Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth

[deoxy]

Hello,
Can anyone tell me if a Royal Navy stoker could have been based at Eastney Barracks in about 1908. I believe Royal Marines were stationed there.
Thanks.

[Raymond M]

I cannot help you with 1908 but I've looked through the 1911 census for Eastney Barracks.
Apart from a Royal Navy Chaplain and two Royal Navy Surgeons all the other male occupants of the barracks are clearly listed as Royal Marines.
This would suggest your Royal Navy stoker wouldn't have been based in these barracks.
Ray

[deoxy]

Thanks very much Raymond.

[hanes teulu]

There's an item in the Scotsman, 23 Jan 1908, about Easney barracks running classes for practical instruction in motor driving and appears to apply to time served naval men. The item is headed "Naval Men as Chauffeurs". The course lasted 6 weeks but it doesn't specify if it was residential.
Could your Royal Navy stoker have fallen into this category?

[deoxy]

I'm not sure but thanks for the interesting information.

[Salty]

Hi There,

It would not be unusual for a Stoker to be based at a Royal Marine Barracks. If they had some form of heating or engine at the barracks that required maintenance, a Stoker would have been doing it for them. Marines were for fighting, not Stoking.

Salty

[porcelayne ladye]

There's an item in the Scotsman, 23 Jan 1908, about Easney barracks running classes for practical instruction in motor driving and appears to apply to time served naval men. The item is headed "Naval Men as Chauffeurs". The course lasted 6 weeks but it doesn't specify if it was residential.
Could your Royal Navy stoker have fallen into this category?

[porcelayne ladye]

hanes teulu  Thank You very much for your post as above.  My Grandfather was in Royal Navy, He was a Valet. Not long after he left age 24 gave occupation on his Marriage Certificate as Chauffeur in 1912. Going to check out the Scotsman 23 June 1908. Many Thanks porcelayne ladye

[hanes teulu]

Checking further, the driving scheme at Eastney Barracks appears to apply to time expired Marines.

There's an item in the Army & Navy Gazette, 24 Nov 1906, about a similar scheme at Whale Island, Portsmouth which concludes " ... motorists may make their choice as to whether they will apply a Blue-jacket or a Marine".