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 George AVON & son George Charles AVON - Coastguards?
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| Sturdy |
Posted on 06/12/2010 09:00
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 New Member  Posts: 3 Joined: 06/12/2010 |
New to this forum so I apologise if I have gone about this the wrong way however I am trying to find out what I can about my wife's great-grandfather and great Uncle who were apparently both in the Coastguard primarily in Ireland. What little is known is as follows; The 1881 a census had George AVON living at the Coastguard buildings at Tyneham, Dorset. George AVON was recorded as being the head of the family and employed with the Royal Navy Coastguard. He was recorded as being aged 41 and that he had been born in Ireland. Also present was his wife Catherine, aged 37, who also had been born in Ireland. The children; Hannah, aged 12 born in Clifton, Gloucestshire, England Mary, aged 11 born in Somerset, Portishead Catherine, aged 6 born in Ireland. Elizabeth, aged 4 born at Portland, Dorset, England Tresa, aged 3 born at Porland, Dorset, England George aged 1 also born at Porland, Dorset, England George (then aged 1) is believed to have gone on and served in the Coastguard for a lenghty period including during WW1. On the 11th May, 1887 a further child was born being my wife's grandfather Joseph AVON. Joseph was born Dunmore East. It was recorded that his father (George AVON) was a member of the Coasguard – Dunmore East, and the mother was Kate AVON formerly McCARTHY. The birth was ofiicially registered on the 15th June, 1887 in the District of Woodston, County Waterford. We have photos of George senior and his wife in Ireland around 1910, and of his son in Navy uniform around WW1. We would love to find out more about what they did and postings if possible - any informantion or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 06/12/2010 13:53
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 Administrator  Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Welcome to the Forum. I think the best place to start for both father and son are their service records, which can be downloaded from the National Archives (NA) website. There are two for George Snr., this is for his pre and post 1873 service. These will not provide any family information, but will provide a list of all the ships they were on, or CG station at which they served. http://www.nation...5Fdate+asc If it transpires that George Snr served on HMS Bittern in 1873-74, then I can confirm that he was awarded a no clasp Ashanti medal. George Charles received the 1915 Star, Victory Medal and British War medal that was sent to the CG at Queenstown. The award of the Star suggest that he served at sea in addition to a CG Station during the war. In addition to the above there are also two free downloads re George Jnr from the NA website, these are ADM 175/82A (page 117 of 1093) and ADM 175/88 (page 135 of 371). Both provide a little family information, although it has to be admitted not much! Martin . Edited by crimea1854 on 06/12/2010 14:19 |
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| bpa |
Posted on 06/12/2010 15:17
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Senior Member  Posts: 134 Joined: 11/11/2009 |
George Avon (father George Avon) and Catherine (Kate) MaCarthy (father Denis MacCarty) married in RC parish of Cobh in 1868 - there is a parish record which can be bought from www.rootsireland.ie. There is also a GRO record. George Avon was alive and living in Cork in 1901 see the 1901 Census entry http://www.census...t/1163134/. In the 1911 census there is only Kate and Joseph. There is a GRO death record for George in 3Q 1910 - estimate dob 1842. There is a GRO birth record for daughter Rose Mary in Waterford in 3Q 1885. In the 1911 census Kate Avon indicates there were 10 children born & living which means there are 2 more unidentified. If the census entry is a mistake and George Avon is in Waterford from about 1882 then the following are possible children: Bernard John Avon b. 1883 d. 1885 Waterford and Winifred Avon b 1882-d1885 Waterford. Need to check GRO to be sure. Edited by bpa on 06/12/2010 17:49 |
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| Sturdy |
Posted on 07/12/2010 07:38
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New Member Posts: 3 Joined: 06/12/2010 |
Martin and BPA thank you very much for the prompt reply. Martin, in regards to George Snr I accessed his 2nd file as pointed out (1873) onwards however I couldn't find his first. Would you have any informantion about the commencement of his service to 1873. George was on the “Bittern” from the 1st January, 1873, as an Able Seaman, until the 3rd August, 1874 at which time he joined “Lord Warden”. Does that fit in with the Ashanti campiagn. I hope so as we were never aware of any active service or medals. I am not sure if he would have qualified for the Long Service medal? The possibly that he saw active service is very exciting news - I hope it all fits. BPA in regards to the other chidlren I am told 2 or 3 died within 18 months of each other whilst they were at Dunmore Coastguard station so the children you mentioned are likely to be the ones. The name AVON is fairly rare in Ireland and I think all the ones I can find are closely related. I am not sure where they came from but George snr was born in Cobh (Queenstown in 1839) Again many thanks - regards Mick (Sturdy). PS I have tried to upload g George service record. I hope I have managed to do it correctly. |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 07/12/2010 08:44
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Mike This is George Snrs early service record http://www.nation...ultcount=5 . The fact that you have confirmed he was on Bittern means it is the same man. To find if he was awarded a LSGC Medal you need to consult his Service Record where you would see a note something like 'Traced M' with a date, which would indicate the award of this medal. Both the Ashanti and LSGC Medals were issued named, so who knows they may both be out there somewhere! Regards Martin |
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| Sturdy |
Posted on 08/12/2010 09:10
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New Member Posts: 3 Joined: 06/12/2010 |
Thanks Martin for the link to George AVON's service records. Having obtained the file it has taken his service back another 10 years. He in fact joined up for an initial 10 years on the 1st Januray, 1861 and served at least to the 28th April, 1882. There is a notation for something at the bottom of his file in regards to 14-6-88 so he may have been serving up until then (27 years service) I can't make out the 1st ship he worked on (or base?) which appears to be San Parviel ???? or something like that. It is listed Ship Book Number 5/600 if that means anything to you. He also served on the Balck Prince, Warrior, Bittern and a couple of others I can't make out. A lot more detail in this file so it gets better all the time. Thanks again Mick (in Australia) |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 08/12/2010 14:19
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Mike I think the ship you are after is HMS Sans Pareil. On the question of the number, when a man signed on he was entered onto the ships books and given a number. The ships book recorded his age, marital status, physical description, where born, previous ships served on etc. The same number was used in the Muster Books to record his pay. Because there were different lists for the crew - Warrant Officers, Crew, Boys, Marines etc., the first number indicates the List No., and the second his actual number on that list. As you are most probably aware HMS Warrior is preserved in Portsmouth Dockyard, and well worth a visit - difficult for you in Australia  . As the next best thing you could visit this website http://www.hmswar... , and finally Black Prince was her sister ship, and almost identical.Regards Martin . Edited by crimea1854 on 08/12/2010 19:34 |
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