high wood Posted 14 April , 2022 Share Posted 14 April , 2022 I am struggling to identify this Royal Naval officer's surname from his signature, can anyone please decipher it? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 14 April , 2022 Share Posted 14 April , 2022 This a tough one for sure, I am unable to locate a match in the Navy Lists I have. But what I can tell you from his photo ( & it's a very good photo) he is likely an Engineering officer, Civil branch. Photo taken prior to 1915, in which year the Engineering branch moved from Civil to Military branch & adopted the Executive curl above their gold sleeve rings. Also the gold lace on their coocked hats changed to Miliary branch bullion, a similar change in their eppaulettes also taking place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner 87 Posted 14 April , 2022 Share Posted 14 April , 2022 13 minutes ago, RNCVR said: This a tough one for sure, I am unable to locate a match in the Navy Lists I have. But what I can tell you from his photo ( & it's a very good photo) he is likely an Engineering officer, Civil branch. Photo taken prior to 1915, in which year the Engineering branch moved from Civil to Military branch & adopted the Executive curl above their gold sleeve rings. Also the gold lace on their coocked hats changed to Miliary branch bullion, a similar change in their eppaulettes also taking place. Hi RNCVR. I have just checked the photographic studios, Charles Debenham, 222 West End Lane, NW and they were operating in 1907 so, as you note, this may well be taken before 1915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alf mcm Posted 14 April , 2022 Share Posted 14 April , 2022 How about Allan Pettman, he was an Engineering Sub Lieutenant in 1905, retired originally in 1907, but began war service in 1914. Retired again in 1919 as Engineering Commander. His service records are at TNA. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7617649 Regards, Alf McM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 14 April , 2022 Share Posted 14 April , 2022 Could well be Alf. I thought the P was an R, perhaps his 2nd initial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawryleslie Posted 15 April , 2022 Share Posted 15 April , 2022 The "Murphy" would suggest a nickname of Irish origin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 15 April , 2022 Share Posted 15 April , 2022 See also a previous mention on the GWF - Martin's post of 12 OCT 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high wood Posted 15 April , 2022 Author Share Posted 15 April , 2022 Thank you everyone, I am convinced that Allan Pettman is the officer in the photograph. He is on the 1911 Census as a retired Engineer Lieutenant R.N. living in Finchley Road, Hampstead. His service papers show that he was out in the Far East before the Great War and was invalided out of the service due to a serious illness. He volunteered for service during the Great War and seems to have served at Dartmouth for most of the war, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milner Posted 15 April , 2022 Share Posted 15 April , 2022 West end lane (photographer) runs almost parallel to Finchley road (his home). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travers61 Posted 16 April , 2022 Share Posted 16 April , 2022 extract of his Navy service from the UK Mechanical Engineer records on ancestry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high wood Posted 16 April , 2022 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2022 Thank you for the extra information, it is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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