Genealogy Chat

Think we're sorted now thanks:)

I’m having terrible trouble reading the name of one of the ships that my Grandad served on in the Royal Navy (from his RN records). I’ve had the magnifying glass out, looked at my transcribing notes on old handwriting, googled every possibility we can think of, even got hubby to have a go, but no success. Grandad served on the ship during 1919, and he was posted to several training ships so it could have been one of those. It definitely starts with an ‘S’ and we’re fairly sure that the last three letters are ‘gor’ although it could possibly be ‘gos’ with a little flick to the s. There are also an ‘r’ and an ‘a’ in the middle, so it’s something like: S—ra(l or t)-gor(s) Thanks for any help at all, Mandy

Snapdragon? Rose

Try this list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Royal_Navy_ships%2C_S

Otherwise try here: http://www.answers.*com/topic/list-of-royal-navy-ships-s Rose

Hi Rose Thank you, I thought you'd got it there, but the middle of the word doesn't look quite right for Snapdragon. Also, it didn't come into service until after my grandad had served. Very grateful for your help though, and you've got closer than we did! Mandy :)

Thanks for the websites Maggie and Rose, I'd googled and couldn't find a comprehensive list. I really must remember Wikipedia! Off to scour the 'S' list now! Mandy :)

Are you sure it was a ship? I thought all the names on my grandfathers service records where ships but a lot of them where on shore bases. On Wiki they have a list of all the on shore bases. Mhairi

Mhairi Yes, that's what I'm going through next, the shore bases and training establishments. It's just so frustrating not finding anything remotely like it. Probably the clerk had been on the sauce lol! Mandy :)

how about sarpedon or sardonyx both destroyers sandie

Thanks Sandie, but neither of those fit in with the clearer parts of the word. Hubby suggested USS Saratoga (possibly misspelt as Saratogor) and that looked very likely, until I googled yet again and found that the dates didn't match. This is really going to annoy me ......! Mandy :)

Lots of ships on this site, you may find something to help you there. http://www.battleships-cruisers*co*uk/royal.htm replace * with . Jennifer

Snow White, from the national archive site For service between 1928 and 1938, please contact The Directorate of Personnel Support (Navy) Navy Search TNT Archive Services Tetron Point William Nadin Way Swadlincote Derbyshire DE11 0BB Tel: 01283 227913 Fax: 01283 227942 For service after 1938, please write to: Data Protection Cell (Navy) Victory View Building 1/152 HM Naval Base Portsmouth PO1 3PX Roy

Thanks Jennifer, will have a look. Snow White, sorry I didn't return to the thread this afternoon but Roy has given you the same address that I used. Good luck! Mandy:)

Thanks to a second pair of eyes (the lovely Gwyneth in Kent!), we're fairly sure that it's Saratoga, but spelt as a Devonian would say it, ie Saratogor! It's an American ship but there were several versions and one of them was a training ship. Although the dates don't quite tie in, they're only out by a few years, and Grandad did serve on a lot of shore-based training ships. Many thanks to everyone for their valuable input, Mandy :)

Glad you were able to figure it out!!!