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Hi Sally _ I don't know who you are but I am the great granddaughter of Richard Bate Olford. My name is Rosanne Dawn Boylan (called Dawn) and my mother's mother was Richard's daughter. Her maiden name was Ivy Gwendoline Olford and she was his third daughter. Her two older sisters were Kathleen and Violet. She had a younger brother called Harry, probably christened Henry. Richard was not born in St Austell but near the neighbouring harbour town of Fowey. He was killed on HMS Hermione in 1903 while the ship was docked in the island of Crete. There was an accident as the ship was loading coal and he was struck on the head and killed. He is buried in the Royal Naval War cemetery of Suda Bay Crete At the time of his death he was living in the village of St Blazey Gate near Par Cornwall.. I was born and grew up in and around St Blazey Gate. However, these days I live in Melbourne Australia. Of Richard's children: Harry was married but had no heirs; Violet married a Welshman called Tom Jones and went to live at Nelson Glamorgan and had a family; Kathleen (the eldest) married a man from St Blazey Gate John (Jack) Hawke and they migrated to Sydney Australia after World War I where their descendants live.

My email address is [email protected].

Regards.............Dawn :-)

YIPPEEEEEEEEE i have found the info at Nat Archives.
Many thanks to everybody.
I will look into getting a search.
Sally

Hi Ann,
Thanks for the info, sorry i didn't get back to you, i have been out all day.
Will give it a go !!!!!!!!!
Regards
Sally

The log is listed on the National Archives website - not documentsonline, so hope you haven't been searching that!

On the National Archives site, go to Search the Catalogue and put in the terms I said earlier.

if you go to that website i listed there and search his last name it will show u that .. he is further down the page.. the ship name is highlighted and you can click that and view all crew on board . i dont think it gives any other info for your particular relative.. good luck and happy hunting.. x

Thanks Suzanne,
That makes very interesting reading !!!!
I have spent too much time trying to find the Ships Log. !!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Annielaurie,
I had better go and do some food now. !!!!
I still can't find it - probably something very basic, maybe i am too hungry !!!!
I will have a look later.

Sally

Olford R B Petty Officer 1st Class QSA (0). Ref: 120.539.
Source: QSA medal rolls HMS Pelorus
found on http://www.angloboerwar.com/

from Wiki... may find it interesting reading

HMS Hermione was an Astraea-class protected cruiser launched at Devonport in 1893. She served in World War I and was sold in 1921. She was renamed HMS Warspite in 1922, and broken up in 1940.

In 1896 the Hermione, commanded by Captain Charles R. Arbuthnot, was one of a squadron of six ships which was specially commissioned in reply to a congratulatory telegram from the German Emperor to President Paul Kruger on the repulse of Dr. Jameson's Raid. The squadron, known as the Particular Service Squadron, was commanded by Rear-Admiral Alfred Taylor Dale with his flag in Revenge.

In September 1910 she began preparations for use as a tender for the Royal Navy's first airship, but when this project was abandoned, she rejoined the Home Fleet in January 1912. In the meantime, she had hosted the first British seaplane experiments, with an Avro Type D in November 1911.

Oh, you do realise that that log won't be online? You'd have to go there, or get someone to go for you, to look at it.

Just use Hermione as the search term, nothing else.

Use ADM as the series to search.

Let me know if you don't find it!

No can't find the ships log, even though i have the right section - it must be me.!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Annielaurie,
I am slowly getting round the records at Nat Archives, don't find them the easiest to work through - maybe i haven't used them enough.
I take it it was in Royal Navy section, i will have a look again.
Sally

There's a ships log at the National Archives for the Hermione for 1903.

Thanks Potty,
I am getting there a bit at a time - sometimes i am not really sure how i get some info !!!!!! I seem to put in a random name or topic and up it comes.
Sally

Well thats a good result well done.

This document from the National Archives has info about Naval deaths - they are not online and a search will cost £30:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/ifa_m8_royal_navy_ratings_1835-1945.pdf

NUDGE

THANK YOU

Lindsey, Pete, Potty and Annielaurie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of info, i will check it all out, i thought his date of birth was August so thats good.

What lovely people you are !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards
Sally

His Royal Navy record is here, in the Registers of Seamans services - you can download it for £3-50. Not sure whether you've seen this as you mention his number and one of the ships he was on.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/navy.asp

Did he join the army after he left the Navy?

There is one record coming up on findmypast for a Richard Alford in the Boer War records. Maybe someone with a subscription could look it up for you.

Edit: the findmypast record has the same Regimental Number as you give above (20539) - regiment Army Service Corps