Military Chat

1939
They are at 30 White Barn Lane, Dagenham.

He is recorded as a retired naval pensioner.

HMS Indus (1839) was an 80-gun second-rate ship of the line launched in 1839. She was used as a guard ship from 1860 and was sold in 1898.
HMS Indus was the name assigned to the Devonport guard ship and flagship of the Port Admiral, between 1860 and 1905:
HMS Indus was the original guard ship between 1860 and 1898.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Indus

There seem to have been lots of ships named Indus, with confusing overlapping dates.
The one above may be the most likely - in which case he may have embarked at Devonport - but can't prove it.

Is this the record you mean?

William Crawford
in the UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939
Name William Crawford
Gender Male
Birth Date 6 Mar 1866
Birth Place Middlesex, Co. Cork
First Service Date 6 Jan 1879
First Ship Served On Indus
Last Service Date 23 Feb 1886
Last Ship Served On Pembroke II
Service Number 135960

The mention of 12 years means that he enlisted for 12 years - though it appears he stayed longer than that.

These records don't give you every little detail about embarkation, etc - just dates of service on different ships.

He was on the Indus 6/1/1886 - 26/7/1886.
Then later he was on the Indus again - 6 /3/1889 - 27/12/1889.

Please can anyone explain how to read this record, as William Crawford has not been found on any records until his marriage in Dartford in 1893 to Bertha Elizabeth white.
1911 he claims to be born 6.3.1866 Midleton, county cork resident.

On marriage he claims his father is Robert.

This record may help to find more about him. I can see he was on the Indus in 1886, but do not know where he enlisted. What does it mean at the top, 12 years? He was 12 years old or he has served for 12 years.??

If we knew where he enlisted it would help.
It seems the one ship named Indus sank in India, and another sank off Cornwall.
But I can’t see where crew would embark.

Any help appreciated.

Gill

P.s. can’t see how to upload the document. Any help on that ??