Town Patrol - What is this?

[Mary C]

I have a postcard from Devonport, dated 1906 saying 'Am going into Crownhill tonight to try and see Gerald as I cannot go on Sunday as I have to take Town Patrol"

Does anyone know what occupation Town Patrol refers to?

[AnnB]

I may be totally wrong, but I think your ancestor may have been a policeman? I think 'town patrol' is something a policeman would have done ie as in patrolling a town (or part of a town) as part of his duties.

Best wishes
Ann

[Geoffers]

I have a postcard from Devonport, dated 1906 saying 'Am going into Crownhill tonight to try and see Gerald as I cannot go on Sunday as I have to take Town Patrol"

Bearing in mind this is Devonport and an RN base; this might also be an RN patrol picking up drunken waifs and strays who should be back at their ship.

Geoffers

[Mary C]

Ann and Geoffers - many thanks for your replies.

Do you think it is probable/possible that the Gerald in Crownhill he refers to would be at the Crownhill Fort and if so would that mean he was in the Navy?

Mary

[AnnB]

As far as I know, Crownhill is an area of Plymouth which covers more than the Fort.

Best wishes
Ann

[Mary C]

Thanks Ann.

Both Gerald and George (the writer of the postcard) were from Bristol, so I guess it is possible that they could have joined the Navy and been stationed in Crownhill/Devonport.
More searching!!

Mary

[Geoffers]

Both Gerald and George (the writer of the postcard) were from Bristol, so I guess it is possible that they could have joined the Navy and been stationed in Crownhill/Devonport.

Don't forget that you can search the registers of Seamen's Services online at the National Archives, and pay to download any service records that you find.

Geoffers

[Mary C]

Thanks again to you both. I have tried the National Archives, but with no luck, so this is a bit of a dead end!

Mary