One for Tom to I.D., I hope!

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John Young Collection.

Tom,

Any idea who this is?

Regards,

JY

John,
 
I am afraid all that I can tell you about the gentleman in the photograph is that he is wearing the uniform of a captain in the Royal Navy.
 
It is not Captain H. J. “Fletcher” Campbell.  Your man still has his right thumb.
 
Do you happen to know when the photograph was taken?
 
 
Petty Officer Tom

Tom,

It was taken in Durban in 1879, at the same sitting that Bradshaw of the Shah had his photograph taken, by Kisch.

Any help?

Regards,

John

Richard's.. 

John,
 
Since the photograph was taken in 1879 on the same date as Captain Bradshaw’s photo we can narrow the list of possibilities to just a few men.
 
Captain Bradshaw arrived in Durban 6 March 1879 and remained there, except for a few excursions along the coast, until 24 July 1879.  
 
The following ships of the Royal Navy put into port at Durban in 1879:
 
HMS Active, Captain Francis W. Sullivan (age 44), Commodore of the Station until 16 March 1879 when he departed, having turned over command to Commodore Richards.  – a possible candidate.
 
HMS Tenedos, Captain Edward S. Adeane (age 42) departed Durban 9 February 1879 for Simon’s Bay. – Not a possibility.
 
HMS Boadicea, Commodore Richards (age 46) arrived 17 March 1879 departed 26 Aug 1879 – Possibility
 
HMS Shah, Captain Bradshaw (age 50) – No
 
HMS Forester, Lieutenant and Commander Sidney G. Smith (age 32) – Not a Captain
 
HMS Tamar, Captain Liddell (age 45) – arrived Durban 10 March 1879 departed a couple of days later.  Returned to Durban with troops from the wreck of ship “Clyde” 31 March and departed 1 April 1879.  Returned to Durban a second time with troops from wreck of “City of Paris” on 11 April and departed the same day. – Possible
 
HMS Orontes, Captain Kinahan (age 42) at Durban from 3 June 1870 to 6 June 1879 - possibility
 
HMS Euphrates, Captain Brownrigg (age 43) at Durban 2 July 1879 to 16 August 1879 - feasible
 
HMS Encounter, Captain Denison (age 43) ordered to stop at Durban on her way to the China Station in case her services were needed there. Arrived Natal 13 April 1879, departed 18 April 1879 for China. – Possibility.
 
HMS Juno, Captain James A. Poland (age 45), stopped at Durban while returning to England from the China Station.  On 26 July 1879 took on board about 150 invalids for transport to Portsmouth. – Unlikely.
 
Captain Foot (age 38) formally with the Liverpool Division of the “Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers,” stopped off in South Africa on his way by steamship to Zanzibar in July 1879. – Feasible.
 
If you can narrow down the date when the photograph was taken, maybe we can narrow down the list.
 
 
Petty Officer Tom,

Yess, a possibility. . the eyes and jawline.
petty officer tom.wow.pleased to make
your acquaintance.
xhosa2000

Hi xhosa .
A very learned man is our Petty Officer Tom ! . There isnt much regarding the Naval Bgde that Tom isn't on top of !  .
Cheers 90th  

Hiya Gary:D , yes, i really did not know that,
but when JY asks for air support/ clarification,
my antennae say's ' input alert ' lol. i'm off to
kip. av your day mate, speak soon xhosa

John,
 
In my haste I overlooked one other Captain.  
 
Captain Guy O. Twiss, age 44, Officer Commanding the Naval Transport Service in Natal.  He arrived at Durban on the Hired Transport “Pretoria” on 16 March 1879, departed in late 1879.  It was Twiss who relieved Captain Bradshaw who had been in temporary charge of transport duties.   He would be a good possibility.
 
 
Petty Officer Tom

Tom,

Here's the pair together:

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Then my attempt on trying to enhance the name.
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Thanks for your endeavours thus far.

JY

John,
 
The first photograph is inscibed "Capt Bradshaw R.N."
 
The second photograph could be "Captain Twiss R.N."
 
What do you think?
 
 
Tom

Tom,

I think you have solved it!

I certainly makes sense that they were in Durban together.

Thanks very much!

JY

Looks like "Captain Twiss RN" to me. Guy Ouchterlony Twiss born 1835 Mauritius, died Shanklin, Isle of White, 7 October 1918. Commander, HMS Eagle 1871, Captain, HMS Serapis 1881.

Steve

Steve,

Thanks for that.

Do you know was he still Captain of the Serapis when Schiess died in 1884?

JY

John,
 
Glad I could help.  At least now we know what Twiss looked like.  Now go out and find a photograph of Commander Romilly.
 
Archibald L. Douglas was the Captain of the Serapis from 7 January 1884.
 
 
Tom

Looks doubtful. If you believe Wikipaedia, it records that the commanding officer, Captain Arthur Dupuis, was suspended in 1884 for grounding the ship off Portland!

Steve

Agree steve it looks like Twiss to me , well done to all those that helped solve another mystery !    
90th