As you say, this chap – R E Neil - was a Royal Marine who served 1898 – 1903, then was part of the Reserves until 1913.
He would not have ‘enrolled’ in the Royal Fleet Reserve – this referred to those men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines who had served at least five years, and automatically became part of the RFR on discharge, meaning they were liable for recall in an emergency.
He did enlist in the Royal Marines Reserve 1904 – 13. For this he would have been a civilian, but would have to attend regular training sessions – this are the periods shown on his service record.
The Baron Ardrossan – was a cargo ship built for the Hogarth Shipping Co. in 1905.
[/url]https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=16147
It was employed by the Royal Navy between 1914 and 1916 as a Supply Ship; then again used as a collier from June 1917 – 1918 – it remained manned by the merchant navy, being classed as a ‘Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary’
The Medals
I would imagine that WR Std would mean Ward Room Steward
They refer to the standard range of war medals issued:
St = 1914-15 Star
V = Victory Medal
B = British War Medal
The S in the other column shows it was issued to ‘self’ – i.e. himself, not a relative
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/first-world-war-service-medalsTo be entitled to those, he must have been serving in some sort of role from at least 1915.
Are you sure that the photo is of him?? The picture clearly shows someone in a Royal Navy ratings uniform, not merchant navy…..