Hi ken
Glad my idea worked.
This mind sound a bit impertinent but how do you know the photo is of William Allison?
The reasons I ask are
His occupations on the census don't seem to tie in with someone in the Royal Navy usually they will use that within the occupations
He doesn't appear to be show on the RN seamen on the National Archives website but of course thinking of it he might not as a Petty Officer
The 1911 census has Royal Naval personel - has he been found there?
Does his death certificate give any further clues - this should contain his occupation ie retired RN Officer or something similar.
Ed Officer
William Allison's uniform?
William Allison's uniform?
Ed. Officer,
I certainly do NOT think it impertinent. It's just the sort of questioning I see going on all the time on this site ie - don't take anything for granted.
I "know" that this was my great grandfather because my mother told me so but that is it. She helped her father who was his only surviving child clear his house on his death. I'm afraid this is the sole surviving artefact of any of his things - he and his son did not get on. My mother was 11 at the time and knew only vaguely that there were black edged memorial cards he'd kept - of his wife's and two other sons deaths. So I suppose I'm actually believing her story.
His death certificate (which Mary helped me find) has him as "formerly an Electrician (Merchant Service). This could be a picture of him before he joined the merchant marine? But he doesn't look young.
My mother's sister was the source of the opinion (I put it no higher) that he was a radio operator - calling him a Marconi man I believe. But she also speculated that he was a river pilot! I can't unfortunately check on any of these things -there is no-one left to ask.
Like you I have been reluctant to have him as a RN sailor - as Daggers has said there should be sleeve insignia and you make the good point that his cap really doesn't look military enough. On the other hand.....Jan and Eileen are right - the cap badge looks correct.
I don't know why but I seem unable to find him in 1911 though I haven't tried again after failing the first time. I didn't look under naval personnel though just the usual details.
Sorry for the long reply but you did ask! Finally I'm out of touch with any computers from tomorrow until next Monday so if I don't reply that's the reason. I'm not being dilatory. Thank you all for your continued interest.
Ken
I certainly do NOT think it impertinent. It's just the sort of questioning I see going on all the time on this site ie - don't take anything for granted.
I "know" that this was my great grandfather because my mother told me so but that is it. She helped her father who was his only surviving child clear his house on his death. I'm afraid this is the sole surviving artefact of any of his things - he and his son did not get on. My mother was 11 at the time and knew only vaguely that there were black edged memorial cards he'd kept - of his wife's and two other sons deaths. So I suppose I'm actually believing her story.
His death certificate (which Mary helped me find) has him as "formerly an Electrician (Merchant Service). This could be a picture of him before he joined the merchant marine? But he doesn't look young.
My mother's sister was the source of the opinion (I put it no higher) that he was a radio operator - calling him a Marconi man I believe. But she also speculated that he was a river pilot! I can't unfortunately check on any of these things -there is no-one left to ask.
Like you I have been reluctant to have him as a RN sailor - as Daggers has said there should be sleeve insignia and you make the good point that his cap really doesn't look military enough. On the other hand.....Jan and Eileen are right - the cap badge looks correct.
I don't know why but I seem unable to find him in 1911 though I haven't tried again after failing the first time. I didn't look under naval personnel though just the usual details.
Sorry for the long reply but you did ask! Finally I'm out of touch with any computers from tomorrow until next Monday so if I don't reply that's the reason. I'm not being dilatory. Thank you all for your continued interest.
Ken
Roberts, Parry, Allison, Taylor, Ballard, Lucas, Dodd, Blackhurst, Jacobson, Lunt, Phillipson - are the Bootle & Liverpool names - plus Jones (Liverpool+Carnarvon). Cuthbert, Ballard, Price (London -Somers Town)
Membership no:- 7653
Membership no:- 7653
Another thought, as the Merchant Service/ Mercantile Marine/Marconi factors have been brought in. Could this man have served in the MM and been at the same time a member of the Royal Naval Reserve - a part time role for many civilian sailors, who spent a short period of training with the full-time Royal Navy, ready for war service if required [and very many were].
I believe Marconi men were employed by that company and hired or contracted out to shipping companies, probably by the voyage. There must be something about them via Google but I have not looked.
D
I believe Marconi men were employed by that company and hired or contracted out to shipping companies, probably by the voyage. There must be something about them via Google but I have not looked.
D
M. no. 31