WW1 Steam Drifters, Skippers & their Crews.

[Been]

Hi again Everybody,|hug|

My Grandfather was a Scottish Fishing Drifter Skipper, earliest Skipper documentation found relates to 1907 but as he was born in 1874 his fishing history background goes way back.

I have obtained a WW1 RNR Service Record for Grandfather but there's not much on it that family 'heresay' would agree with, however as it appears to be the FACTS I'm trying to put a few finishing touches to it all.

It appears Grandfather was rated a Second Hand for his entire RNR WW1 Service but that rating/rank is not listed anywhere like RNR Temporary Skippers or RNR Skippers are in the Navy Lists.

There appears to be only two Fishing Drifters mentioned on his RNR Service Record, all other shipping seems to be Depot vessels.

The first Fishing Drifter mentioned from 1915 until 1917 (when she was destroyed) was the "ANNIE" and the other one the "LORAINE" much later during 1918/1919.

I have the 1915 Navy List but that does not provide any vessel names or their Skippers - so can anyone fill in the parts of history I now look for i.e. actual RNR Skippers or RNR Temporary Skippers of these two vessels?

Another curiousity I have is to eliminate all possibility that Grandfather was ever rated/ranked as a RNR Skipper or RNR Temporary Skipper, but that means I have to eliminate all the John Watt(s) or J. Watt(s) on the Navy Lists - however again the 1915 Navy List doesn't provide any RNR Service numbers to e.g. eliminate the (1), (2), (3), John Watt(s) mentioned.

Anyone with any help |help| would be most appreciated?

Been (John). |wave|

[Bo Peep]

I wasn't quite sure of the best forum for this thread, so I have copied it to the Royal Navy section too.

[Fordy]

Hi again Everybody,|hug|

My Grandfather was a Scottish Fishing Drifter Skipper, earliest Skipper documentation found relates to 1907 but as he was born in 1874 his fishing history background goes way back.

I have obtained a WW1 RNR Service Record for Grandfather but there's not much on it that family 'heresay' would agree with, however as it appears to be the FACTS I'm trying to put a few finishing touches to it all.

It appears Grandfather was rated a Second Hand for his entire RNR WW1 Service but that rating/rank is not listed anywhere like RNR Temporary Skippers or RNR Skippers are in the Navy Lists.

There appears to be only two Fishing Drifters mentioned on his RNR Service Record, all other shipping seems to be Depot vessels.

The first Fishing Drifter mentioned from 1915 until 1917 (when she was destroyed) was the "ANNIE" and the other one the "LORAINE" much later during 1918/1919.

I have the 1915 Navy List but that does not provide any vessel names or their Skippers - so can anyone fill in the parts of history I now look for i.e. actual RNR Skippers or RNR Temporary Skippers of these two vessels?

Another curiousity I have is to eliminate all possibility that Grandfather was ever rated/ranked as a RNR Skipper or RNR Temporary Skipper, but that means I have to eliminate all the John Watt(s) or J. Watt(s) on the Navy Lists - however again the 1915 Navy List doesn't provide any RNR Service numbers to e.g. eliminate the (1), (2), (3), John Watt(s) mentioned.

Anyone with any help |help| would be most appreciated?

Been (John). |wave|

I can't be of much help at present I'm afraid. I will have shortly the full set of WW1 Navy Lists 1914,15,16,17,18,19 & 20 - they are on their way to me this week.


Here is what I do have - but not much use as there are no crew for the Loraine.

Navy List 1918
MERCANTILE FLEET AUXILIARIES.
LORAINE.
No crew listed.

Navy List 1924
LORAINE.
Steam Drifter. Gosport.
No crew listed.

Navy List 1930
LORAINE.
Steam Drifter. Gosport. (Victualling Dept.)
No crew listed.

Navy List 1935
LORAINE.
Steam Drifter. Gosport. (Victualling Dept.)
No crew listed.

Not listed in the Navy List 1936 or later.


David Ford
Your Old Books & Maps

[bardofthebroch]

Information on JOHN WATT

Extracted from The Macduff Roll of Honour for WW1

Four JOHN WATT’s found in the book


ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE

WATT, John, Skipper, 2 Braeheads
WATT, junior, John, Skipper 2 Braeheads


ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE (T.S)

WATT, John, Able Seaman, 22 Market Street


SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS

WATT, John, 26268, Private, Gellymill Street

I hope this is of help.

PS The Banffshire Maritime Heritage Association are about to republish an improved edition of this book, which now includes info on medals, and a story regarding british fishermen taken prisoner in the Adriatic. The book lists the names of all the men who served in WW1, all who died, all medals awarded and all who were taken prisoner.

The book will be available at Chapter and Verse bookshop in Banff this weekend and also at Macduff Town Hall from this Thursday.

If the John Watt is indeed your John Watt a small piece int he Banffshire Journal I'm sure would help.

Stan

[Been]

Hello Stan,

Sorry about the late reply, I've been caught up with other work etc.

The John Watt's you list are not the Grandfather one I look for, however I'd be very interested to know if further information are on those e.g. RNR Service numbers, that way I can eliminate them from the WW1 Navy List Skippers I have?

The Banffshire Journal's Editor was kind enough to place the following piece in the paper for me...

http://www.banffshire-journal.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/724/John_Watt.html

...but that was 6 December 2006.

Many kind regards,

John.