A Blyth was born in 18312. As a man he stood 5' 8" tall, had dark eyes and complexion. He resided at 290 Wellington Street, Collingurra, Victoria. His occupation was a Seaman and he was employed as working on shore. He enlisted on 29/3/1871 and resigned from the service in 1872.
Records are extremely rare in the case of Colonial Navies, in particular the records of the men who served. Before Federation in 1901 five of the six separate colonies maintained their own naval forces for defence. The colonial navies were supported by the ships of the Royal Navy's Australian Station which was established in 1859. The separate colonies maintained control over their respective navies until 1 March 1901, when the Commonwealth Naval Forces was created.
Victorian Naval Forces
The Colony of Victoria commenced construction of its first armed vessel in 1853,[7] Victoria which was launched on 30 June 1855 and arrived in Victoria on 31 May 1856. Victoria carried out a large variety of tasks during its life, including taking part in the New Zealand Wars, assisting in the search for Burke and Wills, delivering the first trout eggs to Tasmania, as well as numerous surveying and rescue tasks.
In 1859 the first Naval Brigade was formed. The Brigade was re-organised in 1863 as a half-militia, re-formed in 1871 as the Victorian Naval Reserve as a full militia and re-formed again in 1885 as the Victorian Naval Brigade.
The Victorian Naval Forces comprised the permanent force known as the Victorian Navy, and a 300-strong Victorian Naval Brigade consisting of the Williamstown Division and the Sandridge (Port Melbourne) Division. Combined the Victorian Navy and the Victorian Naval Brigade were known as the Victorian Naval Forces. Following the success of Victoria, the Victorian colonial government ordered an ironclad ship, HMVS Cerberus and was gifted the composite steam-sail warship, Nelson.
In 1884 several more warships were purchased by Victoria, these included the first-class torpedo boat Childers and second-class torpedo boats Lonsdale, and Nepean and the third-class gunboats Victoria and Albert. In 1886 the turnabout torpedo boat Gordon was acquired. In 1892, the first-class torpedo boat, Countess of Hopetoun arrived in Victoria.
To supplement the ships of the permanent force a number of government vessels were modified so as to serve as gunboats or torpedo boats. The hopper barges Batman and Fawkner were modified so as to mount a six-inch breech-loading gun at the bow of each ship. Two machine guns were also fitted. Strengthening of the bow, the fitting of a magazine, shell room, crew quarters and some armour protection for the crew added two more gunboats to the fleet. A compressor fitted to Fawkner meant that the torpedo boats could be serviced at sea. The tug boat Gannet and steamer Lady Loch were likewise modified.
The Harbour Trust boats Commissioner and Customs No. 1 had two sets of torpedo dropping gear fitted to each boat thereby adding two more torpedo boats to the fleet. In 1885 the government steamers Lion and Spray were fitted with six-pounder Armstrong guns. Spray was later fitted with two sets of torpedo dropping gear.
Supporting the Victorian Naval Forces were the fortifications located at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay and other sites around the bay. In the years leading up to Federation the Victorian Naval Forces were considered the most powerful of all the colonial naval forces.
A Walter was born in 1847 and was working as a Stevedore at the time he enlisted in April 1877. He was described at that time as 5'7" tall, with dark eyes and a dark complexion. He was living at 14 Buckhurst Street, Emerald Hill Victoria. He resigned in 1884.
Arthur joined the Victorian Naval Reserve Forces in January 1876 and was described as having dark eyes and complexion, 5 ft 6 inches tall. He was living at 177 Graham Street, Sandridge Victoria (now Port Melbourne). The records show him still serving in 1880.
Barnard was born in 1840. He had dark eyes, Dark complexion and stood 5; 7.1/2" tall. His occupation as a Seaman and he was currently employed as a Stevedore on the Sandridge wharves., He was living in Stoke Street Sandridge at the time he enlisted on 10th July 1872. He resigned from service in 1884.
When Charles Abrams enrolled with the Victorian Naval Reserve Forces he was listed as having dark eyes, 5 ft 5.1/2 inches tall and with a dark complexion. His qualification was Seaman and he was currently employed as a Stevedore. His place of residence was Hoke St, Sandridge. It is noted that he resigned from the service on 30th June 1875.
Charles was born in 1831. As a grown man he had dark eyes, dark complexion and stood 5' 7.3/4" tall. His occupation was a seaman and he was employed as working on shore. He lived in Graham Street, Sandridge Victoria. He enlisted in the service on 29/3/1871 and resigned in 1885.
Charles was living at Ross Street, Sandridge Victoria (Now Port Melbourne) when he enrolled with the Victorian Naval Reserve Forces. He was listed a working as a Stevedore, with black eyes and dark complexion, and 5 ft 9 inches tall. He was a trained seaman.
Charles was born in 1843 and as an adult he was described as standing 5'8.1/2" tall, having dark eyes and a dark complexion. He was living at Abbotsford Street, Hotham Victoria and working on shore as a Labourer at the time of his enlistment in April 1876. He was employed in the Victorian Naval Reserve Forces as a Seaman and in 1885 transferred from the Sandridge location to the Williamstown Forces.
Charles was born in 1843, and he was described as having dark eyes and complexion and standing 5'5" tall. When he enlisted on 29/3/1871 he was living at Graham Street, Sandridge Victoria and working on shore as a Labourer. He resigned from the service in 1872.
Charles was born in 1840, and was described as standing 5'6" tall, having dark eyes and complexion. He was working on shore as a Labourer when he enlisted in October 1878. He resigned from the service in 1885.
Christopher was born in 1840. As an adult he was described as having dark eyes and a dark complexion. He had been employed as a Labourer when he enlisted in the Victorian Naval Reserve Force on 16/4/1872. At that time he was living at Douglas Street, Sandridge Victoria. After spending 6 years in the service, Christopher resigned in 1878.
Clarence was qualified as a Seaman and working as a Stevedore when he enrolled in the Victorian Naval Reserve Forces. He was living at the Esplanade, Sandridge Victoria (Currently Port Melbourne). He was described as being a Trained Man, with dark eyes and complexion and standing 5 ft 7 inches tall. He resigned from the service in October 1877.
Edward was born in 1827. As an adult he stood 5'7" tall, had dark eyes and a dark complexion. His occupation was a Seaman and he also worked as a Stevedore at the Sandridge wharves. He resided at Spring Street North, Sandridge Victoria. He enlisted on 4/9/1872 and resigned on 31/12/1873.
Elijah was born in 1844. As an adult he stood 5' tall, and he had dark eyes and a dark complexion. His occupation was a Seaman and at the time of his enlistment in 1880 he was working as a Storeman in Sandridge Victoria. He lived in Walter Street Sandridge. He resigned from the service in 1885.
Frank enrolled in the Victorian Naval Reserve Forces in 1875 and resigned in January 1876. His description on entering the service was Dark eyes, dark complexion and 5 ft 7 inches tall. He was qualified as a seaman by trade and currently residing at Brunswick St, Hotham, Victoria. It is odd that he joined in March 1875 and resigned in January 1876. On his record the name John Riddy follows on from his recordings.