Description
Naval General Service Medal, GVI, bar Palestine 1936-1939, KX78713 Frederick James Fay, Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy.
Officially impressed: “KX. 78713 F.J. Fay. Sto. 1. R.N.”
Confirmed on service papers. Earned this medal whilst onboard HMS Cyclops from 1935-7.
Earned the RN LSGC on 16th July 1942.
One of his early postings was over 2 years on the battleship HMS Hood from 16th March 1931 – 31st August 1933.
Notably during this period he was on the ship during the “Invergordon Mutiny”, a Mutiny by about 1,000 Sailors in the British Atlantic Fleet whist lasted from 15-16th September 1931.
10 Ships were involved in the Mutiny, HMS Hood being the flagship of the fleet that had arrived back in the UK, coming into the dock at Cromarty Firth in Scotland on 11th September 1931.
The men were incensed when they checked the local newspapers finding the Royal Navy were to cut all the sailors wages by 25%, it was supposed to be 10% but some loopholes meant that Junior Ratings who had joined up before 1925 could lose up to 25%
On the Hood, when the ships were due to leave the port on 15th September, the crew members prevented officers and senior ratings from unmooring the ship. The Royal Marines were called into quell this, but chose solidarity instead and joined the strike, leaving the ship stuck in the dock with the Officers powerless forcing the Admiralty to settle the dispute.
The mutiny ended up causing a massive panic on the London Stock Exchange as a result and a run on the pound, which greatly harmed Britain’s economy in the Great Depression period and forced it off the Gold Standard on 21st September 1931.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invergordon_Mutiny
Frederick James Fay was born in Byker, in the City of Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland on 10th January 1909.
The son of Timothy Faye, his wife had remarried taking the children and he was raised by his Stepfather in Newcastle.
Shortly after starting his Navy service he married in Newcastle to Sarah Coates Forster, whilst he was a Stoker of HMS Caradoc of Bermuda on 1st March 1930. (The ships had just returned back from Bermuda in February, he was likely waiting to get home to get married)
He worked as a Horse Driver before joining the Royal Navy as Stoker II Class on 6th September 1927.
Advanced after a year to Stoker 1st Class on 6th September 1928.
In the lead up to WW2, he served on HMS Hood from 1931-1933, HMS Caterham from 1933-34, HMS Saltburn from 1934-35.
Then HMS Cyclops from 30th Jan 1935 – 15th May 1937. Stationed at Malta at this time.
After a short period at HMS Victory II from May to December 1937, he was advanced on 1st Dec to Acting Leading Stoker.
He then joined HMS Caledonia from 8th December 1937 until 15th February 1939, during that time advanced to Leading Stoker on 1st Dec 1938.
With the outbreak of the war, he initially spent some time on board HMS Abderdare, borne on the Sultan II and then the Nile, from 1st October 1939 until 9th march 1941.
Joining HMS Derby from 20th may 1941 until at least September 1941.
He was on Board HMS Blenheim when advanced to Stoker Petty Officer (Temporary) on 7th February 1942.
During this time he earned his Naval LSGC Medal.
There is a gap on his papers which often don’t recall all the ships served during the war.
Coincidentally after the war was over he was a Petty Officer Stoker Mechanic who spent his last 2 years with Combined Operations on Landing Crafts, suggesting that in the war he took part in some of these Landing Craft operations.
The papers resume in 1947, where he saw some unusual ships service on various Landing Crafts, particularly “Landing Ship Tanks” Mark 8s.
HMS Rosneath (on HMS Reggio), 1st October 1947, as Petty Officer stoker Mechanic.
Then L.S.T. 3006 on 3rd May 1948.
Combined Ops 4045, 20th May 1948
LCT 4045, 16th June 1948
HMS Reggio , 1st July 1949 – until 3rd October 1949 when finally discharged to shore pension after his 22 year career.
HMS Reggio was known as “L.S.T. 3511” a Landing Ship Tank for landing troops during amphibious warfare.
In his retirement he returned home ot Newcastle, where he died during 1971.
