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 HMS Ajax
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| PaddyTWo |
Posted on 26/10/2011 16:42
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 New Member  Posts: 6 Joined: 05/11/2010 |
My GG Grandfather - William Wick, served three terms in the navy / coastguards starting in 1854 (he was 19) on HMS Spiteful, (54 - 57) then Conway (57 - 58) and then on HMS Ajax (58-62). He subsequently served on HMS Leopard, Royal George, Pallas, Vanguard, Iron Duke, Topaz (e) Hecate and lastly Bellisle. Ajax of course is the most memorable as he was awarded the Tayleur Fund medal for bravery on the night that Capt Boyd was lost (Feb 1861). Does anyone know where I could get details of the crew of Ajax on that night. All I can find are those that were drowned in the storm And of course anything else anyone may know about William Wick. (Born Wyndam (Windham) Norfolk either 1st or 20th May 1835 (one is probably his baptismal date - I understand that sometime marniers gave that date and not birth dates. Any help or pointing in the right direction would be most appreciate. KInd regards Kieran |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 27/10/2011 08:26
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 Administrator  Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Hi Kieran You would be able to see the full crew list in both the Muster Book (ADM 38/5530) and the Ship's Description Book (ADM 38/7476). The latter covers the period 1858-64) so you would have to work out who was actually on the ship in 1861, however, you would get far more information about the individual men than from the Muster Book alone. Unfortunately both of these documents have to be consulted in person at the National Archives, Kew. I should point out that William Wick may not have been aboard Ajax that night. HMS Ajax was the HQ ship for one of the two Irish Coast Guard Districts, and men working ashore at landbased CG Stations appeared on the Ships Establishment, only serving on her during summer training cruises. Martin Edited by crimea1854 on 27/10/2011 08:33 |
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| PaddyTWo |
Posted on 27/10/2011 09:44
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New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 05/11/2010 |
Martin THanks for your fast and informative response. I think I have gathered as much info on him at this stage without going to Kew - so I guess I might plan a trip over soon! As to him not being on the ship - that is interesting. I presume he was involved with the rescue attempts as he was awarded a Tayleur Fund medal so more that likely was on shore with the rest of the crew that night, as the rescue, from what I have gathered, was from the pier in DunLaoghaire and not from the ship. ( I could be wrong!) The other thing I am not so sure about was when he came to be a coast guard and not just a navy man - or did he ever? I am under the impression that " Coastguards" of that time literally "guarded the coast" and the ships were equipped with cannons etc. I must say I find it very interesting - and am glad that he was born in Norfolk as I can trace him much further back than I can the "Irish" side of the family! KInd regards and thanks again for your help Kieran |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 27/10/2011 10:16
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Hi Kieran Having consulted the CG Establishment Books I am now inclined to believe that he was on board Ajax on the fateful day. He does not appear in the nomination books, which only go up to 1862, this suggests that he entered the CG service after this date. The first entry I've managed to find for him is in ADM 175/41 pdf 134 this shows that he had been posted to Baldoyle prior to 1869. He seems to have remained at this station, at least until 1877 (ADM 175/43 pdf 234 and ADM 175/44 pdf 201). After this date the CG Books covering Ireland no longer exist, and you have to rely on the mans Service Record in the ADM 188 series. However, what I did gleen from these records is that he was awarded his third Good Conduct (GC) badge on 13 March(?) 1871, and that he was advanced to Commissioned Boatman - a petty officer in the CG Service - on 1 November 1875. On the question of his medals, as you say he was awarded the Crimea medal with the clasp 'Sebastopol' additionally he received the Turkish Crimea Medal. Given his length of service he might have qualified for the RN Long Service Good Conduct medal that would be noted on his service record, sometimes by the cryptic note 'Traced M' and a date. Martin Edited by crimea1854 on 28/10/2011 14:35 |
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| PaddyTWo |
Posted on 28/10/2011 12:43
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New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 05/11/2010 |
Martin - again thanks for your info. And apologies for even more questions Can I ask is the CG Establishment Book - on line or in Kew? His service record (the writing isnt the best) I think say that he joined the coastguard either when he was commissioned to the Royal George in 1866 from his service on HMS Leopard or after he left the Royal George (August 1869). I think its unusual but he seems to have two service records - presumably one for the navy and one for the coastguard? He was a petty officer 1st class (April 78 to August 78) and Commissioned Boatman 27-08-78 to 13-09-84 after which he was pensioned (ADM 188 \ 61 - 443) I have found the Traced M - 21-12-82 and also Traced P 22-08-84 - I presume this was when he was "pensioned off" He also spent 6 weeks in "Gaol" from the 30th June to 5th August 1867 and I guess Id have to check his record in Kew to find out why! I havent yet gotten the other ADM's you mention - I will do so and thanks again for all your help. It gives me a sense of the man the more I find out about him! Thanks again Kieran |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 28/10/2011 14:33
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Kieran The ADM 175 series of records are available as free downloads from the National Archives website, but one word of caution, these are very large files! The first ADM reference I gave does mention Royal George as his last ship. I did initially think that, as with Ajax, he could have been working at a landbased CG Station, but perhaps he was a permanent member of the crew, transferring into the CG Service in 1869 to work at Baldoyle. The naval service records are only determined by date and not service i.e. Navy or CG. The ADM 139 series are pre 1873 and the ADM 188 post 1873. Hope this makes things a little clearer. Martin |
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| PaddyTWo |
Posted on 29/11/2011 16:51
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New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 05/11/2010 |
Martin A quick update - I have actually found his Tayleur Fund Medal - it was sold in December 2010 and I found the catalogue reference about it! There were two Crimea medals sold as a package with the Tayleur Fund medal - but they are not his, we have those in the family still! I have be able to get in touch with the auction house and they will be send on my mails to the new owner - so fingers crossed that I can purchase it back! At least I know it still exists! THanks for your help and Ill let you know how I get on! Kind regards Kieran |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 30/11/2011 07:27
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Administrator Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Kieran Best of luck with the medal. I made a similar approach, via an auction house, and acquired photographs of a man whose Crimea Medals I have in my collection. Martin |
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| willoughr |
Posted on 30/11/2011 13:20
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 Member  Posts: 46 Joined: 03/05/2007 |
Hi Kieran I am very interested to hear of your association with William Wick as he features in a book I am working on about Irish lifesaving. Below is the draft entry for Wick. I would be interested in any biographical information you can add on him, especially his date of death. Best wishes Roger Wick, William. AB, HMS Ajax. Tayleur Fund Medal in silver. 9.2.1861. Dublin. Award: For bravery in attempting to save lives at Kingstown on 9 February 1861 when the Neptune and several other ships were wrecked during a gale. See John McNeil Boyd for further details. Provenance: Wick’s medal, engraved ‘To William Wick, H.M.S. Ajax, for Distinguished Gallantry in saving of life at Kingstown, 9th Feby. 1861. The Rt. Honble. Lord Talbot de Malahide, Chairman’, formed part of the Lt Col G L Palmer collection in 1914 (War Medal Collection Catalogue, Lackham, 1914, p. 88). It was more recently was sold by BDW, 6 May 1992, lot 284, VF, £280. It was then in a UK private collection paired with British and Turkish Crimea medals, both unnamed, and was then sold at DNW, December 2010. Biographical details: Born in Windham (Wymondham), Norfolk, in May 1835 the son of William and Hannah Wick, William Wick joined HMS Spiteful as an Ordinary Seaman on 31 July 1854. He served with that ship in the Crimean War, for which he gained the British and Turkish Crimea Medals. Wick left the Spiteful on 23 May 1857 and less than two months later was mustered aboard HMS Conway on 8 July 1857, volunteering for continuous service on 1 November that year (CS no 34967 and later 4446B). He moved on 1 February 1858 to HMS Ajax, wherein he was promoted Able Seaman on 1 April 1859, Leading Seaman on 21 May 1861, and Coxswain of the Pinnace on 1 December 1861. On 16 October 1862 Wick transferred to HMS Leopard as Captain of the Hold, serving as Captain of the Mast from 18 February 1864. Wick reverted to the rank of Able Seaman on 1 November 1864. He transferred to HMS Royal George on 30 September 1866 and was in time promoted to Captain of the Mast on 27 May 1867 and Quarter Master on 30 June 1867. On 5 August that year Wick was imprisoned for a month in the civil gaol, returning to his ship on 7 September. What his offence had been is unclear, but it did not appear to severely affect his navy career as he was appointed Boatswain’s Mate on 14 November that same year. Agreeing to a further 10 years continuous service on 2 February 1868, Wick was around this time described as being then married (see probably Dublin North Register District, 1859, vol. 9, p. 579), 5’ 8” tall, with a dark complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, and vaccinated against smallpox. He remained aboard the Royal George until 22 August 1869, when he transferred to the Coastguard. Ranked now as a Boatman, Wick was apparently stationed at Baldoyle, Co Dublin, where he was promoted Commissioned Boatman on 1 November 1875 (at which time he was numbered ON 74086). Having qualified for his Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on 21 December 1882, William Wick retired from the service on a pension on 13 September 1884 (TNA ref: ADM 38/7843, ADM 38/8917, ADM 78/7476, ADM 115/25, ADM 139/350 and 845, and ADM 188/61). William Wick remained in Ireland following his retirement. His first wife appears to have died and in 1893 Wick married Elizabeth Warnock (c.1859-1931) (Dublin North Register District, Jan-March 1893, vol. 2, p. 554). By 1911 he was living at 29 Temple Street, Dublin, along with his wife Elizabeth (53), daughter Lillie Frances (17) and step-daughters Frances Warnock (30) and Esther Sarah Warnock (27) (1911 Irish census). Roger Willoughby
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| PaddyTWo |
Posted on 22/09/2012 15:42
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New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 05/11/2010 |
Roger Apologies for not replying sooner but I have recently started my own business and it has taken a toll on my research! I have a lot more info about William Wick and would be delighted to share with you. I even have photpgraphs of his Tayleur Fund medal - unfortunately it was sold at auction by an aunt before I knew about it. Please mail me at kobyrne@communications-consultants.ie and we can catch up. Kind regards Kieran |
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