Naval Service records

[spaldini]

Can someone help me further my research. 3 of my great great uncles served in the Royal Navy between 1877 and 1901.

I hjave downloaded their service records from the National Archives. I have a couple of questions

1. They all served in quite a number of different ships sometimes for only a couple of weeks. Can anyone tell me why this might be?

2. Where can I find out details of where the ships were whilst they were serving on-board?

Thanks

[Ed Bradford]

Some of them might not be actual ships. They could be shore bases. ..........Ed

[ChristineR]

Wikipedia has a fairly good listing of ships and shore stations which were also given ships names. For more info just put the names into your search engine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Royal_Navy_ship_names
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Royal_Navy_shore_establishments

It depended on your fellows training what was needed - mine was a gunner, so regularly went to gunner school. Also, when they were on leave, they did this from shore bases.

Christine

[Peter Goodey]

2. Where can I find out details of where the ships were whilst they were serving on-board?

Try the Ships' Logs in series ADM 53 at the National Archives. You can search the catalogue by ship's name (leave out the HMS).

[spaldini]

Thanks you for your suggestions. It gives me something new to work on

[Geoffers]

1. They all served in quite a number of different ships sometimes for only a couple of weeks. Can anyone tell me why this might be?

Appearing on a ship for a short period of time is sometimes when crew were transported to a new posting.

2. Where can I find out details of where the ships were whilst they were serving on-board?

Try 'The Navy List' which can be found at The National Archives, partial runs of it also exist at The Society of Genealogists and many county record offices.

[Bo Peep]

We also have some Navy Lists on the 'Your Old Books & Maps' (http://www.parishchest.com/en-gb/dept_1749.html) stand at the Parish Chest which you may find useful.

I should add that 'Your Old Books & Maps' is fast becoming (if not already) the foremost supplier of Army and Navy Lists.

[TomED]

I have found that ADM 38 which are DescriptionBooks/Ships musters will be the most beneficial to you. You can search on The National Archives by putting of the name of the ship after ADM 38 so can make a list of all the books you need when you get to Kew as most of these records are on a yearly basis. good luck.
Tom.

[Peter Goodey]

I'm afraid ADM 38 doesn't cover the period Spaldini is interested in.