboard HMS Essex as an Able Seaman rate.
HMS Essex was a Monmouth-class armoured cruiser of the British Royal Navy. She was built at Pembroke Dock and launched on 29 August 1901. She served in the First World War with most of her sisters, and survived to be sold for scrap on 8 November 1921. |
Military | Ernest was assigned to HMS Victory I between postings.
The real HMS Victory was still permanently moored in Portsmouth harbour. |
Military Service | Ernest was posted as an Able Seaman rate to HMS Drake where he spent the next two years.
HMS Drake was a 14,100 tons armoured cruiser of the Royal Navy, the lead ship of her class. She was built at Pembroke Dock and launched on 5 March 1901. John Jellicoe, future First Sea Lord and commander at Jutland captained Drake in 1903-1904. Another notable figure who served aboard Drake was Humphrey T. Walwyn, a future Vice Admiral of the Royal Indian Navy, who served aboard her as a Gunnery Lieutenant. |
Military Service | Ernest spent a month at the gunnery training shore establishment at Whale Island, Portsmouth. |
Military | Ernest was assigned to HMS Victory I for two weeks whilst between postings.
The real HMS Victory was still permanently moored in Portsmouth harbour.
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Military Service | He spent almost a year aboard this vessel and on 8 February 1910 he was promoted to Leading Seaman rate.
HMS Grafton was a first class protected cruiser of the Edgar class. She was launched on 30 January 1892. The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above. |
Military Service | He spent 18 months on board HMS Britannia. On 15 September 1911 he completed his 12 year Continuous Service Engagement. He now had the choice of leaving the Royal Navy or signing on again for another 10 years to ensure he would recieve a pension. He chose to sign on again.
The sixth HMS Britannia of the British Royal Navy was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the King Edward VII class. She was built at Portsmouth Dockyard. She was laid down on 4 February 1902, launched on 10 December 1904, and completed in September 1906, but was made obsolete three months later by the completion of the revolutionary battleship HMS Dreadnought in December 1906. |
Military | Ernest was assigned to HMS Victory I between postings. His naval career was about to take a different course.
The real HMS Victory was still pemanently at anchor as a depot ship and slowly rotting away. |
Military | Ernest was transferred to the Coast Guard Service. Up to 1923 this service was administered by the Admiralty so this move was more straightforward than it might seem. |
Military Service | Ernest's rate on this posting became that of Commissioned Boatman. This was the Coastguard equivalent of his previous Leading Seaman rate. He was at Flamborough Head for 18 months. The coastguard cottages still exist on Lighthouse Road.
On 16 December 1912 the London Gazette reported a pay rise for the Royal Navy. This meant that Ernest , as a Leading Seaman with 3 years service, now got 2 shillings and four pence a day or £42 11s 8d a year, equivalent to about £3400 pa today. |
Military Service | Ernest was moved to Speeton but this posting was about to be interrupted by the start of WW1.
The Coastguard Cottages at Speeton still exist.
The picture of the Coastguard Cottages at Speeton is by courtesy of Yorkshire Guide at http://www.yorkshire-guide.co.uk/reighton-speeton-hunmanby-gap.aspx |
Military Service | War having been declared on 28 July 1914, Ernest was embarked from Speeton. In other words he was returned to sea going duties for the duration of the War. His rate was recorded as Leading Seaman (Boatman). Ernest had served on Mars early in his naval career and he did not have far to travel as Mars was serving as a guard ship at the Humber when World War I began.
Mars was transferred to the Dover Patrol on 9 December 1914, and was based at Dover briefly before moving to Portland on 11 December 1914. She was based at Portland until February 1915. The Majestic-class ships were by then the oldest and least effective battleships in service in the Royal Navy. In February 1915 Mars transferred to Belfast, where she paid off on 15 February 1915. In March and April 1915 she was disarmed there by Harland and Wolff, retaining only four of her 6-inch (152mm) guns and some lighter guns; her 12-inch (305mm) guns were taken to arm the new Lord Clive-class monitors HMS Earl of Peterborough and HMS Sir Thomas Picton. After that, she was laid up in Loch Goil in April 1915. |
Military | As HMS Mars had been paid off, Ernest was assigned to HMS Pembroke I an accounting base at Chatham until Mars was laid up. |
Military Service | Armed Merchant Cruiser Ebro was on Contraband duties. She was a Ship Taken Up From Trade (STUFT) belonging to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. She was taken into naval service 23 March 1915; and armed with 6 x 6in guns and 2 x 6pounders.
She served with the Northern Patrol, based at Scapa Flow and tasked with patrolling the Iceland-Faeroes/Faeroes-Shetland gaps, stopping and searching neutral merchant shipping and intercepting blockade runners.
On 26 July 1915 Ernest managed to get some leave from AMC Ebro and married Martha Clay in Leeds.
On Northern Patrol on 14 Jan 1916, AMC Ebro stopped the OLIVIA, a Norwegian Barque. It appears that her movements were considered suspicious and an Officer plus four seamen boarded her as an armed guard. Nothing further was heard from the guard or the Olivia until 15 Feb when a boat from the barque was found. Subsequently the men were reported as killed.
On 1 March 1916 Ernest was promoted to Petty Officer (Leading Boatman).
On 21 March 1917 four more men were killed whilst acting as armed guards on a Norwegian Barque.
In March/April 1918 AMC Ebro was in sunnier climes. As part of the Fourth American Convoy she visted Rio de Janiero. It had taken until May of 1917 in WW1 for Britain to introduce the convoy system to protect her merchant fleet from marauding German U Boats. |
Occupation | Noted on his marriage certificate |
Military | Ernest was assigned to HMS Pembroke I an accounting base at Chatham until his next posting. |
Occupation | Noted on James Edgar's birth certificate |
Military Service | HMS President IV was the London accounting base, in operation between 1918 and 1926 handling the accounts of the commands of the Coastguard ships and the Reserves.
This meant that Ernest was posted back to the Coastguard Service at Speeton rated as a Leading Boatman. The job included accommodation at the Coastguard Cottages so his wife Martha, daughter Gladys aged 2 and newly born son James moved there to join him from Bowers Row, Kippax.
During 1919 Ernest recieved a War Gratuity. Based on his rate and years of service he would have been entitled to £32. |
Military Service | No sooner had Ernest been reunited with his family at Speeton than he was posted to Deal in Kent.
On 26 July 1921 his third child Harold was born. He is recorded as Leading Boatman on Harold's birth certificate Later that year on 14 September 1921 Ernest completed his "12 and 10" ie. his 22 years service to qualify for a naval pension.
Ernest carried on, now working in the New Coast Guard Force but still at Deal. His rate was now called Grade III. However in 1923 responsibility for the Coastguard moved from the Admiralty to the Board Of Trade. Leading up to this there was a reduction in staffing:-
Transcript extracted from London Gazette of 8 May 1923
"Further RN & Coast Guard Redundancies
And whereas by Order in Council of 13th October, 1922, ................... in order to complete the reduction of Your Majesty's Naval and Marine Forces we have found it necessary, subsequently to the 11th August., 1922, to invite further applications from men for discharge from those Forces and to discharge compulsorily additional men from those Forces."
Ernest fell victim to this and on 31 March 1923 his service with the Coastguard finished. He received compensation of £266 16s 8d. In addition he would have had removal expenses to a future residence paid and a civilian clothing allowance. Those discarded could however volunteer for service with The Coast Watching or Coast Preventative Force and the latter seems to have been his next move. |
Occupation | After being made redundant with the Coastguard, Ernest volunteered for a post with the Coast Preventive Force. His territory included Bridlington Harbour. |
Occupation | Kelly's Directory 1939 |
Occupation | Occupation noted at 1939 Register. |
Residence | Address noted at 1939 Register. |
Occupation | On son James' marriage certificate |
Portrait | Ernest and Martha photographed with their sons at the start of WW2 |
Portrait | Ernest and Martha are seated to the left of Jack and Sarah. |
Shared note | (Medical):Certified by S A Swanson MB |
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Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 800 × 563 pixels File size: 98 KB Highlighted image: no Note: Officers, crewmen and two dogs on the quarterdeck, at Malta, 1897. This is a little earlier than Ernest's time on the ship. |
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Portrait | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 988 × 702 pixels File size: 471 KB Highlighted image: no Note: L to R Standing Ada, Charles, Ernest and Nellie. Sitting Laura, Lillian and Florrie. |
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Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 1,093 × 696 pixels File size: 216 KB Note: With the help of his shipmates on HMS Drake Ernest is splicing a wire rope. |
Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 1,169 × 1,137 pixels File size: 216 KB Note: The cap ribbon of the sailor opposite Ernest reads HMS Drake. |
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Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 600 × 861 pixels File size: 219 KB Note: HMS Grafton cap ribbon. Right sleeve indicates Seaman Gunner. Left sleeve Leading Seaman anchor and two Good Conduct stripes. |
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Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 466 × 760 pixels File size: 242 KB Note: Portrait taken at Portland with his HMS Mars cap ribbon. On his sleeve the anchor denotes Leading Rate. He has three Good Conduct stripes. |
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Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 600 × 391 pixels File size: 68 KB Note: A group of Convoy Signalmen. The ship was part of the Fourth American Convoy and the picture was taken in Rio de Janiero. |
Marriage | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 822 × 400 pixels File size: 60 KB Highlighted image: no |
Marriage | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 822 × 400 pixels File size: 60 KB Highlighted image: yes |
Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 516 × 850 pixels File size: 111 KB Highlighted image: no Note: Ernest, Martha, Harold, Gladys And James |
Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 623 × 898 pixels File size: 139 KB Note: His sleeve bears the crossed anchors denoting Petty Officer rate and his three Good Conduct stripes. |
Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 854 × 687 pixels File size: 386 KB Note: Ernest is rear left. At the peak of the gable on the Senior Coastguard Officer's house behind the hedge is the RN anchor symbol. This house still stands, |
Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 850 × 658 pixels File size: 89 KB Note: The peak of the gable has changed slightly but the RN anchor is still there. |
Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 1,100 × 692 pixels File size: 176 KB Note: The Senior Coastguard Officer's house is seen behind and the roofs of the CoastGuard cottages. |
Military Service | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 749 × 353 pixels File size: 37 KB Note: Ernest and his family would have occupied one of these. |
Occupation | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 652 × 834 pixels File size: 71 KB Highlighted image: no Note: Ernest in his Waterguard uniform. The cap badge corresponds to that of the rank of a Coast Preventive Man of that period (see inset) |
Portrait | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 1,000 × 685 pixels File size: 226 KB Highlighted image: no Note: It's not known who the elder boy on the left and the girl in the background are. James, Gladys And Harold are at the front. |
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Occupation | Format: image/jpeg Image dimensions: 387 × 473 pixels File size: 49 KB Note: The Rocket Life Saving Apparatus Station building today. The Admiralty anchor on the distinctive gable end gives the clue. |
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