Military and Work History Research

[Trish C]

Hiya, New member and first post. Thank you for adding me 
I am fairly new to family research, but i am fine with Family history, but i really struggle navigating Military and Work history research. I haven't got a clue where to start, where to look, what to search for and the National Archives site is just a minefield to me.

Ive been trying to find my Great Grandfathers tug boat Master Mariner work history for over year, Robert Davison, born 15th March 1857, died 12th October 1936. he had been on the Wearside shipping for over 60 years, 40 of which was with Lambton shipping, i now believe is Tanfield Steam shipping company. He is credited with saving many lives and id love information on his work, boats and any information on what he did to save the lives.

His son Walter (Harding, but not in Navy records) Davison, born 2nd November 1894 and Died August 1978 signed up for the Merchant Navy in 1914, i have his register, but then i have him in the Peace Parade photograph in a soldiers uniform in Fawcett Street Sunderland 1920, and i cannot find any info ion him either for his WW1 records. I have his WW2 info for the DLI which he signed up for in 1926.

Any tips, where to search, what to enter would be really appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Trish

Both born and died in Sunderland.

[tonepad]

Welcome to RootsChat!

You can get a snapshot of your Great Grandfather's career in 1915 by entering his name on the following site and downloading logbooks:

https://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/

He was master of the Tug "Lumley"



Tony

[Trish C]

Thank you so so much, ive been able to get the logs for the ship after a year searching !!

[tonepad]

After the Lumley, I believe your grandfather was master of Eppleton Hall.
This tug is preserved in San Francisco!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eppleton_Hall_(1914)


Tony

[Trish C]

After the Lumley, I believe your grandfather was master of Eppleton Hall.
This tug is preserved in San Francisco!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eppleton_Hall_(1914)


Tony

Thank you, we were told that and I've researched this Tug, but I can't find anything with his name attached to it.

[tonepad]

There is a newspaper article from 1930 which lists the tugs he was the master of, and some of his rescues:

The Evening Chronicle, Monday, March 17

60 Years On The River Wear


https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000726%2F19300317&page=4&article=004&stringtohighlight=robert+davison+sunderland


Tony

[Trish C]

There is a newspaper article from 1930 which lists the tugs he was the master of, and some of his rescues:

The Evening Chronicle, Monday, March 17

60 Years On The River Wear


https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000726%2F19300317&page=4&article=004&stringtohighlight=robert+davison+sunderland


Tony

Thank you so much for all this.
Unfortunately I don't have FindMyPast due to costs, I only have the basic ancestry. I'll see if any of my friends has it to get for me.

[Comberton]

You can just buy the article without a subscription, You will need a free account.

Click the link provided by tonepad, click upgrade or pay to view, scroll down to commitment shy? and click there. It costs 50p for the item.

Available for other FMPast records, the most I have paid is £1.50
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/help/articles/4405440232977-what-are-findmypast-micropayments

[Trish C]

You can just buy the article without a subscription, You will need a free account.

Click the link provided by tonepad, click upgrade or pay to view, scroll down to commitment shy? and click there. It costs 50p for the item.

Available for other FMPast records, the most I have paid is £1.50
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/help/articles/4405440232977-what-are-findmypast-micropayments

Fabulous, I wasn't aware could do that. I'll do that today.
Thanks again for all the help. As you can probably tell, I'm not very good on this research lark