HMS Duke of Wellington 1901

[vapcq45]

My ancestor left the Royal Marines as a Corporal in 1888, however, curiously at the age of 54 in 1901 he serves as an AB on HMS Duke of Wellington from the January to September only when he is discharged as ‘shore services no longer required’.

Would anyone know what the ship was doing at this time and why a Navy Pensioner might be re-engaged for a few months?

Many thanks.

[mckha489]

08 January 1901 - Portsmouth Evening News

Carries an advertisement
100 seaman pensioners are required at once for service in the  fleet reserve at this port.
….apply personally on H.M.S. Duke of Wellington

A.B.s to get 2s & 8d per day

[mckha489]

If you search newspapers under ”Royal fleet reserve”  for December 1900 you can see it was a new branch of the service,

By joining you got more added to your pension.
Had to drill one week every year, or two weeks every two years.

[vapcq45]

This is just brilliant!  Thank you so much!

I didn’t think to look in the papers, but now I can include this in his story.

So grateful. Thank you.