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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: Leigh P on Wednesday 11 July 18 12:11 BST (UK)
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I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. My great grandfather Able Seaman Henry Rayner was on the H M S Himalaya from 1st June 1862 to 30th September 1873. He was awarded the Assanti (Assantee) Clasp for service in west Africa during 1873. His son wrote in 1964 that his father had been in Japan in 1872 but have found no evidence of this. Before being on H M S Himalaya, Henry was on the H M S Simeone for three weeks and before that he was on what looks like H M S Dogrell with Captain A M? Curtis from 28th October 1871 to 6th May 1872.
I would like to know if possible if any of these ships would have been in Asia at these times. I would appreciate any information or suggestions.
Regards,
Leigh
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HMS Himalaya was a troopship in that period and the vessel before Himalaya is likely to have been HMS SIMOOM which was also a troopship from 1852-1887. The other name doesn't come up anywhere, would you like to post his record (I only find his first ship record and his Jan-Sep 1873 record at the end of his service) to try to interpret the third vessel and to see the dates of each vessel?
MaxD
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Thanks MaxD, yes it is HMS Simoon. I could see it more clearly once I scanned the service record. I have attached Henry's service record as requested and hope you are able to decipher the name of the ship Henry was serving on in 1871-72.
Regards,
Leigh
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I reckon it is "D of Well " = Duke of Wellington
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Thank you ShaunJ, it certainly does look like D of Well.
Leigh
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HMS Simoom, iron screw frigate launched in 1849. Converted to a troopship in 1852 and sold in 1887. More data here http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/18-1900/S/04260.html
and here http://www.ageofsail.net/aosimoom1.asp with photos of model vessel and states "Simoom served as a troop ship at the Crimea from 1854 to 1855, at Pei Ho fort in 1859 and at Ashantee from 1873 to 1874."
Did you notice he joined as a Boy Seaman 2nd Class? See Column 3 "Rating" B2C.
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"Portsmouth, Thursday: The iron troop-ship Simoom, Captain Grant, having shipped a large quantity of stores, left today for Plymouth, where the officers, crew, and stores will be transferred to the troop-ship Himalaya, and it is expected the Simoom will be recommissioned and employed as a storeship "
Morning Post 17 May 1872
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Thanks q98, I came across the links you provided today whilst surfing the net. I also came across a Google book about medals given to navy personnel and included the Assanti/Ashantee campaign in 1873-74. It mentions both the HMS Simoom and HMS Himalaya. It seems the HMS Himalaya had transported troops from the West Indies Station to west Africa.
I had noted that Henry commenced his service as a Boy Seaman 2nd Class. May I ask the significance of this?
Leigh
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"Portsmouth, Thursday: The iron troop-ship Simoom, Captain Grant, having shipped a large quantity of stores, left today for Plymouth, where the officers, crew, and stores will be transferred to the troop-ship Himalaya, and it is expected the Simoom will be recommissioned and employed as a storeship "
Morning Post 17 May 1872
Thanks ShaunJ, that explains Henry's short time on the Simoom.
Leigh
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ShaunJ's stint on the night shift paid off as usual, eagle eyes spotting the Duke of Wellington.
You can I believe discount that vessel from the search for a voyage to Japan in 1872 as she was the flagship of the Port Admiral at Portsmouth 1869-1891.
http://military.wikia.com/wiki/HMS_Duke_of_Wellington_(1852)
Looks as if the concentration should be on Himalaya from the dates point of view although I don't find (there may be better eyes than mine) references to the vessel and Japan in the period. The ship's logs are at Kew, undigitised.
That said, it wouldn't be the first time a family story/date/place has become garbled over the years!
MaxD
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Very true MaxD re family stories. The information about China and Japan came from Henry's youngest son, my great uncle who served in the RAN on the HMAS Sydney in WW1 and was aboard when the Sydney encountered the German cruiser Emden just off the Cocos Islands north west of Australia towards Indonesia in November 1914. It was one of Australia's first actions of WW1 with the Emden surrendering late in the afternoon of 9th November 1914. Ernest served on the Sydney until late September 1917 when he was posted to London Depot for a month.
Yes I'm sure I can discount the story about being Henry being in Japan and China.
Thank you.
Leigh
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MaxD, I have found that HMS Rodney which I think Henry was on from 1867-1870 was the flagship of
Vice Admiral Henry Keppel in the China Station at that time. I would appreciate it if someone could check if I'm correct.
Leigh
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HMS Rodney was certainly in Japan in the 1867-1870 period, at Hiogo and Yokohama. Perhaps your relative got the year wrong !
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Same thought (date) had struck me too. Very plausible explanation.
MaxD
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Thank you MaxD and ShaunJ for your help, much appreciated.
Best wishes,
Leigh