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« on: Saturday 02 December 23 14:43 GMT (UK) »
I'm looking at the service record for Able Seaman Thomas Bates born in Belfast In Antrim in 1916. It doesn't contain a lot of personal information so doesn't provide details like who got his war gratuity or where he lived at the time of volunteering in March 1935 but given his place in my Leicester family it seems he must have been in Leicester in at least 1939/40, which would be useful to me to clear up a secret. Thomas died in the sinking of HMS Gloucester on 22/5/1941.
Anyway, I'm not completely clear on what some of the entries say. Not sure if I'm allowed to post photos but I'm struggling with a ship named something along the lines of St Ang???r and something that looks like (Acaste) written next to the ship's name. On the above listing of the ship it says (Watch)
Also what are the columns entitled Non-substantive, among other entries.
I believe the times he was serving on board Drake 1 and 2 were possibly times when he was 'at home base' even if the ship was not docked in Devonport.
I'm happy to post photos if allowed and would greatly appreciate any help in fully understanding this record.
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give.