RND First Naval Brigade - Battalions

[Tony Walker]

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

[Frank Schofield]

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

[Tony Walker]

Thanks for your trouble Frank

Cheers
Tony

[Alan Baker]

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

[Alan Baker]

The London Gazette Supplement dated 13th July 1916 also lists him as Hawke Bn

[Nick Colley]

That's an impressive piece of de-ciphering, Alan.

The IWM knows about Commander Fairfax: https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/6906373

chrs
N

[Alan Baker]

Too many years trying to read signatures on cheques!

[Nick Colley]

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

[Tony Walker]

Thank you gentlemen.  I think I can reasonably state censor 'attributed to'  Ramsay-Fairfax

Cheers
Tony