Ditty Box

[finnisfinder]

I have been given a ditty box which was going to be disposed of.

I have tried to find out what I can about the owner but nothing!

The plate on the front has PO (Portsmouth?) then 21825 J Creed.

Can anyone help please?

[jaybelnz]

How about trying your Local RSA (Returned Servicemen's Assn in NZ)  or maybe yours is British Legion, not sure where you are or what you call your veterans!  I suspect such an organisation would probably be very helpful!

Cheers
Jeanne 😄

[km1971]

Could be a Royal Marine in the Portsmouth Division. or maybe a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy.

Royal Marines were numbered PO and four digits during the Boer War so WW1 or later

If you have Ancestry you can check to see if they have him receiving WW1 medals.

Ken

[finnisfinder]

 I've searched Ancestry and National Archives online but nothing came up.

 Most likely PO is Portsmouth division. Also RN service numbers were 6 digits. So J Creed a Royal
 Marine. I found a John Creed and a James Creed but service numbers didn't match.

 On the edge of the box written in faded ink is RMB.

 I live fairly close to the Royal Marines Museum in Southsea Hants so a trip to there might help.

 I will also check if there is a Royal Marines Association locally. They might have records.

 Thanks for your help.

[finnisfinder]

    Mystery Solved!

    During July our furniture renovation group had a photographic display of our work
    in our local library. I had included a photo of the ditty box, hoping that someone might know
    whose it was,


    Well, some relatives solved the mystery.

    It belonged to Herbert James Creed (Jim) born 24th January 1903 Frome Somerset.

    Enlisted into Royal Marine Light Infantry 22nd June 1920, Recruiting Depot Deal. Service no
    22712

    Transferred to Portsmouth Division 30th June 1921 which is where he had a new service no
    21625
   
    Transferred to The Royal Marines when RMLI and The Royal Marine Artillery were disbanded and
    amalgamated on 22nd June 1923.

    He served on HMS Coventry 22-24. Others were HMS Centurion, HMS Coventry, HMS Renown,
    HMS Courageous, HMS Effingham, HMS London, HMS Cairo, HMS Cairo.

    Discharged on pension 15th October 1945.

    Jim, in civilian life lived and worked in Gosport. He married a local girl in 1926. He was a Methodist
    Lay Preacher.

    Jim died 28th October 1995 at The Royal Naval Hospital Gosport Hants,

    Regards
    Finnisfinder