Hi all,
I have just been loaned 23 photos of some of the HMY Warrior crew taken while they were in USA and Canada during WW1 1916 - 1918. There are some of the ship and some group crew photos as well.During this time the ship was making regular runs to the Jamacias, Novia Scotia , Trinidad and such like.
The names are;
H. Prior
J. Lolithwick
E. Carmine
A. McCourt
S. Ansett
E. Trinder
I also have photos of the grave of 19398 Wm Kelley, Seaman, Royal Nay Reserve, British Navy. (These words are what I have just read from the head stone photo). I think he was one of two sailors from the Warrior who died while they in Washington DC.The photos are of the grave open, closed and covered with flowers. The grave is thought to be in Washington DC, possibly Arlington?

I have looked all these names up on NA and Ancestry but cant find any of them except Kelley who is on CWGC but that says he is on the RN Memorial at Chatham , but that does not say where this chap died.


There are other photos of H.Prior with some US WW1 soldiers, Dr';s and Nurses.

P.M me for any copies which may be of interest to you?
Tra
Nigel

If this is the man you've found on CWGC they are not the same. Your man was a seaman in the Royal Naval Reserve, this man was a Stoker in the Royal Navy, two different occupations in two different units.
Name: KELLEY, WILLIAM LUXTON, Initials: W L, Nationality: United Kingdom, Rank: Stoker 1st Class, Regiment/Service: Royal Navy, Unit Text: H.M. S/M. "E24.", Age: 22, Date of Death: 27/03/1916, Service No: K/9685, Additional information: Son of James Thomas and Bessie Kelley, of High Lighthouse, West St., Harwich, Essex. Native of Morice Town, Devonport. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: 17., Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL

Could the stone read 1939B or 1939A? All service numbers used by the Admiralty were unique and the letters all have a meaning. These would be a valid RNR numbers for seamen. There is an offline alphabetical index at Kew for RNR ratings BT 377/3 Alphabetical indexes to service numbers (microfilm copies): G-L 1908 Jan 01 - 1955 Dec 31. He could be a non commemoration.

Hi
Yes I too found that info on the CWGC. The owner of the photos is in his late 80's and his father served during WW1 on the HMY Warrior and was at the funeral of this man W. Kelley which is why he has the photos passed down from his Dad. I cant find his Dad Harry Prior not Wm Kelley in any records I have been able to look at. I have photos of about 9 sailors and in all they are in uniform and docs support that they were serving WW1. Their caps say HMS only there is no name of a ship on the cap.
If you can offer me any advice it would help me get some facts for this dear old friend of mine who is trying to find out what some his dads role was in WW1 in the Navy, either Royal or Reserve,
Thanks for the reply above
Nigel

Royal Naval Reverve records are not available online. Microfilm copies of the service records are held at Kew in BT 377/7; as they are in service number order you'll need to check their numbers in the indexes. The originals are at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

Records for Royal Naval Seamen (1853 - 1923) are mostly online, so far the earlier and later are covered:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...39;s%20Services

Naval medal rolls are in alphabetical order on microfilm, offline at Kew in ADM 171.

A possible match:
Name Ansett, Samuel
Official Number: 145392
Place of Birth: Plumstead, Kent
Date of Birth: 05 November 1867
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=3

This is your man in Arlington National Cemetery. Not RNR but Mercantile Marine Reserve.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=4010496

193999 is his grave number.

And here is another man from Warrior in Arlington.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=4010494

And another:-

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=4010500

And more:-

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=4010503

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=4010504

Given the dates in late 1918/early 1919, I bet they were all Spanish Flu victims

And two men of the RMLI:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=4010493
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_detail...asualty=4010501

Marvelous, several queries solved and I am very grateful for the information. Off to Kew next,
Nigel

Good morning
I am interested in the thread re: his Majesty's Yacht Warrior. This vessel was hired by The R.N. in Feb. 1917 from an American Alexander Smith Cochran and fitted with guns. There are seven of of the vessel's complement buried in Arlington Cemetery including two R.M.L.I. personnel. I have the service records of one Royal Navy man and the two R.M.L.I. The others buried there are (I think) MMR or RNR. The service records of two state that they died in U.S.Naval Hospital Washington of Pneumonia (due to "Spanish Flu"). The other RMLI service record does not mention service on Warrior but says he served on HMS Highflier until his death in October 1918. His service papers says that he "died of disease". His death certificate shows that he died in USA and cause of death "On War Service". The clues re: their deaths were that they died at differerent times between Sept 1918 and Jan 1919 and that Warrior was returned to owner after the War. (It was re-requisitioned again in 1939 and sunk in 1940 off Portland by enemy aircraft action.) The service records show that prior to serving on Warrior, they were part of HMS Highflyer complement. Little is known of Warrior's operational duties. Was she a "Decoy" vessel, tender etc? Highflyer was part of the West Indies and Noth American Squadron in 1917-1918 used primarily on convoy escort duty. I'm trying to find out what the tie-up is between HMY Warrior and HMS Highflyer. Does anyone have any information which may shed some light on Warrior's operations?

Regards

Radioman
The info I have is from a gentleman who lives opposite me who has kept these photos and many memories from his father who served on the Warrior. I shall ask him and make some notes to pass on to you.
Nigel

Hi Nigel
Thanks for getting back to me. I am particularly interested in the Royal Marine Light Infantry contingent on Warrior. I am trying to find out about Private Elmer Darrock (he was from my locality) who is buried in Arlington. His service record does not mention Warrior but shows that he served on HMS Highflyer but CWGC show that he was serving on HMY Warrior and died in USA. I'm also trying to find out who the captain of Warrior was. Any information the gentleman can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Once again, thanks for your help.

Regards
Brian

Hi Brian
Give me a day or two and I will get back to you with any info. I shall send you some of the photos if you pm me an e mail address as there are USA Marines in the photos - I think ! So shall look forward to your opinion.
Nigel

Cheers Nigel and thanks,
e-mail to brian.galsworthy@ntlworld.com

Regards
Brian

afternoon gents i have been reseaching wrecks off the `portland bill` area of the english channel for many years. i would be grateful for any photo`s of the warrior and of the crew. i can be contacted by e.mail at--
alandunster38@yahoo.co.uk

Welcome to the forum radioman,
HMY Warrior was too small to keep her own accounts, so these were probably done by HMS Highflyer, the latter might also have acted as a depot ship. Have you contacted the Fleet Air Arm Museum to see if they have more detailed records for Private Elmer Darrock RMLI?

btw it's not wise to leave you email address in the open forum.

Good evening per ardua per mare per terram
Thanks for your reply.
I took your advice and contacted Fleet Air Arm Museum who have just got back to me with some new information and confirmation of some information I had. It does appear that HMY Warrior did look after her own accounts and it is only towards the end of 1918 that Warrior was closely associated with Highflyer. As for Pvt Elmer Darrock RMLI, his service aboard Warrior remains a mystery.
If anyone following this thread can add any other information, please post it.
Regards
Brian

Hello NDRFT
Any luck with the old gentleman about HMY Warrior? I have some more information but If you can send any more info and photographs especially of the marines I will be very grateful.
Regards
Radioman

Brian
Photos in your e mail
Nigel



Just checking but it is the HMY Warrior you are looking for photos of is it? NOT the HMS Warrior?
Is the HMY Warrior off Portland then?
Cheers
Nigel

Good evening Nigel
Thanks for the photographs; much appreciated. They are first class and are a great help in trying to glean information about the Warrior. As I said in my email to you, the Yacht Warrior was hired again by the Admiralty at the start of World War 2 and renamed HMS WARRIOR 2. It was used as a submarine tender and sunk off Portland in 1940 by enemy aircraft. I'm going to visit National Archives to see if there is a ships log for the Warrior. The problem is that there was a battleship HMS Warrior which foundered the day after the battle of Jutland and the logs attributed to Warrior in N.A. continue after 1916 and I'm hoping that some of these relate to HMY Warrior. I must say that I have had some good information from this forum and others. There seems to be plenty of knowledgeable members who can point you in the right direction. Thanks for your help and if you find any more information, please pass it on.
Best Regards
Brian