Frederick Henry Kerslake 1894 - 1945

[lisajk]

Hello
Though I've been researching my family history on and off for a long time, I haven't before looked at military records and was after some advice please? 

There is a big gap in my great-grandfather Frederick's history that I am trying to investigate.  I cannot find him on the 1911 census.  He was a Leading Seaman in the Royal Navy in 1918 when he got married to Mary, a WW1 widow with 3 small children, in Fife.  They had one child, my grandfather (also Frederick), who was born in Edinburgh in 1919 and who is there with Mary on the 1921 Scottish census.  In the 1921 English census Frederick Snr. is on HMS Walker at Devonport, and on the 1939 register he is in Cornwall, now living with Violet (they never married, presumably because he was still married to Mary, though Violet took his name).  In 1939 Mary is also living with someone else.

He was originally from Devon (Kingskerswell on 1901 census) and I have no information how he came to be getting married in Scotland.  I assume he was there with the Navy but to access the military records I have to pay an extra charge, even though I am subscribed to Find My Past, so before doing that I'd like to know whether the records are likely to tell me anything useful, including which ships he was on, where they went and when?

Any advice would be appreciated. 
Many thanks,
Lisa

[ShaunJ]

You can download his Royal Navy register page free of charge from the National Archives. It will tell you what ships he was on and when.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=%22frederick+henry+kerslake%22

There's also an index card which has very brief information about his naval career.  The register page is the second item.

[lisajk]

Hello Shaun
thank you very much for this, which has allowed me to find which ships he was on on what dates - brilliant. 

A couple of further questions - you mention an index card, but I couldn't see that?  The two records in the link are the consecutive records of his naval career from enlisting in 1912 to being invalided out in 1933.  If there's something else available I'd be very grateful if you could advise.

A more general query - is there somewhere where I can find the entire history of a Naval ship in terms of where it sailed and how long it stayed in any particular location?  I've found a useful summary for HMS Glorious on Wikipedia, but would be interested in the full history if that is available anywhere.

thank you again for your help.
Lisa

[ShaunJ]

One of the documents (which I called an index card) is more correctly a Continuous Record (CR card) which covers his service 1928-1932. The other is his ledger page from the Register of Seamen's Services which covers 1912-1928.

Regarding the detailed history of individual ships, others may have better answers but the only thing that occurs to me (other than Google and newspaper reports) is to research the ship's logs at the National Archives.

[lisajk]

Thanks so much Shaun - I will try that.

[bbart]

  I cannot find him on the 1911 census. 

I think this is him on the 1911:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F12808%2F0467&parentid=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F12808%2F0467%2F5

Name    Fredrick Kerslake
Age in 1911    17
Estimated Birth Year    abt 1894
Relation to Head    Apprentice
Birth Place    Kingskerswell, Devon
Civil parish    Brixham
County/Island    Devon
Country    England
Street Address    21 Prospect Road, Brixham, Devon
Marital Status    Single
Occupation    Fisherman
Registration District Number    273
Sub-registration district    Brixham
ED, institution, or vessel    08
Piece    12808

[lisajk]

Thank you very much - yes I think it is.  Much appreciated.

[Ladyhawk]

  I cannot find him on the 1911 census. 

I think this is him on the 1911:

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F12808%2F0467&parentid=GBC%2F1911%2FRG14%2F12808%2F0467%2F5

Name    Fredrick Kerslake
Age in 1911    17
Estimated Birth Year    abt 1894
Relation to Head    Apprentice
Birth Place    Kingskerswell, Devon
Civil parish    Brixham
County/Island    Devon
Country    England
Street Address    21 Prospect Road, Brixham, Devon
Marital Status    Single
Occupation    Fisherman
Registration District Number    273
Sub-registration district    Brixham
ED, institution, or vessel    08
Piece    12808

UK, Apprentices Indentured in Merchant Navy, 1824-1910

Fredck Henry Kerslake Age   15
Registration or Indenture Date   13 Apr 1909
Port of Registry   Brixham

[Ladyhawk]

I don't know if this is him details are on Fold3 - sorry I don't have access to original record on Anc*y

Frederick Henry Kerslake
Court or Trial Date:   14 Sep 1922
Court or Trial Place:   Devonport
Vessel:   Vivid
Reference Number:   ADM 194/209
UK, Naval and Military Courts Martial Registers, 1806-1930

EDIT to add

Here's a snippet from

15 September 1922 - Western Morning News - Plymouth, Devon

SEAMAN ACQUITTED STEALING STORES.

Frederick Henry Kerslake, leading seaman, was tried by court-martiai at the R.N. Barracks yesterday, and acquitted on four charges of stealing and receiving tea, tins of salmon and jam, and 15lb fresh meat, Government Property, smuggling tea and half a pound of tobacco, and negligently performing his duties in connection with the packing of empty bottles and bags for removal………….....