Gould WW1 naval censor 3B25

[Nick Colley]

Folks, I attach a scan of a reasonably-promising copy of 3B25. However, disappointingly, I can find no match to the name(s) I've interpreted from the signature in any of my Navy Lists. I've tried A.S.Carly and A.S.Carey. If anyone interprets a different name (and has a larger reference library than I do), then do please contribute to nailing this mark to a vessel !  :)

I ought to add that there are no marks on the back, and the only indication of a date is a manuscript endorsement, in pencil, on the reverse: 8 Feb/15. It is in a script which does NOT match either the censor's signature, nor the hand which wrote the address. It may not be reliable.

chrs
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[Frank Schofield]

Nick

Checked all my WW1 Navy lists. None with the name Carly
Plenty of Carey's but none with the initials A.S.

I even checked my Army Lists (no Carly) and came up with a Lieut A.S. Carey of the 1st/8th Middx Regt
In 1914 they were in Gibraltar, then to France in March 1915, I know it is clutching at straws, because of the m/s date 2/15 on the cover. could he have been on a transport?. He was KIA in France 15th Sept 1916

Best I can come up with

Frank Schofield

[Alan Baker]

That is an interesting idea,which could explain the manuscript "Serving afloat" which I felt sounded unusual from a matelot.

Incidently, the NCH, Frodsham was a National Children's Home. Not sure it helps though

[Nick Colley]

Thanks, chaps. 'T'would be slightly annoying from my pov if it was an army mark .....

Childrens' Home, eh ? Sounds like a suitable calling for Miss Chapman ?  :P

Seriously, though, given the conundrum posed by the signature, and thinking outside The Box (so to speak), might the first initial be a poncey way of writing a capital R instead of an A ?? And might the surname be Carey ? Just a couple of thoughts...... ?

chrs
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[Chris Weddell]

Hello Nick

              I read it as A S Carley. Which I do have a note as A.S. Carley was a  2ND Lt. with the R.A.M.C. in 1914. The signature is the same I seem to remember. Sorry i cant be of much more help as I do not have the cover any more.

                                                        Cheers

                                                          Chris

[Nick Colley]

Ah-ha !

So, it might be a hospital ship ??  :D (Peter H. take note, when you get your internet back .....(hard luck, by the way .....)).

Thanks, Chris !

chrs
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[Chris Weddell]

Nick,

        I am 100% sure it was not a hospital ship. I thought it may have been from a troop ship.

                                                        Cheers

                                                          Chris.

[Nick Colley]

Ah, ok, pity  :-\

Thanks anyway, Chris.

chrs
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[Frank Schofield]

Nick

Had a rethink on this one, and have come up with:-

Sub/Lt. A.J. CARLES, appt to HMS Coquette (Destroyer) 29.7.14.
Appt to HMS Dolphin (Fort Blockhouse) for Submarines 1.8.15
Appt to HMS Maidstone (Harwich) for Submarines 28.1.16.
KIA 26.4.16. when HMS/m E22 was torpedoed by UB 18 off Great Yarmouth.

If the m/s date 2/15 is correct, this makes it HMS Coquette, who was acting as a tender to HMS Actaeon, the Torpedo School at Sheerness at that time and possibly might  identify this censor mark.

Frank Schofield

[Nick Colley]

Ah, good effort, Frank ! Yes, I can see how you decipher A.J.Carles  :)

Very tempting. But surely a tender to a shore establishment would berth in harbour each evening ? ie would not qualify for free postage ? What do you think ?

Pensively yrs

N

[Frank Schofield]

Nick

She did go to sea, because on 7th March 1916, she hit a mine and sunk off the East Coast

That may explain the "Serving Afloat" in order to qualify for free postage

Frank

[Nick Colley]

Yes, what I meant, Frank, was that since she is in home waters, free postage would not be available - so HMS Coquette may not be correct - much as I would like it to be.

chrs
N