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digi-shots
15-05-2008, 1:24 PM
Hello,

I'm a new poster here... looks like a great website!

I recently came across a post card photo of my father's cousin, William DEMPSEY.

According to the back of the postcard, William DEMPSEY served aboard the HMS JAMAICA. The card is dated May 1941. Can anyone tell me what the other notations on the back of the card mean or how I can research his military records?

Also, can anyone identify his rating by the cap badge in the photo?

Thanks in advance...!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j226/digi-shots/photoDempseyBillfront.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j226/digi-shots/photoDempseyBillbackside.jpg

keith9351
15-05-2008, 1:42 PM
This may help from Geoff Mason site

H. M. S. J A M A I C A

“FIJI” Class cruiser ordered from Vickers Armstrong at Barrow under the 1938 Estimates and laid down on 28th April 1939 as Yard No 750. Launched on 16th November 1940 she was the 6th major warship to carry the name, introduced in 1710 and last borne by a 6th Rate the French Prize PERCANTE taken in 1796 in the West Indies by the 3rd Rate INTREPID. Apart from at trawler hired in 1917 for war service the name had not be in use again until given to this cruiser. All these earlier ships had been deployed for service in the West Indies. Although adopted by the civil community of the city of Bristol after a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in December 1941 this WW2 veteran developed a strong relationship with the island of Jamaica which she visited during her peacetime service. Build, at a cost of 2,072,211, was completed on 29th June 1942.

D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Jamaica.htm

Keith

Geoffers
15-05-2008, 3:13 PM
According to the back of the postcard, William DEMPSEY served aboard the HMS JAMAICA. The card is dated May 1941. Can anyone tell me what the other notations on the back of the card mean or how I can research his military records?

For information on how to obtain his service record see this link

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/royal_navy.html

But note:
"Information from the personal record of a deceased Ex-serviceman/woman can be released only with the consent of the official Next of Kin"


Also, can anyone identify his rating by the cap badge in the photo?

This does not indicate his rank. I believe that D/MX indicates an Engine Room Artificer (ERA)

armek1
10-06-2008, 8:58 PM
Hi digi-shots,

Until the mid-1950's, Junior Ratings in the Supply and Secretariat (S&S) branches wore the "Fore and Aft" rig rather than the familiar "Square" rig worn by most Naval Junior Ratings. (The Fore and Aft rig was also worn by Artificer Apprentices, but this continued up until quite recently - mid 1990's I think).

The Junior Rating's version of the uniform was identical to that of a Petty Officer apart from having black buttons rather than shiny brass.

It appears that Bill Dempsey is in a Junior Ratings Fore and Aft rig as shown by the buttons. This means that he is an Apprentice or a member of the S&S. However, his name, on the back of the photograph, is followed by the capital letters SA, which I am sure denotes his rating of Stores Accountant (nicknamed Jack Dusty), so he is a member of the S&S rather than an Apprentice.

As far as his Official Number is concerned, I think that at the time of the photograph the D stood for Devonport - his "Home Port" - and the M stood for "Miscellaneous" but don't take that as gospel.

By 'eck - that took some dredging out of the memory box!

Regards.

pipsqueak
10-06-2008, 9:09 PM
MX can mean "Military Exchange" (as in telephones) but not sure if that applies to the navy or just the army.

digi-shots
10-06-2008, 11:12 PM
Thanks to everyone for their help! I really appreciate it!