Help with reading doc. please.

[Isles]

Daedalus - In Greek legend, a sculptor and inventor, father of Icarus and builder of the Labyrinth.

[JAP]

Alfred Charles LAWRENCE
Date of birth: 18 Feb 1884
Place: West Ham Essex
Occupation: Iron Merchant

Date and Period of Engagements: 3 Dec 1917 – Hostilities
Age: F.E.(?)
Height: 5ft 7 ½ in
Hair: Brown(?)
Eyes: Grey
Complexion: Fresh
Marks: Scar rt (i.e. right) Groin, Scar rt Elbow

Service:
*President II
List: 14 ¹⁵
No: 44772
Rating: AC II (presumably Aircraftman 2nd Class)
From 3 Dec (19)17 to 4 Dec (19)17
If discharged whither and for what cause: Dm 171/18
Sub-ratings: Pres II
Character: vg (presumably very good); Date: ?.?.17
Ability: Sat (presumably satisfactory)
Remarks: ?

* " (Crystal Pal.) - (the ditto marks refer to President II; I don't think there are entries in the other columns for this line)
* " (Roehampton) - (the ditto marks refer to President II; the entries in the other columns seem to line up)
List: 14 ¹⁵No: 44772
Rating: AC II
From 5 Dec (19)17 to 14 Jan (19)18

*Daedalus (Ports)
List: 12 5/2(?)
No: 99
Rating:
From 15 Jan (19)18 to 31 Mar (19)18
If discharged whither and for what cause: RAF
Character: vg  Date: -
Ability: Sat

Stamped: EMGT (might be ENGT) to R.A.F.

A website re Lee-on-Solent reads in part:
"During World War 1, the area was identified as an excellent location for a naval aviation base. In 1917, the station that would later become HMS Daedalus opened as the HM Naval Seaplane Training School and Hangars, workshops, accommodation and a double slipway into the sea, were constructed."

JAP

[irret]

Hi Jap,
Thank you for taking the time it's a great help and most appreciated.
Terri
 

[JAP]

Hi again Terri,

I've made a couple of amendments above - mainly putting my own comments in italics, and adding 'Crystal Pal.' (i.e. Crystal Palace) for the words immediately under President II.

There's some good information about President II on the Great War Forum at:
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t30418.html

President II was not actually a ship but was
"the accounting base for the RNAS. Sometimes the clerks would write where the person was in brackets after it and that could range from Luce Bay to Crystal Palace and also included Calais or Dunkerque. As it was an accounting base someone listed at President II could also be on a ship or boat too small for it’s own paymaster."
Also
"HMS PRESIDENT is/was the London Accounting Base for numerous naval ships and establishments that were not self-accounting. The sub-divisions I, II, II etc were merely a means of dividing up the various 'customers'. The same principles apply to HMS VICTORY I, II, II etc, except that Victory was the Portsmouth Accounting Base. Both these two (and others) are/were shore-based offices. AG Hefford's pay accounts were held at PRESIDENT III at the time of his death but he could have been serving in any of several ships/bases. This would be indicated in his record by PRESIDENT III (HMS xxxxxx)."

Regards,

JAP