Photo deciphering. Which war and what type of vessel?

[Vimto]

Hi, I am looking for any insights into the type of vessel shown in the photo, which war, merchant or Royal Navy? A person in the photo is a family relative but we don't know if it is Grandfather (WW2) or Great grandfather (WW1) as both served at sea. The Great grandfather (William Clifford Webster) died in 1918 of an illness received during WW1 and had served on HM Motor Launch ML-318, but it is thought this photo might have been taken during WW2 and include his son, Edward William Webster, born 1919 (he was born after his father died).

Thanks for any observations to try and unravel which one it is.

[Vimto]

Hi, for those who may have followed this post, I have done some further research and think the vessel may be a steam powered tug and that the photo may be from WW1:

https://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishShips-Dittmar5Support.htm#33

I am planning on making contact with the Medway Maritime Trust (the Webster's are from Gravesend) to see if they can help shed any further light on the age and the vessel:

http://www.medwaymaritimetrust.org.uk/pages/trust02.htm

Kind regards

[Milliepede]

The men looked more modern to me so would have said WW2 but just a guess.  Hope you can find out more about the vessel.

[Vimto]

Cheers Milliepede

I think you may be right. Reading the pages on the Medway Maritime Trust's website and photos, apparently 182 TID class tugs were ordered and put to work in World War 2 and some were involved in D-Day.

The list of TID class tugs and more photos are here:

http://www.medwaymaritimetrust.org.uk/tidtugs/pages/tidlist.html

I've contacted the Chairman of the Trust (who have a preserved tug at Chatham Historic Dockyard) to see if he can help to identify the vessel in question.

[crimea1854]

With the open bridge I'm more inclined to think it is WW1, but have you downloaded WCW's service record, this might provide an answer: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8575952

Martin

[pogo99]

With the open bridge I'm more inclined to think it is WW1, but have you downloaded WCW's service record, this might provide an answer: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8575952

Martin

Most British warships bellow battleship size had open bridges during ww2.This does look like a tug and definitely not a Motor torpedo boat.Looking at the uniforms I would suggest this is WW1.

[Vimto]

Thanks crimea1854 for the advice. I downloaded the National Archives images of William Clifford Webster's WW1 naval service. He served on the following vessels:

10.04.16: Commenced his service at Tilbury
10.04.16 to 12.05.16:Pembroke (Desk Hand) - see the link below - this appears to be RN Barracks at Chatham
12.05.16 to 20.10.16:Victory (Deck Hand) - could this also be onshore?
21.10.16 to 21.06.18:Wallington (Leading Deck Hand)
21.06.18 to 16.07.18: Pekin (Leading Deck Hand)
16.07.18 to 30.11.18:Wallington (Leading Deck Hand)

He contracted pnuemonia resulting in his death on 30 Nov 1918. He died at the Cottage Hospital, Whitby, North Yorkshire. Was this used as a military hospital during WW1 for servicemen? He was then buried in his home town of Gravesend, Kent (not far from Chatham).

I have done a bit of a search online for Wallington (refer to the forum narrative in the link below) - I think these guys are referring to the same vessel (Wallington), a trawler requisitioned in WW1 that was originally a Grimsby trawler and was deployed as a "Boom Defence Vessel":

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/65055-hms-wallington/

Quote: "HMT Wallington was a 259 ton trawler requisitioned in 1915 and converted to a Boom Defence Vessel. In 1918 it was renamed Oriflamme and was returned to its owners in 1919."

Now on the (optimistic) look out for a photo of Wallington to see if it is a match for the photo I have to close this out. I'll also see if I can find anything on the "Pekin" in case this is a similar type of vessel.

Thanks again.