I recently acquired the attached "Hands across the Sea" postcard cancelled by a naval dumb postmark. The sender gives his address as "Hulk J.S.Stery, Alexandra wharf." and states "having plenty of work here coaling patrol boats." The only Alexandra wharf I am aware of is at Lerwick, Shetland. I have looked through the naval lists of ships (especially colliers) but can not find this one. I may have mis-read his writing and wondered if anyone else has any better ideas on the name of the vessel.
According to FWR, Able Seaman Lewis Ridland served aboard HMS Avenger, an Armed Merchant Cruiser which spent most of the war patrolling in the North Atlantic as art of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, Northern Patrol
He drowned after falling overboard on 31st May 1917.
HMS Avenger was sunk by U69 on 14th June 1917 north of the Faroes
Looking through the logs on the Old Weather website (https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_Avenger.htm), I cannot immediately see a mention of her calling at Lerwick
Graham,
There is/was an Alexander Wharf in Grimsby and from recollection, his was used for tugs in WW1 and also for smaller vessels under repair.
Peter