Father and Son, James & William Lilley, Royal Navy & Royal Naval Reserve

Description

James L Lilley was a professional Ship Platter, and served as a Trimmer with the royal naval reserve. He was born on the 28^th of March 1874, and married Linda Lilley.

James enrolled 21^st of May 1915, and initially posted to the Victory II from the 25^th of July 1915, and was later posted to the Kingfisher on the 1^st of January 1916.

In the RNR trimmer is usually a member of one of the Trawler Sections. In this case that is correct, with Lilley serving on the Trawler Kingfisher.

Ships of the Royal Navy by J. J. Colledge lists a trawler called Kingfisher with the date 1915. Before the Aircraft Carrier by R. D. Layman briefly mentions this vessel, a 322-ton trawler that along with the 302 ton Cantarice was ‘equipped to carry (Sopwith) Schnieders (Seaplanes) for anti-airship (patrols) in the North Sea.’ The Kingfisher was at sea during the Battle of Jutland, shadowing the British Battle Fleet.

He was then posted to the HMS Cyclopes on the 1th of November 1916 which was a Submarine repair and depot ship based in Scapa Flow until the 3^rd of February 1917 when he was posted to the HMS Lucia until he ceased service on the 14^th of May 1917, when he was transferred to the Royal Navy as a CRA for Period of hostilities.

 

William Walter Lilley was born 28^th October 1898 and was a Lift maintenance engineer, as was his son James Lilley, born 12^th of June 1913. William died late in 1969.

William served for 12 years with the Navy, with his postings being listed below:

Attested on the 28^th of October 1916 for 12 years of service.

HMS Ganges – 7^th of May 1915 to 27^th of September 1915, Boy 1^st Class

HMS Almanzora – 28^th September 1915 to the 26^th of July 1916, ORD

Base Pembroke I – 27^th of July 1916 to the 17^th of August 1916

ILLEGIBLE – 18^th of August 1916 to the 11^th of June 1917, AB

Base Pembroke I – 12^th of June 1917 to the 18^th of September 1917

HMS Woolwich – 19^th of September 1917 to the 30^th of June 1918 (VIMIERA) 13th Destroyer flotilla

HMS Columbine – 1^st of July 1918 to the 31^st of March 1919 (VIMIERA)

HMS Sandhurst – 1^st of April 1919 to the 31^st of December 1919 (VIMIERA)

HMS Columbine 1^st of Jan 1920 to the 6^th of October 1920 (VIMIERA)

Base Pembroke I – 7^th of October 1920 to the 19^th of November 1920

HMS Emperor of India – 20^th of November 1920 to 31^st of March 1921.

ILLEGIBLE – 1^st of April 1921, to the 7^th of March 1923

Base Pembroke I – 8^th of March 1923 to 16^th of September 1924

HMS Greenwich (Viscount) 17^th of September 1924 to the 31^st of October 1925

HMS Egmont II 1^st of November 1925 to the 31^st of March 1927 (Viscount)

Base Pembroke II 1^st of April 1927 to the 26^th of May 1927. (Viscount)

Base Pembroke I 27^th of May 1927 to the 30^th of April 1928 (Passed for Rigger during this time)

HMS Cambrian 1^st of May 1928 to the 4^th of September 1928

Base Pembroke I 5^th of September 1928 to the 27^th of October 1928 (Contract of Service Expired).

This pair of medals is accompanied by scanned copies of research and service documents.