Navy Service Records

[cadmium]

I got the records of a petty officer, one George Curtis/Courtis Angell, from the National Archives. A rather short fellow who joined up aged 16 and rose through the ranks. In this document, of the middle of his career, only one ship listed ('Victory for 1881') and then across the middle is written 'Acting Mate 15 February 1916 see m188'.

-What kind of rank is Acting Mate?
-What is m188? I tried looking on documents online but I'm afraid I'm not good at searching the catalogue there.

It then has his death, so I'm assuming he died on active duty. Except it's 1951 so rather later. Seems a bit old to be a sailor then. It has a reference number (N.L. 229/52).

-Will I be able to look this up on documents online too?
-What other navy records are available online that I should be looking for?

Much obliged!

EDit: based on the London Gazette I know he was still serving in 1941 and was a Lieutenant-Commander.

[Currie]

Hello Mikokunsaki,

The National Library of Scotland is currently putting the Navy Lists onto the Internet Archive site. Only officers are included. http://www.archive.org/search.php?query ... publicdate

He appears in the Navy List for July, 1940, as “Victory, Angell G. C. L.Cr. Retd.” On page 1014 you’ll see him listed at the Anti-Gas School. There’s a note that the general work of the flagship is carried out in the R.N. barracks. http://www.archive.org/stream/navylista ... 5/mode/2up

This is the Wiki page for H.M.S. Victory, Lord Nelson’s flagship, and still in commission as the flagship of the Second Sea Lord. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Victory

If you check the October, 1918, list you’ll see that he was then a Mate with seniority from 15 February, 1916. On the November, 1919, List he’s an Acting Lieutenant with seniority from 15 December, 1918, on ship 930. Page 941 has 930 as HMS Vulcan, which appears to be a Submarine Depot Ship, and he’s shown as being “for Submarines”.

There’s something about the rank of Mate here. If he was acting then I suppose he wasn’t confirmed in the job. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%27s_mate

“Mate was revived in 1913 as part of the Selborne-Fisher scheme, promoted by Lord Fisher for the accelerated promotion of promising ratings, and mates ranked with sub-lieutenants but messed separately. In 1931 the title was abandoned again, and mates were re-mustered as sub-lieutenants.”

I don’t know what an m188 is but perhaps it’s an internal Navy document confirming his promotion.

I’m not sure which of these NA records you have but they appear to be separate records.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... ltcount=47

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... ultcount=3

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... ultcount=3

Hope that helps,
Alan

P.S. You’ll find some interesting info about him on this page http://www.unithistories.com/officers/R ... ersA5.html
Alan

[Currie]

This may be the 229/52 you’re after. It appears to be a very large pdf file and free to download. Click on continue shopping and checkout. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... erType%3D0

Alan

On second thoughts it probably isn't. Perhaps it refers to a 1952 Navy List?

Alan

[cadmium]

Thanks all! As usual, you've been a treasure trove of useful information and enlightenment.