Aussie Matelot

[stickymone]

I'm trying to find more info on a "black sheep" uncle of mine. He was John (Jack) Stone b.Sep quarter 1896 Honiton Devon. The family say that he ran away to WW1 and joined the Australian Navy where he served as a messman/batman to an admiral. All I know is that he survived the war and died of a pickled liver in Lympstone Devon in the 1950's Any ideas?

[Geoffers]

Honiton and Ottery are close enough together for this entry on TNA's documentsonline to be a possibility - John Stone born 16 Aug 1896 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7244628&queryType=1&resultcount=21)

[stickymone]

Thanks Geoffers you're absolutely bang on! have just downloaded his service record and it is the same man he's even listed as an officers steward. His last ship was Vivid 3 which he was demobolised from Dec 1919 What's the best way to search for the ship?

[Geoffers]

Paul Beyon's excellent site is probably the first place to look - Naval and Naval Social History (http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html) - scroll down to World War One.

Other than that, try The Navy List as available from The Parish Chest (http://www.parishchest.com/)

I wonder how your family story came about that he was in the Australian Navy?

[Geoffers]

PS - I was trying to do something else whilst answering your message - I've only just looked at the name of your chap's posting. I think Vivid was a Stone Frigate (shore base) - the training establishment at Devonport. Try using a search engine for 'Vivid Devonport' and see what comes up.

[Sandra Parker]

there's quite a bit of information on www.worldnavalships.com and search from there.
Sandra with the spectacled aura