Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

December 27, 2009

My father's birth certificate records that his father-my grandfather, Thomas George Baker, was a ships writer on
this submarine depot ship in September 1913.

I have tried to trace my grandfather through the Royal Navy and the Australian RN, without success. he lived in Kensington, London.

But I have no further details of his life, other than a connection with the Apsley family, through  his wife-my
grandmother's employment.

Can you help?

Regards,
Noel Baker

Noel,

Here is a picture of Maidstone.

The records of British RN personnel are held at 3 different locations, depending primarily on the time when a person entered or served in the Navy or an auxiliary service.

1. MoD. Ministry of Defence,
CS(RM)2A,
Bourne Avenue,
Hayes,
Middlesex UB3 1RF,
England

2. Centurion. Naval Pay & Pensions (Accounts),
Centurion Building,
Grange Road,
Gosport,
Hampshire PO13 9XA
England

In both of the above archives, only written enquiries from
next-of-kin are accepted, and a search fee is charged.
There is an ongoing process of moving selected records
from these locations to:

3. PRO. The Public Record Office,
Kew,
Richmond,
Surrey TW9 4DU
England

Tel: +44 (0)181 876 3444
http://www.pro.gov.uk/

It is not possible to search PRO documents online, and the PRO does not undertake research on behalf of individuals.
To access the documents held at the PRO one must either go there in person and obtain an entrance ticket, or employ a
professional researcher to do the work for you. For more information on this, start at:

http://www.pro.gov.uk/readers/default.htm 

RN Ratings. Ratings who served in WW1 or before are at PRO, unless they continued in service beyond 1929. The
latter, plus those who entered between 1924-1930 at MoD.

Those who entered after these periods at HMS Centurion.

Hope this helps in a small way.

Best regards,
Mackenzie.

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