I have a couple of covers with the N.L.1. FPO cancel from the First Naval Brigade of the RND in WW1, and would like to be able to identify from which Battalion these covers originated. I have another and was able to place it from the Hawke Battalion.
The two covers are illustrated below
Top one : PASSED BY / crown / No 2635 / CENSOR with FIELD POST OFFICE / + / 14 NO / 15 / N.L.1. cancel. The only clue, apart from the P by C mark? is the signature bottom left. Difficult, but something like L.R.H. Furfie? Any help appreciated
Bottom one : Same censor number and dr cancel except dated AU 18 / 15 (Note the month and date have been transposed from that in top cover). I have found a R Dodwell Service No Z827L in the RND who went into sick bay on 28 Feb 17 with gastro enteritis. I think he was in the Anson Battalion which appears to have been in the First Naval Brigade ? But where might he have been in August 1915?
Any help appreciated
Tony
Tony
Checked my Navy Lists for October 1915 and April 1916, sorry cannot trace an officer listed in the First Brigade RND with a name or similar name and initials like the signature on the top cover
Frank Schofield
Thanks for your trouble Frank
Cheers
Tony
I think the surname is Fairfax. Possible initials: WGH or WGA
I have found a Commander WGA Ramsay-Fairfax, CMG DSO in the 1944 Navy List, with seniority dated 29th July 1916. FWR lists him as Lt Cdr with Hawke Battalion in the Med in 1915. He was Mentioned in Dispatches for service in Gallipoli
The London Gazette Supplement dated 13th July 1916 also lists him as Hawke Bn
That's an impressive piece of de-ciphering, Alan.
The IWM knows about Commander Fairfax: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/6906373
chrs
N
Too many years trying to read signatures on cheques!
Ha!, Yes, that would explain it.
Seriously, though, Mr Google has just helped us a bit more - see attached.
It's about 4/5ths of the way down this page:
https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/230260-list-of-names-mentioned-in-gallipoli-diary-mainly-officers-in-rnd/
chrs
N
Thank you gentlemen. I think I can reasonably state censor 'attributed to' Ramsay-Fairfax
Cheers
Tony