5 replies to this topic

[corisande]

As members of the Navy sub-forum will realise, I do not have the reference books to get anywhere with RNR men when I find one in my research into the Auxiliaries in Ireland - not many Navy men joined the Auxiliaries!

Click for my notes on Thomas Francis Patey Briggs RNR

He led quite an exotic life, being born in South Russia in 1896 to a Christian Missionary father. The family returned to UK around 1899. They are in UK in 1901 census. After WW1 he joined the Auxiliaries in Ireland, and then emigrated to NZ, and I can follow him there

I am missing his RNR service. Someone sold his medals in 2010
"A WWI trio, the 1914-15 Star impressed "MID. T. F. P. BRIGGS. R.N.R.", the pair impressed "LIEUT. T. F. P. BRIGGS R.N.R.". These three medals are loose"

Can anyone help with what he was doing in RNR?

[horatio2]

He was enlisted as a midshipman RNR 8/2/1915. He served in Armed Merchant Cruisers of the 10th Cruiser Squadron on the Northern Blockade and also, as a Sub Lt, 2i/c HMTB.80 in 1918. As a Lt RNR he was attached to the Principal Naval Transport Officer N. Russia 13/3/19 and demobilised 18/1/20.

[corisande]

Thanks very much

Can I ask you how many of these RNR men were in N Russia.

On my earlier thread on this page on "Junior officer MMR" you gave me the information PNTO = Principal Naval Transport Officer. Presumably he was attached to the PNTO organisation in North Russia in 1920 while serving in the MMR. He did not qualify for the WW1 Mercantile Marine Medal and does not appear in the ADM 171 RN Officers' Medal Roll, which includes MMR . I would guess his MM career started after 1918 and, from what you describe, only lasted a couple of years at most.

A number of them may have decide to move on to join the ADRIC in Ireland when N Russia came to an end.

[horatio2]

corisande, on 17 July 2012 - 04:01 PM, said:

Can I ask you how many of these RNR men were in N Russia.

No idea, I am afraid. It might be possible to break out some names from a Navy List but these 'miscellaneous' postings are well concealed.

[corisande]

OK, thanks for trying. It was just to put the thing into perspective really. I suspect, but could never prove, that the rush for adventure that drove men to volunteer for N Russia, pushed them on to Ireland.

[horatio2]

Perhaps. However, there is no evidence that the men drafted to North Russia were volunteers, as you suggest. It is far more likely that they were sent there as part of the normal drafting/appointing process. They were still mobilised and, therefore, subject to the normal operational requirements of the naval service.