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HMS Rambler served between November 1899 and June 1900. She was commanded by Commander H E P Cust.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (J. Huntlea. Ord. HMS Rambler);
1914-15 Star (187687, J. Huntlea, A.B., R.N.);
BWM and VM (187687 J. Huntlea. L.S. R.N.);
Defence Medal (Obs: J. Huntlea R.O.C.), privately impressed;
Royal Fleet Reserve LS&GC GV, 1st issue (187687 (Ch. B. 3658) J. Huntlea. L.S. R.F.R.) officially re-impressed naming;
Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, GVI 1st issue (Joseph Huntlea.)

Joseph Huntlea was born in Bideford, Devon, on 5 October 1880, and entered naval service as a Boy 2nd Class on 27 February 1896, serving in HMS Impregnable. He served in Rambler during the Boer War, seeing promotion to Ordinary Seaman in October 1898 and Able Seaman in February 1901. Enrolling in the Royal Fleet Reserve in January 1906, he re-engaged for wartime service on 2 August 1914 as an Able Seaman in HMS Aboukir; later serving in shore bases and in HMS St George from 15 November 1915 to 30 April 1919, he was promoted to Leading Seaman on 27 June 1918. Demobilised in September 1919, he saw service on the Home Front during the Second War as member of the Royal Observer Corps. Initial observers were regarded as members of the Special Constabulary, which, perhaps, explains Huntlea’s Long Service Medal.

David,
A very nice naval group with much long service.
Another highly desirable QSA with just 76 no bar medals awarded to HMS Rambler.
I assume this group will be in the DNW sale on 12th November.
Steve

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (W. G. Mc.Leod. Ord. HMS Rambler.) small impressed naming;
BWM and VM (52017 1.A.M. W. G. McLeod. RAF)

Approximately 110 (0) Queen’s South Africa Medals awarded to HMS Rambler.

William Godfrey McLeod was born in Sidmouth, Devon, on 18 February 1880 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 23 July 1895. He joined HMS Rambler on 24 May 1898, served in her during the Boer War, and was promoted Able Seaman on 25 December 1900. Posted to HMS Nile on 17 May 1902, he ‘ran’ on 27 July 1902.

Following the outbreak of the Great War McLeod attested for the Royal Flying Corps on 15 December 1916, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 12 February 1917, transferring to the RAF on 1 April 1918. He transferred to the Reserve on 9 March 1919, and was discharged on 30 April 1920.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (C. H. Seeber. Sh. Std. HMS Rambler);
BWM 1914-20 (133475 C. H. Seeber. V.C.P.O. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC EdVII. (C. H. Seeber, Sh. Stewd., HMS Defiance.)

Charles Henry Seeber was born in East Stonehouse, Devon, on 29 May 1870, and was educated at the Greenwich Hospital School. He entered the Royal Navy as a Ship’s Steward Boy on 2 May 1885, and was advanced Ship’s Steward Assistant on 29 May 1888. Promoted Ship’s Steward on 12 October 1895, he joined HMS Rambler on 17 November 1897, served in her off South Africa during the Boer War, before transferring to HMS Defiance on 5 September 1900. He was awarded his Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 9 September 1903, before being pensioned on 26 May 1910.

He re-enlisted for service during the Great War on 2 August 1914 as a Ship’s Steward, and was advanced to Victualling Chief Petty Officer on 28 February 1918, serving throughout the War in HMS Victory I.

He was demobilised on 19 July 1919, having not served afloat or away from the United Kingdom during the War (and so not entitled to the Victory Medal), but was recalled to the service for one day from 10-11 April 1921 (most likely in respect of an Armistice Day parade).

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (S. J. Thornbarrow. A.B. HMS Rambler);
1914-15 Star (188515 S. J. Thornbarrow, P.O., R.N.);
BWM and VM 188515 S. J. Thornbarrow. P.O. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC GV, 1st issue (188515 S. J. Thornbarrow. P.O. HMS Pembroke.)

Samuel James Thornbarrow was born at Sydenham, Kent, on 20 June 1880, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 22 April 1896. He joined HMS Rambler in November 1897, was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in June 1898 and to Able Seaman in January 1900, and saw service off South Africa during the Boer War.

Thornbarrow attained Petty Officer status in May 1911 and during the Great War saw service in the river gunboat Scarab from December 1915 at Port Said. During 1917 she was deployed in support of military operations on the Danube, based at Bucharest.

He received his LS&GC medal in Pembroke in January 1920, was advanced to Chief Petty Officer on 1 March 1920, and was invalided out with poor eyesight on 25 August 1920.

Here is a photograph of HMS Rambler