The Navy or Marines at Lydd?

[waspexile]

One of my G grandfathers sisters, Caroline Jefferies (living in Hampshire)married a Royal Marine Frederick Gray,from Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1871. Sometime soon after they seem to have moved to the Lydd/Romney Marsh/Jurys Gap area.

They quickly had several children and on the 1881 census Frederick Gray as shown as a Painter / Navy Pensioner on Romney Marsh.
I am aware of the old Military Canal but was there a big navy/army land base around there?

It seems a strange place for a Hampshire girl and a Yorkshire lad, who had no doubt travelled a lot to end up. Why would they have moved there? There are certainly no major centres of population around there.

Any ideas??

[Peter Goodey]

Any ideas??
There's Lydd Ranges.

But why speculate? His military records should make everything a lot clearer.

[Geoffers]

To follow in from Peter's response, RM records can be found at TNA. Try reading their research guides:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/researchguidesindex.asp
Select 'R' and look at gthe links prefixed 'Royal Marines'

Geoffers

[waspexile]

Thanks for the link to NA. Not had time to get over there yet but hopefully his records will give an indication as to what he was doing in Lydd.

[busyglen]

Although you'll obviously get the answers you want from the NA, it did occur to me (if he wasn't actually shown as a Royal Marine) that he may have been a Coastguard in the RN. There were a lot of coastguard stations around the coast, and Romney Marsh area was notorious for smuggling etc. Coastguards were sent to many places, far from their home towns, and the fact that Frederick's wife came from Hampshire (which houses a large sea port) it could have been possible that he met her whilst stationed there.

All supposition, but another avenue to look at. ;)

Glenys

[waspexile]

Thanks a lot, thats an interesting idea, which did occur to me a while ago. I think if memory serves from a search i did ages ago that there are Coastguard cottages at Jurys Gap.

I found him on a ship in Turkey as an 18 year old on the 1861 census, and is shown as "RM" on the 1871 census, the year he got married so I'm fairly sure he was actually a marine.

He's a bit different to any other branch of my family as apart from WW1 he seems to be the ONLY person involved in the armed forces.

[busyglen]

I found him on a ship in Turkey as an 18 year old on the 1861 census, and is shown as "RM" on the 1871 census, the year he got married so I'm fairly sure he was actually a marine.


RM and RN are so close, that I would keep your options open, unless you have his marriage cert. which would also confirm if he was a Royal Marine.
Good luck!

Glenys

[G.V.Ford]

There was certainly a large permanent army camp at Lydd. My Grandfather was mobilised to there, being in the reserves, at the outbreak of WW1.

[waspexile]

RM and RN are so close, that I would keep your options open, unless you have his marriage cert. which would also confirm if he was a Royal Marine.
Good luck!

Glenys

Good point. Havent done certs for this branch of the family yet, but will be moving on to this soon.

[waspexile]

There was certainly a large permanent army camp at Lydd. My Grandfather was mobilised to there, being in the reserves, at the outbreak of WW1.

Just what I had thought, thanks a lot. Time to get up to NA I think now.

[waspexile]

Although you'll obviously get the answers you want from the NA, it did occur to me (if he wasn't actually shown as a Royal Marine) that he may have been a Coastguard in the RN. There were a lot of coastguard stations around the coast, and Romney Marsh area was notorious for smuggling etc. Coastguards were sent to many places, far from their home towns, and the fact that Frederick's wife came from Hampshire (which houses a large sea port) it could have been possible that he met her whilst stationed there.

All supposition, but another avenue to look at. ;)

Glenys

Found his naval record at the third time of looking on the NA site. Dont know how I missed it first time!

And hey presto!
He was stationed in Pompey in 1871, moved to Lydd in 1873 where he was a........coastguard on the Hector? (or this is a land station?) Based at Jurys Gap. Got promoted twice and pensioned in 1880.

Its only a record of his coastguard work so will need to find what happened before 1871.

Spot on Glenys

[busyglen]

So pleased you have found something, and it's confirmed he was RN and not RM.

It's great when you can find the actual service records isn't it? I found my husbands gt. grandfather's records of his service in the Coastguards, but as you say, it doesn't include previous Navy service.

Good luck....if I can think of anything else will shout. :)

Glenys

[busyglen]

Hi again,

I did a Google search for `Hector Coastguard Ship' and there was a section on this ship. Sorry I haven't got the ULR, for some reason, I kept losing it....a bit tired!! It does mention being used by the Coastguards, but not for the period you mentioned for some reason.

Glenys

[waspexile]

Hi Glenys, did a bit of searching myself and found some details which seem to confirm it as a Coastguard ship around the right time
http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/18-1900/H/02211.html

And heres some pics
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hector_class.htm#HMS%20Hector

Sounds like this class was a bit of a disaster, overheavy and expensive. So maybe when rebuilt sent on Coastguard duty.

Thanks again Glenys.

[busyglen]

Yes, on the link I found, it stated that it was too heavy and seemed to spend the majority of time on Coastguard duty in Southampton, Portsmouth and other areas. It didn't mention Lydd though.

At least it gives you a bit more historical knowledge to add to your ancestor's details.

Good luck with the rest of your searching.

Glenys