Ordinary Seaman Thomas Roberts HMS Shah Naval Brigade

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Nottingham Evening Post - Thursday 25 August 1927

There is a Thomas Roberts 72055 a ships stewards assistant in HMS Shah.

Posts : 375 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

The T. Roberts in the Nottingham Evening Post news article was an Ordinary Seaman named Thomas Roberts who did served as one of the Naval Brigade from HMS Shah. Thomas Roberts was born in Nottingham on 8 April 1860. He joined the Royal Navy 18 September 1876 and was issued #97613.
He is confirmed on the "Shah"s" medal roll.

Tom

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Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday 25 October 1932

Posts : 1087 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi All
Hi P/O Tom
Tom are the dates in your post correct or is it a misprint as he would only be 10 years old in 1879???
If correct he must be the youngest to take part in the Zulu war, on the British side.
Rai KLH

Posts : 375 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

Rai,

I have corrected T. Roberts' date of birth. He was born in 1860, not 1869. The typo was my fault.

Tom

Posts : 1087 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi All/Tom
A bit of confusion on Thomas Roberts RN,
The 1939 register of the UK gives born 8 April 1861 he is a Widow, Hosiery Retired living at 18 Cranmer St, Nottingham. [i think this was the Gordon Home for Destitute Boys][ named after Gen Gordon].
The 1881 census has him as a in-patient RN Hospital East Stonehouse Plymouth born 1860 Nottingham.
A Probate for Thomas Roberts died 23 Feb 1940 living at 218 Arkwright Street Nottingham, to son Sidney.
The 1911 census 25 Promenade, Nottingham he is a bookseller B.1860 Plungar Leicestershire, M to Mary Ann 4 children includes Sidney.
So a bit of confusion the UK census dates of birth are always a year out, whereas the 1939 is usually accurate, to put correct date of birth but then wrong year seems highly unlightly. But there is confusion on place of birth he does appear on the 1861 census born Plungar.
I feel the 1940 death is probably correct. There are no other deaths in Nottingham that fit his date of birth 1860/61
Rai KLH

Posts : 375 Join date : 2017-02-05 Location : Texas, U.S.A.

Rai,

There is often a lot of confusion when attempting to put together a service man’s biography. One of the more common reasons is the individual’s name. While researching one particular navy man I came across 3 men with the same name, all born in the same year, and all from the same town.

Thomas Roberts’ service record shows his date of birth as 8 April 1860 and place of birth listed as St. Mary’s, Nottingham.

The Thomas Roberts on the 1911 census who was born at Plungar, Leicestershire was a Book Seller. The same man is found on the 1881 census listed as an unmarried, 21 year old, “Book Canvasser” (door-to-door book seller), born at Plungar, Leicestershire. The navy man Thomas Roberts was listed on the 1881 census as a 21 year old, Ordinary Seaman, “patient”, Royal Naval Hospital (Plymouth) at East Stonehouse, place of birth listed as Nottingham. His service record confirms he had been “D.S.Q.” Plymouth (discharged to sick quarters.) I believe that these are two different men with the same name and of similar ages. If I am correct, then the date of death 23 February 1940 on the Probate is for the wrong man.

Tom

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