Description
Queen’s South Africa, no bar, British War Medal, Royal Naval Long Service & Good Conduct, GV, Chief Armorer William Richard Warren, Royal Navy, Chief Armourer of HMS Blake during WW1.
QSA officially impressed: “W.R. Warren Arm. Crew. H.M.S. Pearl”
BWM officially impressed: “343003 W.R. Warren Ch. Amr. R.N.”
LSGC officially impressed: “343003 W.R. Warren. Armr H.M.S. Blake.” official correction to service number.
Also entitled to the 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal for WW1.
LSGC awarded 30th June 1915 during the war.
William Richard Warren, was born on 2nd June 1879 in Devonport, Devon. Son of William and Eliza. His father worked at HM Dockyard. Likewise his Grandfather Richard Warren (Born 1821) was a Stoker in the Royal Navy.
He was a Toolsmith when he joined the Royal Navy on 9th September 1899 signing on directly as Armourers Crew at hMS Cambridge.
His tattoos were noted as: “Woman’s head and a snake on arm. Peacock on left arm. Eagle and Snake on his chest.”
During the Boer War he served as Armourer’s Crew on HMS Pearl from 7th December 1901 until 29th November 1904.
Leading up to joining the Blake in 1914 he saw service on many ships including:
HMS Simoon, HMS Cambridge, HMS Defiance (March 1910 to Feb 1911, Torpedo Training School), HMS Cambridge, HMS Forth, HMS New Zealand (1907-1909), HMS Diana (1911-1913).
https://royalnavyrecordsww1.rmg.co.uk/view/343003?name%5Bforename%5D=&name%5Bsurname%5D=&name%5BofficialNumber%5D=&name%5Boccupation%5D=&name%5BbirthDate%5D=&name%5BbirthDateFrom%5D=&name%5BbirthDateTo%5D=&name%5BdischargeDate%5D=&name%5BdischargeDateFrom%5D=&name%5BdischargeDateTo%5D=&name%5BbirthPlace%5D=&name%5BbirthCounty%5D=&name%5BbirthCountry%5D=&name%5BdischargeReason%5D=&name%5Brank%5D=&name%5BwhereBuried%5D=&name%5BnextOfKin%5D=&name%5Bmedals%5D=&name%5Bship%5D=vivid&name%5BserviceDate%5D=&name%5BserviceDateFrom%5D=&name%5BserviceDateTo%5D=&name%5BbattleName%5D=&name%5Bsubmit%5D=&date-of-birth=date&discharge=date&served-on-ship=date&sort=n.birthCounty&direction=asc&page=704
Promoted to Armourer’s Mate on 7th December 1905 at HMS Vivid II.
Promoted to Armourer at HMS Vivid, 1st August 1913.
Joined HMS Blake before the war on 2nd May 1914 and served through the entire war on board until 22nd October 1919.
During the War the Blake served as the Depot Ship for the 11th Destroyer Flotilla being attached to the Grand Fleet.
http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Eleventh_Destroyer_Flotilla_(Royal_Navy)
During that time he saw numerous promotions becoming Chief Armourer of the ship.
Promoted to Acting Chief Armourer on 12th June 1915 then Chief Armourer on 12th January 1916.
Finished out his last service on HMS Colleen II in the Irish Sea.
Shore pensioned on 26th October 1921.
His character on every occasion was recorded as “Very Good” or “Exemplary”.
He later died in Plymouth on 26th April 1945.
