William Allison's uniform?

Post by **kwr** » 01 Sep 2009 16:49

Anyone have any ideas what this outfit might be? It is the only picture I have of him. Nothing written on the back which is just the usual blank postcard. I'm wondering if he was at sea in 1901 and 1911 - see below for what I do have.

Born in 1862, found him in the 1871, 1881 and 1891 censuses. Occupation changes from fireman (like his father I think - a stoker) to electrician on his son's marriage certificate. Not at home with his wife and family in 1901 - perhaps at sea. So far unable to get him in 1911 or afterwards. He dies 1936.

Hope this works.....

Ken

Post by **jan44** » 01 Sep 2009 19:42

Hi Ken,

There appear to be two badges on the hat, I think it may be RN the bottom one looks a bit like this one http://www.collectors.demon.co.uk/milit ... l-navy.php

I can't make out the top one.

Hope that might help.

jan

Post by **Mark Abbott** » 01 Sep 2009 19:56

I'm no expert on things naval, but I think we have a photo of someone who served in the Merchant Marine?

Mark

Post by **Tina** » 02 Sep 2009 10:58

Hi everyone
He was an Electrician on his son's marr cert, what year would that be and who was the son please?
It's just that there is a Wm Allison in 1891 census who is an electrician wife Jane living in Bootle.
If you could list 1891 census that would be great.

Thanks

Tina

Post by **MaryA** » 02 Sep 2009 11:19

I'm not good on these things, but I wonder if it would help if you could scan just the badges at a high resolution and also perhaps a button, they might be clearer.

Post by **kwr** » 02 Sep 2009 12:00

As usual Tina - you have it right. Below are the details you asked for.

1891 Census. REF. RG12/2974 Folio 94 page 8

Taken at Bootle, Walton on the Hill. U.C.D.Bootle. Ecc. Distr. St. Leonards
Reg. District: West Derby
Sub. distr. Walton
Enum. Distr. 25
Household no. is 41

3 Southey St. William Allison H. M. 26 Electrician Employed Lancs. L'pool
Jane Allison W. M. 26 Scotland
James S. 4 Lancs. Bootle
William S. 2 Lancs. Bootle
-----------------------------------------------------

Jan - I hadn't noticed that there appear to be two badges! Now I'm twice as ignorant as I was before.

Mary - you may think you are not good at technical things. I am Neanderthal and my computer works by steampower I think. I'll consult one of my literate children (or better still grandchildren) and see if they can tell me how to do it. So don't hold your breath....I may be gone some time as Captain Oates once said.

Ken

Post by **MaryA** » 02 Sep 2009 12:23

Ha! techie stuff I can pass on to the next generation, not good at that myself, but what I meant is that I'm also no good at the military stuff either

I seem to be good at making suggestions though

Post by **42aitch** » 02 Sep 2009 23:27

If you look at the website Jan has put on, it looks like the Petty Officer badge for the RN. The one on the site is probably the newest one and not one from the time of the photograph.

The cap badge on the photo has the crown and what looks like the anchor in the circular part of the badge below.

Eileen

Post by **daggers** » 03 Sep 2009 07:59

I agree with the cap and badge looking like those of a Royal Navy Petty Officer, and not Merchant, but there are no visible rank badges on his sleeve. I am sure there should be some, but where are they?
D

LATER THOUGHT after Googling some RN bits & pieces. The jacket on the photo is single-breasted, but all the uniforms I have seen of officers and warrant officers, petty officers etc are double-breasted. More expertise needed!
D

Post by **kwr** » 03 Sep 2009 10:12

This is the picture as promised:

Any ideas now?

Ken

Post by **Hilary** » 03 Sep 2009 12:02

If it was Merchant Navy didn't the the different lines have their own badges?

How about contacting the Archives at the Maritime Museum at the Maritime Museum in Liverpool?

Ed Officer

Post by **MaryA** » 03 Sep 2009 12:18

Not to me I'm afraid, nor did I find anything about single breasted uniforms.

I wonder if it would be worth sending the photograph to one of the specialist suppliers, such as the one Jan found and ask them if they know what the badges are all about?

Post by **JuliaB** » 03 Sep 2009 23:25

Hi Ken,

I have found this picture of a RAN.RN, Petty Officers, Navy, Cap Badge.QE 11, It's very close to Jan's link but a material version of your cap badge.

I've also found a more up to date picture of a Petty Officer wearing a cap with the same badge.

Here also is a picture of a Naval Lieutenant wearing a similar uniform with the white rounded collar and jacket, the badge is different but it may be around the same time.

If you click on the link and look for Charles George JACKSONyou will find the picture.

Hope this helps, good luck with your search.

Julia

Post by **Hilary** » 04 Sep 2009 09:29

I don't think his hat looks like an Officer's hat.

However if he was in the Royal Navy he should show on the National Archives website - Documents on line they have

Registers of RN Seaman's servcies 1853 - 1923 and also for officers.

A quick glance showed noone I thought was correct but it's be worth a more thorough search.

I'd also as I said contact the Maritime Archives

Ed Officer

Post by **kwr** » 04 Sep 2009 14:08

Thank you to all for your considered and careful replies. I'll now work my way through the various suggestions and websites suggested and when I can next get to Liverpool (not in the foreseeable future I'm afraid )will follow up Ed. Ofs. advice.

I should say that following a suggestion from one of my expert googling children I've put the blown up photo on another site - the Merseyside Genealogy and Family History Forum - there is a Mariners section to it I find. I hope no-one will think it disrespectful of me for doing so. If I am enlightened by anything they come up with I will report back - promise!

Ken

Post by **MaryA** » 04 Sep 2009 14:29

We'll look forward to any new detail you can get Ken, after all we're definitely not experts on here and will be interested to hear others views.

Post by **Hilary** » 04 Sep 2009 16:39

Ken

I'd email the photo to the Maritime Archives and see what they have to say

Ed Officer

Post by **kwr** » 07 Sep 2009 12:42

A report back as promised folks........

I did as Ed. Officer advised and contacted the Maritime museum and had a reply within hours. See below:-
-------------------
Dear Ken,

I only received the whole picture (twice!), but from this I can confirm
that he is wearing the uniform of a petty officer in the Royal Navy.

Hope that this helps.

Alan Scarth
---------------------
The reference to twice is because in my e-mail to him I had intended to put in the high resolution blowup that Mary suggested originally. But of course given that I now seem to have a brain the size of a termite I mucked it up didn't I?

However now I know he was in the Royal Navy and not a merchant seaman. In the family there was a rumour that he had been a radio operator. I might be able to find out....In the future I shall have to consider what Royal Navy Records I can access.....thanks to all.

Ken

Post by **MaryA** » 07 Sep 2009 13:10

If you check down our Web Sites board you should find some links that our crew have posted for online resources. Hope you have some luck.

Post by **JuliaB** » 07 Sep 2009 14:36

Ken,

Fantastic news, thanks for letting us know, at least now you can narrow your search that little bit further!

Good luck with your search.

Julia.

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