Men at the Front

Men at the Front

Home British Army Royal Navy – on land and sea

Royal Navy – on land and sea

Published By John Davies

Back to British Army & Forces

  • Royal Navy

Lieutenant Thomas R Davies. Royal Navy Reserve HM Yacht Conqueror II.

Ableseaman J/28071 Charles E (Ellis) Jones, Royal Navy ‘HMS Magic’.   Enlisted Oct 1913 as Boy Sailor.

George M (Montford) Drew, Lieutenant Royal Navy Reserve, HM Submarine E14.

Deck Hand 19056DA(Po) John O Thomas, Royal Naval Reserve. HM Coastal Motor Boat 25.

  • Nelson Battalion Royal Navy Division.

The Royal Naval Division was formed in August 1914. The first draft were all ‘navy’ men in the RNVR who were surplus to ‘sea borne’ requirements – there were too many men for the ships. It was decided to create 2 naval brigades and a brigade of marines to operate as infantry units. The Division used naval ranks and insignia, they flew the White Ensign and maintained other ‘traditions of the service’. The battalions were named after former and historic admirals: Anson, Drake,  Hawke, Hood, Howe and Nelson. They went over to France in September 1914 but were poorly prepared and severely under equipped. They were posted to Antwerp to assist in the defence of the city in the early months of the war. They only just managed to escape being trapped as the Germans advanced in the ‘race to the sea’– 1500 men had to flee to neutral Holland where they were interred. The depleted Division made it back to England where it was re-trained, re-equipped and re-formed and then served in Gallipoli until late in 1915. By this time most of the men were no longer ‘seamen’ but were new recruits or transfers from other units. The Division was also transferred to be under War Office or army control rather the Admiralty. It was moved to the Western Front in May 1916 where it remained until the end of the war.

Able Seaman R/3261 Edward M Dudlestone, Nelson Battalion

Able Seaman, Bristol Z/9058 Ernest M Roberts, Royal Naval Reserve, Nelson Battalion.

  • Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division

Sergeant R/3713 John Alfred Bailey, Hood Bn, Royal Naval Division.

References and Sources

This Page is still being worked on – Would you like to help? Click Getting Involved or Contact Men on the Gates at Qube.

END