Reseaching my wife's grandad - service record questions

[Dazzerman]

Hi,

I now have my wife's grandad's two service records from 1923 to 1929 when his record was transferred to CARD? and then from 1929 to 1941 including service on ships in the Med during WWII and then from the Payment and Victual Ledgers him being at HMS Nile (shore base at Alexandria?) and HMS Pembroke II from 1941 to 1945 He joined at Chatham and spent his first 6 months mainly at Pembroke II. His name is Albert Edward Cogger. His service number is M37580. Does the M mean he was in the Merchant Navy? He was a Chief Petty Office - Writer. Does anyone know what the ratings that I think say '3rd Wte', 'Wte', 'Ldg Wte'. 'PO Wte', and 'CPO Wte' mean? The 'Wte' may be 'Wtr'?

Also for Character what do the following mean:-
VG
RR
RMG

and what does Supr mean for Efficiency?

I do hope someone can help. Many thanks.

Dazzerman

[Tony Morcom]

Hi Dazzerman and welcome to the site. I hope that you are able to get all the help and advice you need on here.

I stand to be corrected but I suspect that you are correct that it is 'wtr' rather than 'wte'
If that is the case then the ranks would equate to:
3rd Writer
Writer
Leading Writer
Petty Officer Writer
Chief Petty Officer Writer

as for character VG stands for Very Good but I have to pass on the others.

I am sure that one of our historian / archivists will help further.

It would also perhaps be helpful if someone could explain what the 'Writer' actually did.

[Doc Vernon]

RR = Recommended for Re-engagement

RMG = Recommended for Medal [LS & GC] and Gratuity (Long Service and Good Conduct)

VG = Very Good (Must be unbroken to qualify for Good Conduct Badges and Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (LS & GC))

"Sup" refers to annual assessment of efficiency in his rate, SUP indicating SUPERIOR.

That M Number is not Merchant Navy as far as i am aware of!?
Posibly the M may be something to do with where he was signed on! ?? Or possibly denoting Male! ??

Cheers

Possibly this will solve the Supr!!??

"Shift target!" orders "Guns." "New target - a fishing smack; one mast, red sails, bearing red two two!" Round come the range-finders, a moment or two of time-lag and the pedalling begins again, and the chain of control is once more at work. Target after target is found and ranged on - the teams are working well together. If only the "targets" had been real enemies, thinks the Gunnery Officer, and a grim smile comes to his lips. Not only this morning, but day in and day out these control parties of his practise and practise and practise, until efficiency becomes super-efficiency, and even better than that.

[Hugh]

"M37580. Does the M mean he was in the Merchant Navy?"

M37580 is his RN official number. The 'M' indicates that he was in the Supply branch of the service. I can confirm that Supr = Superior.

Regards
Hugh

[Dazzerman]

Many thanks for the info Chaps.

We were always told Albert was in the Merchant Navy but his fist two postings are on HM ships. Does this mean he was in the Royal Navy?
His firt posting in 1924 as as a Writer on HMS Diligence which I belive was a Destroyer depot ship, formerly the civilian Tabaristan, purchased by the RN in October 1915.

Dazzerman

[Hugh]

Dazzerman,

During the war I would say he was definately in the RN as per the information you have given. " HMS Pembroke II from 1941 to 1945" . He could of course have been on DEMS service aboard MN ships. Would you like to give his full name, date and place of birth?

I see from above that you have already given his name and I have found his place of birth Strood, Kent from his RN service records held in the ADM series in Kew.

Do you have his service record from the MoD? Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel

Does this medal card for WW2 ring any bells with you - especially date of birth which doesn't tie in with his RN service record pre WW2. http://discovery.nationalarchives.go...s?uri=D4285101

Regards
Hugh

[Gulliver]

s.s.TABARISTAN
(Official No. 124714) was a cargo ship of 3,883gross tons completed 7/1907 by D.& W.Henderson,Meadowside,Clyde as Yard No. 461 forAnglo-Algerian SS Co (1896) Ltd Swansea (She was the 4^th vessel to have had that name when built).
1.1.13 Transferred to Strick Line Ltd Swansea.
29.1.1913: Sold to The Admiralty and converted to a destroyer depot ship.
10.1915: Commissioned as HMS DILIGENCE.
15.10.1926: Sold to Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Co Ltd and on 4.11.1926 arrived at Blyth to be broken up.

CLYDESITE LINK

[Dazzerman]

Chaps,

Yes I do have his MOD record. We got that this week. It starts in 1929. Before that (before 1929) we have another record from the national archives from when he joined in 1923 to 1929 when is record was transferred to CARD, whatever that means. He served on ships in the med from 1939 to 1941 then seemed to come back to Pembroke 2 at the end of 1941 and stay there for the rest of the war. Today I have nearly completed a history of the ships he served on with help from various websites. The ships records tie up well with his postings.

His date of birth was 15 Oct 1904. He joined in 1923 aged 18.
I think that other 1902 record may be for another relative. I will look into that.

Thanks for all your help.

Dazzerman.

[Hugh]

HMS PEMBROKE II was an accountancy base at Chatham and although it states on his records that he served there from 1941 - 1945 that would be his base ship but he would most probably have served afloat on a few ships. If he had any connection to the MN then it would probably be after the war. Up until 1945 he was in the Royal Navy.
Regards
Hugh