Chief Petty Officer Shipwright 1 Walter Herbert Hammond Royal Navy
The Man Herbert Walter Hammond was born on Wednesday 29th January 1896 in Gillingham, Kent, son of William Walter a builder and contractor and Amelia Martha nee Horsfield. He had one sister Elsie Amelia (1902-1964), although his mother had given birth to a total of six children, four of whom sadly died shortly after being born.
In 1901 the family lived at 28 East Street, Gillingham and by 1911 at 38 Kingswood Road, Gillingham. On 1st September the same year having left school and aged just 15, Herbert enlisted into the Royal Navy at Chatham Yard as a Boy Shipwright with service number M.3508.
Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914 Herbert continued working for Dockyard Service, before being posted to HMS Pembroke II, a Royal Naval Air Station at Eastchurch between 1st September and 3rd November 1916. On 4th November he was posted to HMS Courageous, which had been laid down on 26 March 1915, launched on 5 February 1916 and completed the very day Herbert joined her company. He remained in Courageous until 2nd May 1918, being promoted to Shipwright II Class and seeing service in several conflicts including the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in late 1917.
Between 3rd May and 9th October 1918 he was back at Pembroke II and during this time (the third quarter of 1918) married Dorothy Mary Baker in Medway and they had two children, Truda Dorothy (1921-1998) and Robin William (1928-2006).
Shortly after he was posted to HMS Aquarius from 10th October 1918 to 17th February 1920, the day she was paid off at Chatham. For his war service Herbert was awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals.
In 1901 the family lived at 28 East Street, Gillingham and by 1911 at 38 Kingswood Road, Gillingham. On 1st September the same year having left school and aged just 15, Herbert enlisted into the Royal Navy at Chatham Yard as a Boy Shipwright with service number M.3508.
Following the start of World War I on 4th August 1914 Herbert continued working for Dockyard Service, before being posted to HMS Pembroke II, a Royal Naval Air Station at Eastchurch between 1st September and 3rd November 1916. On 4th November he was posted to HMS Courageous, which had been laid down on 26 March 1915, launched on 5 February 1916 and completed the very day Herbert joined her company. He remained in Courageous until 2nd May 1918, being promoted to Shipwright II Class and seeing service in several conflicts including the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in late 1917.
Between 3rd May and 9th October 1918 he was back at Pembroke II and during this time (the third quarter of 1918) married Dorothy Mary Baker in Medway and they had two children, Truda Dorothy (1921-1998) and Robin William (1928-2006).
Shortly after he was posted to HMS Aquarius from 10th October 1918 to 17th February 1920, the day she was paid off at Chatham. For his war service Herbert was awarded the 1914-18 British War and Victory Medals.
This was followed by several further postings:
Herbert was awarded his Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1935 whilst serving HMS Pembroke II and on 28th January 1936, was pensioned out of the Royal Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, aged 40 and after 25 years’ service. His service throughout was shown as, Character - Very Good and Efficiency – Superior.
The same year he was employed by the Admiralty at Chatham with his former trade, a Shipwright and was living with Dorothy at 116 Barnsole Road in Gillingham, his occupation shown in the 1939 register as Shipwright and Naval Pensioner.
On 3rd September 1939, World War II began and Herbert was recalled as Shipwright and posted to HMS Pembroke II and HMS Beaver 2 serving until 9th November 1942 when he was released as Class A aged 46, returning to his work with the Admiralty. He was awarded the Defence and War Medal 1939-45.
Herbert continued working as a Shipwright until he retired in 1960 aged 64 and upon his retirement awarded the Imperial Service Medal.
Herbert died on 17th February 1971 aged 75 and still living at 116 Barnsole Road, Gillingham. Dorothy lived a further 15 years and passed away on 22nd August 1986.
- MHS Pembroke II 18 Feb 1920 - 14 Jan 21 and promotion to Shipwright III
- HMS Royal Oak 15 Jan 21 - 2 Oct 22
- HMS Royal Sovereign 3 Oct 22 - 5 May 25 and promotion to Shipwright IV
- HMS Pembroke II 6 May 25
- HMS Ajax 7 May - 14 Jun 25
- HMS Castor 15 Jun - 18 Jul 25
- HMS Ajax 19 Jul - 12 Nov 25
- HMS Pembroke II 13 Nov - 14 Dec 25
- HMS Ark Royal 15 Dec 25 - 25 Mar 26
- HMS Pembroke II 26 Mar - 13 Apr 26
- HMS Birmingham 14 Apr 26 - 18 Sep 28
- HMS Pembroke II 19 Sep 28 - 13 Mar 29
- HMS Sussex 26 Mar 29 - 26 Oct 31
- HMS Pembroke II 27 Oct - 22 Aug 32
- HMS Boscawen a shore training establishment 23 Aug 32 - 30 Apr 34
- HMS Pembroke II 1 May 34 - 28 Jan 36
Herbert was awarded his Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1935 whilst serving HMS Pembroke II and on 28th January 1936, was pensioned out of the Royal Navy as a Chief Petty Officer, aged 40 and after 25 years’ service. His service throughout was shown as, Character - Very Good and Efficiency – Superior.
The same year he was employed by the Admiralty at Chatham with his former trade, a Shipwright and was living with Dorothy at 116 Barnsole Road in Gillingham, his occupation shown in the 1939 register as Shipwright and Naval Pensioner.
On 3rd September 1939, World War II began and Herbert was recalled as Shipwright and posted to HMS Pembroke II and HMS Beaver 2 serving until 9th November 1942 when he was released as Class A aged 46, returning to his work with the Admiralty. He was awarded the Defence and War Medal 1939-45.
Herbert continued working as a Shipwright until he retired in 1960 aged 64 and upon his retirement awarded the Imperial Service Medal.
Herbert died on 17th February 1971 aged 75 and still living at 116 Barnsole Road, Gillingham. Dorothy lived a further 15 years and passed away on 22nd August 1986.
The Story The medal group awarded to Herbert Walter Hammond were acquired from e-Bay on 6th September 2022 and of interest because of the Imperial Service and Royal Navy Long Service combination, a sub-theme of this collection.
With the medals came Herbert’s ISM award certificate and a fine portrait photograph. His details were very straightforward to locate on Ancestry, including several family tree entries, which together with his will enabled a reasonable biography to be completed.
The medals are mounted incorrectly with the Imperial Service Medal before the 1914-18 British War Medal, whereas it should be after the War Medal 1939-45 and before the RN Long Service Medal. They are however, as worn.
With the medals came Herbert’s ISM award certificate and a fine portrait photograph. His details were very straightforward to locate on Ancestry, including several family tree entries, which together with his will enabled a reasonable biography to be completed.
The medals are mounted incorrectly with the Imperial Service Medal before the 1914-18 British War Medal, whereas it should be after the War Medal 1939-45 and before the RN Long Service Medal. They are however, as worn.
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: M.3508. H.W.HAMMOND SHPT.4. R.N.
- Victory Medal: M.3508 H.W.HAMMOND SHPT.4. R.N.
- Defence Medal : Unnamed as awarded
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Imperial Service Medal: HERBERT WALTER HAMMOND
- Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: M.3508. H.W.HAMMOND. SHPT.1 H.M.S.PEMBROKE
This page last updated 29 Sep 22
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