Letters

Angus McDonald, Petty Officer Gunnery School is HMS Excellent or known as Whale Island is at Portsmouth?

Hello Mac!

I've been searching online for a gunnery school that existed in Portsmouth during the 1880's-1890's.

I came across your web site and thought I'd drop you a line to see if you knew where this place is.

I have in my posession, a very old naval book called "Self Instructor in Navigation", that was printed in 1885 and published by the company James Imray and Son in London, England.

I received it as a gift from a friend who knows my love of old books and history.
Now, the original owner of the book was one Angus McDonald, Petty Officer. The place I am looking for was written with his name, though all of the writing is quite smudged. It looks to be W bualey ??? Island Gunnery School Portsmouth,1891.
Have you heard of it?

My interest is simply to find out who this man was, where he served, and what happened to him.

Now, I am assuming the Portsmouth is in England, but I could be wrong! Could it be Australian?

Any information that you may know and are willing to pass on would be truly appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Denise Moore


Denise,

The Gunnery School is HMS Excellent or known as Whale Island is at Portsmouth, in the county of Hampshire. England.

As an Acting Sub Lieutenant RAN in 1941, I did my gunnery course over several months at Whale Island.

Sometimes referred to as Whaley.

Here is a description from Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_Island,_Hampshire


Oh Mac!

Thank you so much! You've really helped immeasureably!

I appreciate the information! Hopefully I'll be able to locate this fellow, find out what kind of life he had, where he served, etc. I am hoping his name will be on a roster somewhere.

Again, thank you again for your time.
 
Best Regards,
Denise Moore.


Denise,

Go to this URL: http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/UKRNPersonnel.html for details of Royal Navy ratings personnel records.

But I do not think you are able to access the Public Records Office site on line.

Please let me know how you get on.

Love your country, I could easily live in Vancouver.

Best from Australia.

Mac.


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