Walter Dridge - Emsworth - a mystery

[Matriach]

Hi
Looking through some old copies of the Portsmouth News I came across a snippet about a Walter Dridge serving on HMS Asistance being fined at Havant Petty Sessions in 1911 for using obscene language.
He's one of mine I thought and so went on the Nat.Archives site and downloaded this chap's naval record. It said he was born in Emsworth on 16 June 1883 so I preceded to look for other records for him as he didn't appear on my Family Tree database. No wonder - I cannot find him anywhere. My next thought was that his first name and DOB were incorrect but I have investigated all the likely Dridge males. Walter is a common name in my family as is the 12 year stint in the Royal Navy. Walter joined in 1905 and was awarded a war gratuity in 1919.

All suggestions for my next line of enquiry gratefully received.

Matriach

[cath151]

Hi.
There are two Merchant Navy seamens records for A Walter and a WJ Dridge ,Emsworth (one with photo) on FindMyPast. I don t think they are the same man but possibly
Year of birth looks to be forWalter(same date)1882 .
Cathy

[Matriach]

Hi Cathy

Great - thanks for that info - I didn't see those Merchant Seaman records although I found a death at sea for an anonymous Dridge in 1923 but it obviously wasn't him.  It's great to have a photo.  I wonder why I can't find a birth or an entry for him as a child on the 1891 census.

Many thanks once again.

[Matriach]

Hi
I have now come to the conclusion that this Walter is my great uncle born 1873. I think that after his wife died in 1904, like so many of his friends and siblings etc he joined the  Royal Navy for 12 years, putting back his age considerably. He must have had a boyish face!
After that he served in the Merchant service. He lived to be 95.

Matriach