can you read this dockyard occupation??

[queencorgi1]

Hello, chaps!
I should be very grateful if anyone can read what Samuel Beaton's occupation was. It is evident that the census-taker originally wrote 'Ind' in the occupation column, and then was given more information -- which would suggest Samuel wanted his former occupation recorded, and felt proud of it. Any thoughts? It's the first word which I can't make out -- 'xx from the Dockyard'.

[queencorgi1]

That reproduction may not actually show the occupation column, just in case here it is by itself ...

[Milliepede]

I would guess "pension from the dockyard" being his source of Independence. 

[hallmark]

Pension from India Dockyard?

[queencorgi1]

Yes, yes, think you are both right! Thank you so much. I see it now you say it. Now, that prompts another question -- do you know whether everybody got pensions, or only certain skilled occupations, or only those who'd worked there for above a certain amount of time? Any thoughts at all?

[CarolA3]

If it was a Royal Navy dockyard, at Portsmouth for example, he might have had a naval pension.

Carol

[CarolA3]

And seeing that the address is Landport: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landport

Carol

[queencorgi1]

Thank you, Carol. I knew that men who actually served in the navy (i.e. naval officers and sailors) would be entitled to pensions, what I didn't know is if those who serviced the vessels in the dockyard would qualify. As this entry says 'pension from Dockyard' it would suggest that they did! Presumably it was worthwhile for the Dockyard/navy to do this in order to encourage skilled workmen to stay with them and not take their skills elsewhere. I still feel that it's unlikely that all Dockyard workers had this benefit, but perhaps I'm wrong. Somewhere out there is someone who knows everything there is to know about the Dockyard's pension system!

[CarolA3]

That clever person isn't me, I'm afraid

But there are people on the Armed Forces board who would know.  Try posting on there, with a link back to this thread.

Carol