24.
Jan. 30, 2011

I came across your website whilst browsing the internet and thought you may be interested to know that I have two original photographs of the crew and officers of HMS Lion (photos on page 2). My Grandfather, Percy Johnson, was a crew member and is shown in the main photograph just above Lord Beatty (he is the only one with a beard). I have attached his service record which is seen below.

Regards
Kevin Kay

23.
June 9, 2010

I wonder if you or anyone can assist me. I am trying to trace my late grandfather Frederick Benjamin Bolt who served on the HMS Lion as a boy sailor (he would have been aged around 15-18) but jumped ship at New Zealand in 1912. I am trying to trace his side of the family, but am having no luck as I think he falsified his WWI Army records to cover the fact that he exited the Royal Navy in a somewhat unauthorized manner. If there is a crew list or similar, it would be a good start to the search. Many thanks for any assistance that can be given.

Lea Doughty
New Zealand

22.
Mar. 24, 2010

I am helping a relative with her family history. Her Grandmother's brother was Petty Officer Stoker GEORGE NEWLAND, who served on HMS Lion and was killed at the Battle of Jutland on 31/5/1916. Anyone out there who may have a photo or be related to this man, would be very pleased to hear from them.

Thank you,
Kate Probyn

21.
May 24, 2009

I am doing some family history, and I came across a ship's hat with a talley band of HMCS Tiger.  My Great Uncle name was Levi Stanley Jack, born 23 June 1887.  Do you have any ship's company list?

Jack Barrie

20.
May 13, 2009

I also have a painting by J. Glendinning (see Art of HMS Lion). My grandfather served on HMS Lion and a painting of the ship had hung on the garage wall since I was a child. I now have the painting, an oil on canvas measuring 24" by 12". It is signed by J. Glendinning RMA and has H.M.S. Lion above that but has no further markings. It shows the ship steaming with white ensign flying and there are white cliffs showing ahead of the bow. It does look very similar to the painting "Straights of Dover" on the web site although the ensign is flying from the rear flagstaff behind the chimney rather than the stern.

I did try and research the name Glendinning but could not trace one to the ship. The family history has it that grandfather swapped his beer rations for the painting. According to military records my grandfather was on HMS Lion between 1917 and1918.

Steve White (grandson)
Townsville, Australia

19.
Mar. 27, 2009

Further to previous posts, I have an oil painting by J. Glendinning, inscribed "Bringing in the Wounded Lion" (see the Art of HMS Lion) depicting the listing ship being towed in under the Forth Bridge, after the Dogger Bank battle, I presume.   On the back is inscribed ' Painted on board HMS Lion'.  Three years or so ago I enquired of the Maritime Museum about him, and they said they did not know of him as a war artist, but suggested I try the crew list. They suggested RMA might mean Royal Marines. Since then a  J. Glendinning has shown up in the internet art sales index Findartinfo.

Peter Marsden, 
Yorkshire, England

18.
Jan. 30, 2009

My grandfather, Percy McGinnes, was injured whilst serving on HMS Lion at the battle of Heligoland Bite. He
was gunnery crew at the time. I remember my grandmother at one time telling me about a telegram received from the Admiralty saying his injuries were unknown but had been injured. He continued to serve in the navy mainly instructing on gunnery at HMS Drake in Devonport into the 1950s.   

R. Yates
(grandson)

17.
Jan. 27, 2009

My Grandfather Charles Richard Bayliss served on HMS Lion during the Battle of Jutland as a Stoker can any one tell me if I can find any records for him of his Naval service please.

Clive Roberts

16.
Jan. 5, 2009

Can anyone help me? I believe my grandfather served on HMS Lion during the battle of Jutland, his name was Frank Chance Smith, and I think he was a yeoman of signals. I have had no luck at present finding his service record. Any information would be wonderful.

Regards,
Greg Smith

15.
Nov. 19, 2008

My grandfather's brother Herbert Richard Ballard (Bert) served on HMS Lion at Jutland. He was a signaler and is reputed to have always told his family that he sent the signal that started the battle. Does anyone know anything about this? I have a photo of him and 4 friends, probably from Lion, which I would be happy to copy to anybody interested. I also have a postcard sent by Bert reporting that he had left Dungavel and was on his way to Haslar Hospital. I understand he was later sent to Truro hospital.

Bob Ballard

Crewmen on HMS Lion, Herbert Richard Ballard is first on right.

Frank Clarke, veteran of the Battle of Jutland (center).

14.
Nov. 14, 2008

What an amazing website. I came across it after researching my family tree and finding that my great uncle served on HMS Lion. I've been trying to find out information on HMS Lion and there you were. Even more fascinating is that I looked through your Roll of Honour to see my great uncle listed.  He would be Stark, A.E who died on 19 June 1919. He was actually Albert Edward Gibson-Stark (I'm guessing he dropped the Gibson part as
double barrelled people of stoker class were probably few and far between!).

He very sadly died of appendicitis which led to peritonitis in Greenwich Hospital and I am extremely proud to say he is buried at Greenwich Royal Naval Cemetery. Thank you Michael for the work you have put in to your website, it made me really proud to see his name on the Roll of Honour.

Kindest regards,
Alison Gibson-Stark

13.
Sept. 22, 2008

I have been asked to sell an original oil on canvas painting (see The Art of HMS Lion) of the H.M.S. Lion by the British painter J. Glendinning R.M.A. Would anyone be able to provide any information on the artist and what the letters R.M.A. signify after his name? The painting measures 23" by 11" in size and is mounted in its original black frame from the period. If anyone is interested in the painting, please feel free to contact me.

Regards,
Marc Tielemans

12.
Sept. 4, 2008

My Grandfather Edwin Lammas served on HMS Lion in the Battle of Jutland and was a gunner. He was a Royal Marine Corporal and was personal orderly to Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty. The gun emplacement next to his was blown to pieces and after the battle had to pick up the remains of his ship mates to bury at sea. In all he served twenty years in the Marines and was personal orderly to ten different Admirals. I have more information on his service history and photos if any one is interested. (Edwin Thomas Lammas RMA Photo Collection)

Regards,
David M. Butland

Royal Marine Edwin T. Lammas is seen in the middle row, third from left.

 

Overall view of the original photo showing notes of ships served on and commanders served under.

11.
Aug. 25, 2008

My grandfather served on HMS Lion at Jutland, he was a stoker first class on the ship. I am trying to get a crew list of those that served with my grandfather at Jutland to add to the folder I have put together for my Grandchildren. I hope there is someone out there who can help me? My grandfathers name was Jack William Lewis Crisp.

Best regards,
Mr Lewis Munro

10.
July 28, 2008

Thank you for the wonderful photos of H.M.S. Lion. My Grandfather, George Went, was also a stoker on this ship, he was badly injured, losing all the flesh from his legs, when the boilers burst, at the Battle of Jutland, he was, I believe, invalided out of the Navy. Admiral David Beatty gave my Grandmother a beautiful shawl. My Grandfather was a Navel Man until the day he died. God Bless them all.

Mavis Upchurch

9.
June 19, 2008

My great granfather Frederick Harrop born 1894 was a crew member HMS LION during Jutland however don't know in what capacity would love to find out a crew list if there is one? Any photos of the crew would be great. Great site by the way Michael.

Jason Cole
ex-submariner HMS Osiris

8.
Apr. 3, 2008

My grandfather Joined the navy in 1910 at the age of 20 and served on HMS Lion from 1912 until 1922 when
he was demobbed after serving 22 years. He started his career as a stoker but finished up as a chief petty
officer.

He saw service throughout the first world war and won 10 medals , He won a CGM for flooding the magazine that prevented  the direct hit on Q turret from blowing the ship apart, He organized the rescue party for the wounded including the marine officer Frances Harvey VC who had both his legs blown off and later died from his wounds. His CGM was later awarded in 1917.

During the second world war he was recalled and served aboard HMS Hecla which was torpedoed East of Gibraltar by U515 in Nov 42.

He survived that war also and lived to a grand old age of 93. I have some more pictures of HMS lion including a postcard from the victory parade through London of the crew in 1918 as well as a couple of pictures of him in uniform (one as a stoker circa 1912, the other as petty officer circa 1919). Let me know if you want them for your site!

Jim  McGovern

7.
Jan. 19, 2008

I was asked to research Dreadnoughts for my school history and I found a postcard of HMS Lion in a local shop (Scarborough). Written on the back was a message from  Ernest Hornby to his Mother in Wandsworth. I would like to find out if he did indeed serve on HMS Lion and if he survived the War, his card is dated 1913.

Alasdair Hughs

(Front photo is in the photo gallery)

6.
Jan. 19, 2008

My Grandfather Patrick Owens served as a stoker on Lion, we are still in possession of an oil painting entitled,
"Battle of Heligoland Bight HMS Lion leading" but it is unsigned. My grandfather told us that it was painted by a shipmate who was killed and he obtained it when his belongings were sold or raffled off and the money sent to his family, I also have my Grandfathers "Diddy or Dicky" box that they kept there most treasured possessions in. As previous correspondents have said, any photos would be great.

Tom Owens

5.
Nov. 24, 2007

My great-great uncle was Herbert Thorpe (Stoker First Class) who died in action at the battle of Jutland on HMS Lion. I would be interested in any photographs of the stokers or crew of HMS Lion.

Regards,
Philip Smith

4.
July 3, 2007

My Grandfather, William Joseph Jones served on the Lion from Feb. 1915 to May 1917 as a Stoker. Does anyone have information or photos of the Stokers?

Many Thanks,
Paul Roach

3.
Apr. 30, 2007

My neighbours grandfather served on HMS Lion 1912 to 1915 under Admiral Beatty his name was James Pow any info will be helpful to her. James Pow was one of the casualties and does anyone know were I can reach the records for that era.

Thanking you kindly,
Mrs. E Shackleton

2.
Apr. 2, 2007

My Uncle was on H.M.S.Lion in battle of Jutland. He was injured by shrapnel. His name was William Jones (Born in Bristol in 1893). I just thought I'd like to add the info to your data base.

Thanks
M.J.J.
East Sussex, England

1.
Feb. 21, 2007

Have just received, from my sister in America, a couple of letters from my grandmothers brother who served on the Lion. Or at least the address at the top of the letter was HMS Lion, GPO. Just reading them was very interesting as he said that "he had got through the war quite safe so far and hoped to see it finished quite safe as well".

Many thanks,
Gary Chambers

Grandmother's brothers name was R.G. Green.