Military Chat

hi I have a photo of my great Grandfather in a naval uniform with HMS Ophir on the hat band, but little other info. in the background in a small vignette are his wife and children so I can guess that the photo was taken around 1910-15 from the age of the children. I am aware that my gr. grandfather might not have been a member of the crew at this time because photos were often taken in previous military service uniforms but where might I find the ships crew lists.. can anyone help? I have trawled the National Archive and found nothing (not that I find the site easy to use!) maybe I am looking in the wrong place for the lists. Please help! Su

Hello S, What was your Grandfather's name?

Su has also tagged on to an old thread
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/genealogy_chat/thread/768656

Suggestions made by ArgyllGran (7 Nov 2015 09:41/42, now copied over
http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/archive/index.php?t-18954.html

Another link which might help - though probably not for 1911

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/

You can do an initial search free, then need a sub to look at the details.

And another:
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/search/advanced/occupation/crew-lists/

but you can get a 14 day free trial.
http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/14day/?referrer=homepage
............

Searching on Ancestry using Ophir as a key word brings up crew attached to the Ophir that were awarded medals 1914-1919:

J E Francis, Wm Gibson, T J Goldstone, A Gonzalez, Chas W Harris, Walter Hart, Edward Heaver, Geo S Hills, Henry Hopson, Wm E Hughes, Jas Hutchings, J R Jarvis, Geo Jones, Patrick Logue, H Hobbs....

Searching on Find My Past using Ophir as the keyword brings up WW1 naval casualties of men attached to HMS Ophir.

Have you tried searching for him in the 1911 census? Do you have his marriage cert or a child's birth cert that gives his occupation? Depending on when he joined the Navy his Service Record might be on line at the National Archives. Don't forget that men often served on more than one ship, so unless you know when he served on the Ophir the crew lists for a particular year might not show him.

Why don't you give us his name, etc and people will try to find him for you.

Hi AustinQ my grandfather was called James Sinclair

Possibly this James- A gunner in the Royal Navy Reserve

Shetlands Roll of Service:

JAMES SINCLAIR, Gunner, R.N.R.,
H.M.S. " Ophir." Formerly of Gardens,
Burra Isle.

http://digital.nls.uk/rolls-of-honour/pageturner.cfm?id=100532047&mode=transcription

Do you know his approximate date of birth? There are these:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8175245

Reference: BT 164/6/336
Description: Name Sinclair, James
Place of Birth: Burra Isle, Shetland
Number: 3935 A
Date of Birth: 1870
Date: [1894-1895]
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
------------------------------------------------------

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8501195

Reference: BT 377/7/41458
Description: Name Sinclair, James
Place of Birth: Lerwick
Number: D 1464
Date of Birth: 13 February 1870
Date: [1908-1955]
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

My Great Grandfather had a few occupations but I know he was a Mariner . His own wedding Cert says sailor. By 1911 he was 41. But if he wasn't amongst the crew of the Ophir why be photographed in the uniform? Grateful for any help

He was from Shetland

It is this record from the NA:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8501195

Reference: BT 377/7/41458
Description: Name Sinclair, James
Place of Birth: Lerwick
Number: D 1464
Date of Birth: 13 February 1870
Date: [1908-1955]
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

If you click on the image (where it says 'Show images') you can just about see the ship Ophir - he was on it 2nd Feb 1915.

You can download the full record for £3.30

This looks like him in 1911:


Name:James Sinclair
Age in 1911:41
Estimated birth year:abt 1870
Relation to Head:Head
Gender:Male
Birth Place:Burra, Shetland
Civil Parish:West Hartlepool
County/Island:Durham
Street address:34 Park St W Hartlepool
Marital Status:Married
Occupation:Gereral Labourer
Registration district:Hartlepool

James Sinclair 41
Georgina Sinclair 34
John B Sinclair 10
Mary E Sinclair 8

Web: UK, Royal Naval Reserve Service Records Index, 1860-1955

Name:James Sinclair
Birth Date:1870
Birth Place:Burra Isle, Shetland
Date:1894-1895
Service number:3935 A

This is from Ancestry - a link takes you to the National Archives site.

I think that's the correct 1911- on the NA record you can see part of the address- Park ______ West Hartlepool

1881:

Name:James Sinclair
Age:11
Estimated birth year:abt 1870
Relationship:Son
Mother's name:Euphemia Sinclair
Gender:Male
Where born:Burra, Shetland
Registration Number:1/2
Registration district:Burra and Quarff
Civil Parish:Burra and Quarff
County:Shetland
Address:Gardens

Euphemia Sinclair 40
Euphemia Sinclair 19
Johanna Sinclair 14
James Sinclair 11

Wow. Thanks very much yes 1870 date of birth

Just to confirm (date of birth matches Service record):

Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
Name: James Sinclair
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 13 Feb 1870
Birth Place: Bressay,Shetland,Scotland
Father: John Sinclair
Mother: Euphemia Pottinger
FHL Film Number: 6035516

Name:James Sinclair

Gender:Male
Birth Date:13 Feb 1870
Birth Place:
Bressay,Shetland,Scotland
Father: John Sinclair
Mother: Euphemia Pottinger

FHL Film Number:
6035516

Snap, Austin!

:-D