TOPIC:

HMS Barrosa was a third class cruiser with a QSA entitlement of less than 200.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (F. Gosling, Sto: H.M.S. Barrosa);
1914-15 Star (285024, F. Gosling, Ch. Sto., R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals (285024. F. Gosling. Ch. Sto. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC GV 1st issue (285024 Frank Gosling, Sto. P.O., H.M.S. Hood);
Italy, Kingdom, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver, unnamed as issued,

Frank Gosling, a Mason from Huxham, Devon, was born on 12 May 1876. He joined the Royal Navy on 5 March 1897, his first service as a Stoker Second Class, aboard H.M.S. St George from 31 July 1897. Quickly transferring to H.M.S. Philomel and then H.M.S. Barrosa, he served in the latter ship during the Boer War. He transferred to H.M.S. Sutlej on 11 May 1908, was advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 19 September 1908, and was present during the rescue operations following the Messina Earthquake on 28 December 1908. Transferring to H.M.S. Hood on 25 September 1911, Gosling was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 12 July 1912, before joining H.M.S. Conqueror on 25 July 1913. He would serve with this ship during the Great War until 21 November 1917, the majority of the time as Chief Stoker, and was present at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Joining the Royal Australian Navy on 26 November 1917, Gosling served in H.M.A.S Sydney, leaving this ship on 31 January 1920 and joining the Royal Fleet Reserve in November of that year.

Found on Ebay…….

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (J. J. Williams, E.R.A. 3Cl., HMS Barrosa.) large impressed naming;
1914-15 Star (268611 J. J. Williams. C.E.R.A.1. R.N.);
BWM and VM (268611 J. J. Williams. C.E.R.A.1. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC EdVII. (268611 J. J. Williams. C.E.R.A. 1Cl. HMS Vivid.)

Provenance: Ron Tuppen Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2013.

John James Williams was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, on 30 October 1873 and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 28 October 1895. He joined HMS Barrosa on 1 July 1897, was promoted Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class on 28 October 1898, and served in her during the Boer War. Advanced Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class on 31 March 1910, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 4 November 1910. He served throughout the Great War, mostly borne on the books of HMS Vivid II, and was shore demobilised on 13 December 1919.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Cape Colony (H. W. Pursell, A.B. HMS Barrosa);
BWM and VM (188513 H. W. Pursell. A.B. R.N.)

Henry William Pursell was born at St Albans, Hertford, on 2 March 1881, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd class aboard HMS Impregnable on 22 April 1896. Advanced to Boy 1st class in February 1897, he served in Barrosa from September 1898 to August 1899, being advanced to Ordinary Seaman in March 1899, and, following a brief period in Doris in August and September 1899, rejoined Barrosa again on 5 September 1899. He was advanced to Able Seaman on 13 February 1900, and remained in Barrosa until 24 May 1901, being one of 31 recipients of the Queen’s medal with the single clasp for Cape Colony.

He was discharged to shore by purchase for the Royal Fleet Reserve on 8 December 1905, which he joined the following day, and was discharged ‘time expired’ on 1 March 1911. He was recalled for service in April 1917 and served aboard Calypso from June 1917 to December 1918, and was finally demobilised on 21 March 1919.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (J. Cartmell, Sto: H.M.S. Barrosa);
British War and Victory Medals (278876 J. Cartmell. S.P.O. R.N.);
[ RN LS&GC Ed VII ]

John Cartmell was born in Whitehaven, Cumberland, on 22 April 1874 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 3 January 1895. Promoted Stoker on 1 October 1895, he served in HMS Barrosa from 31 July 1897 to 24 May 1901, seeing active service during the Boer War, and was advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 1 February 1907. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 18 January 1910, whilst borne on the books of HMS Orontes, and served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments. He was shore demobilised on 18 July 1919.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (0) F. Hill, Plumber. H.M.S. Barrosa)

Spink note one of 102 no-clasp medal for this vessel out of a total 194 issued.

Francis Henry Hill was born at Plymouth, Devon on 1 January 1873 and enlisted as Plumber's Mate on 13 June 1894. He joined the crew of Barrosa on 31 July 1897 and served with them off the Cape of Good Hope Station during the Anglo-Boer War, a small ship she was entitled to less than 200 medals of which some fifty were returned.

Hill remained with her until May 1901 when he was posted to the books of Vivid II and presumably left South Africa. Still in service in 1912 he is listed as dying as a result of drowning on 22 December 1912, investigations into the tragedy rendered the verdict of suicide.