Our ambitious project to conduct basic research on over 5,000 Royal Navy personnel who were born here, on the Isle of Wight, is progressing nicely. It is a mammoth task, but we have progressed into the "C"s of our alphabetical list already, that's approximately 900+ sailors researched so far!
A whole host of interesting tales are emerging, from sailors rising through the ranks and exploring the globe, to those less inclined to remain within the confines of the ship and deserting the service, and not to mention the many who served during both World Wars, many losing their lives. As an island, the sea was always going to present opportunities for our ancestors, and you may not even realise that one of your forebears did a stint in the Navy, so it is always worth a look.
If you are interested in finding out more about getting involved in the project, or would like to share stories or photographs of your own sea-faring ancestors, please contact us at research.iowfhs@gmail.com.
Posted 23 December 2020