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[haryc]

Hi
I am new to forums so please bear with me.
I am trying to write up my late fathers naval service for our family history.
There are quite a few things I am struggling with and wondered if anyone can help me please.
First of all his record states that his non-substantive rating was Act RP3. I know he passed exams for radar and plotting but what does the Act mean?
Also he has a long list of shore bases he was at. Some for months, weeks or just a few days.
Royal Arthur / Glendower / Valkyier / Collingwood / Drake / Mayina the list goes on but
R Arthur is Skegness (he was there for one day) Glendower is Wales (June to Nov 1944) Valjkyier (IOM) (26 days) Collingwood (Portsmouth) 22 days and Mayina is in Colomba? Jan - April 45.
Is this right, to travel so far for not a long time?
Any help in understanding is welcome but beware it will lead to more questions I fear 
Many thanks
Carol

[PhiloNauticus]

Act = acting
RP3 - radar plotter 3rd class

Royal Arthur = basic training establishment at Skegness (the old Butlins camp)
Glendower = Pwllheli - seamanship training establishment; it was also an 'overflow' camp for Royal Arthur when that place was full
Valkyrie = Douglas, Isle of Man: radar training establishment
Collingwood = training for electrical & radar at Fareham (still in existence today)
Mayina = Colombo, Sri Lanka

I would imagine he was initially ordered to R- Arthur to be issued with kit etc and then despatched, probably with a batch of other new entrants, to Glendower for initial training because R-Arthur was at full capacity.  Valkyrie was for specialist training as a radar operator, then to Collingwood, probably for training on a specific radar set.  Then despatched to the Far East.

Are there any names in brackets ?

[haryc]

Hi
Thank you for your reply.
Yes there are.
Lanka (Lochy)
Bambara (Pool) I think
Highflyer (landguard)
Others he was at were
Sansavino?
Eastway
Drake
Defiance
Dryad
Namir?
The last one I know because I was taken on it as a baby. He spent just over three years on it. HMS Vanguard.
Many thanks
Carol

[PhiloNauticus]

The names in brackets are ships.  The shore bases would have acted as the 'parent' establishment, responsible for accounting and administration, for smaller ships


LANKA – shore base at Colombo
     LOCHY – River class Frigate, see: http://www.clydemaritime.co.uk/node/639

BAMBARA = naval air station at Trincomalee
     POOL – indicates the ‘pool’, a party of ratings on standby to join any ship short of complement

HIGHFLYER = naval base at Trinomalee

LANDGUARD – former United States Coastguard cutter ‘Shoshone’, transferred to Britain under the lend/lease agreement.  See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banff-class_sloop

SANSOVINO – an American built Landing Ship; see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sansovino_(F162)

EASTWAY – an American built Landing Ship; see:
http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=592&navy=HMS

DRAKE – naval barracks at Plymouth (still in existence today)
DEFIANCE  - training establishment at Plymouth
DRYAD = radar training establishment at Southwick, Portsmouith
NAMIR -   not recognised !!

[haryc]

Thank you so much, that is really a big help. I have been looking at ships names and I wondered if at a push the unrecognisable one is Harrier?

[PhiloNauticus]

Ah yes, it will be Harrier - a training base for radar plotters at Kete in Pembrokeshire

see: http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Kete.htm#.WXhG-YjyvIU

[haryc]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate the help.
I may be back as I progress.
Kind regards
Carol