A ship called Hibernia - how to find her?

[Karen Newman]

I have posted this here as I cannot find a more appropriate list (hopefully I looked hard enough!)

I have been looking for my step-great-grandfather Alessandro SEGUIDA. I have found a Seaman's record which fits. Born 1887, he came from Sicily.

The record relates to a ship called HIBERNIA and Alessandro was on it as a bandsman from Apr 1907 to Oct 1907. He was discharged -services no longer required. (Character V G by the way!)

I have 'googled' and come across an HMS Hibernia but it doesn't sound like he was an enlisted sailor by the way he was discharged. I have also found an SS Hibernia but that seems to have been a passenger ferry from Holyhead to Ireland. Would they have had a band on board (I have images of the present day Isle of Wight ferry in my head and a band just doesn't fit!)

I wanted to find out where it had come from, where it docked and was this Alessandro's entry into the country? He is not on the 1901 census and it looks like his father and mother remained in Sicily (not yet proven).

Any pointers as to where to go from here would be appreciated.

[Geoffers]

Alessandro SEGUIDA. I have found a Seaman's record which fits. Born 1887, he came from Sicily. The record relates to a ship called HIBERNIA and Alessandro was on it as a bandsman from Apr 1907 to Oct 1907. He was discharged -services no longer required. (Character V G by the way!)

If you've found him on the Registers of Seamen's Services at:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/
and from the dates you mention, his reference is something like ADM188/557 or ADM188/558; then he was in the Royal Navy. The RN had several troopships and steamships, you might find the one in which he served on Paul Benyon's web-site http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html

If you have his record from TNA's site, look at the top of the sheet, above his name there should be a number (it may be a letter followed by five figures); is there a place mentioned near to this?

Geoffers

[Rove]

Hello Karen

There were four R.N. ships named HIBERNIA

One of them HMS Hibernia was RN base Flagship in Malta from 1816 to 1855.

This was a wooden sail ship. The other which I believe is what you are looking for is HMS Hibernia launched 1907 and retired 1921. This ship also spent many years in Malta and many Maltese and some Italians served on this ship.

You can visit this Website :

http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/HMS_Hibernia_%281905%29

I have also attached a photo of the ship. Hope this helps you.

[Karen Newman]

Thanks Geoffers!

The ref is indeed ADM188/558. The number above his name is 365850 - the only place mentioned is his birthplace in the right hand corner.

I have looked on the site you mentioned - there was a battleship AND an auxiliary ship named Hibernia in 1907 so need to do some more delving.

This man intrigues me more and more. I think he fought in WW1 in the Northamptonshire regiment but have yet to contact them. By the time he married (after the war), he was a waiter in London.

Thanks again

Karen

[Karen Newman]

Thanks everso! Much appreciated.