Can Anyone Decipher the Initials on this Seaman's Cap? COMPLETED

[hettyhen]

Not sure which board to put this on so will start here.
The initials on the cap read    “P.N. (anchor) A.V.” ,   the photo was taken by R Barcham. Petone.   
This is, I am pretty sure, a photo of my Grandfather’s youngest brother, James Cavill RIDLER, (the 13th child), born 1885 Wellington  NZ.  His mother died shortly after his birth and his father a couple of years later, James was farmed out around the family and aged 15 or 16 “Ran away to sea”  so the family story goes.  Haven't done much research on James as yet but have been told he died in England 1950 or 51.  Will now try to attach the photo.
Cheers
HeatherR

[BegClonrode ....]

Hello...

A James Cavil RIDLER is listed on the TNA website. That may have more info.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0tx1/

My guess for the cap is Royal Navy Artillery Volunteers. The seamen in the following photo seem to have the same collar and lanyard. Similar attitude towards facial hair too.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0tx2/

Just guessing


Regards
Beg

[spades]

Hi Heather,

I completely agree with Beg's 'guess'.

Spades

[spades]

FreeBMD list the death of a James C. RIDLER in the March quarter of 1951, aged 65. Registered at Harrow.
http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/

Might this be him?

Spades

[gortonboy]

deleted,,,,duplicate post 

[crimea1854]

You will find that he was still serving in the RN during WW1 being awarded the 14-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

The pay to view site Find my Past has three Merchant Navy seamen's tickets for James, one of which includes a photograph, and another is for his first trip in a merchant vessel after leaving the RN, the Carisbrook Castle.

Martin

[Malcolm33]

     Seems that New Zealand didn't have their own Navy until 1909.    Up until then their shores were protected by the Royal Navy who eventually had a special division for New Zealand.  Doesn't look like an anchor in the badge but a double cross.   There may also be two initials before the 'N' to the left of the badge -

[BegClonrode ....]

Seems that New Zealand didn't have their own Navy until 1909

Hello...

I don't think we officially had our own Navy until 1941. There were celebrations just a few years ago (2011) for the 70th anniversary.

"From 29 September to 3 October 2011 eleven ships of the RNZN will assemble at Wellington to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of King George VI granting our Naval Forces his royal recognition"

http://www.mch.govt.nz/news-events/press-releases/royal-new-zealand-navy-anniversary

Regards
Beg

[Malcolm33]

  Strictly speaking it was 1941 when the present "Sea Army of New Zealand" - "Te Taua Moana o Aotearoa" was formed, but New Zealand did fund the purchase of a battleship in 1909 according to wikipedia.  The New Zealand Naval Forces were created in 1913 but were then still part of the Royal Navy and from 1921 to 1941 they were known as the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy.     In the end I suppose the top commander would still be the Queen?