TOPIC:

A recent medal trade brought a number of medals into my hands. Most would not be a proper subject for this Forum, but one is. A two clasp QSA to AB TIMOTHY MULLANE , RN, HMS DORIS.

The only paperwork to come with this medal was a single copied page from ADM 171/54 which provided the information that MULLANE had landed at Simonstown on 28 Nov 1899 for service in the field. His father was John Mullane of Shanagarry, Co. Cork and did not receive any pay or allowance from his son.
With some searching I discovered TIMOTHY MULLANE was born on 18 March 1878 in Killeagh, Cork. Killeagh is a small village approx. 32 km from Cork.
WO 100/231 confirmed the two clasps, CAPE COLONY and PAARDEBERG, were issued and that his official number was 181,569. At this point I consulted several published sources on my book shelves. Feyver and Wilson's "The QSA to the RN and RM" also confirmed the two clasps and noted that MULLANE was one of only four sailors from DORIS to be issued those two clasps. From "The Times History", Vol II, "Naval Brigades in the SA War" and "Afloat and Ashore" it would appear that sailors from the DORIS joined Grants Guns about that time and crewed "Little Bobs", a 4.7 inch Naval Gun. After PAARDEBERG and befor the qualifying period for RELIEF OF LADYSMITH, a small number of DORIS sailors were invalided to Simonstown. Very likely this included MULLANE.

I thought I had reached the limit of my available material. But then several evenings later while at my desk in the Study I chanced to glance at a stack of CD files on medals. I pulled the Sailors Died in WW I title from Naval and Military Press and on a whim entered MULLANE. Up popped a file. MULLANE is shown as Killed/Died as a result 0f Enemy Action on 25 Jan 1917. His body was never found. He was on board the HMS LAURENTIC, a White Star Liner converted to an armed merchant cruiser. LAURENTIC had struck a mine off the Irish coast. She sank with 354 lives lost as well as 43 Tons of gold ingots.

Checking CWGC I found MULLANE was commemorated on the Memorial at the Plymouth Naval Memorial. MULLANE was age 39, and was survived by his wife, Julia, living at 22, Ethyl Road, Customs House, London, East.

I must now give all the credit to several fellow BMF members who provided assistance to continue MULLANEs story. TIMOTHY joined the RN at age 18, on 1 Sept 1894 (according to his service records he was born 18 March 1878 - So did he lie a bit and enlisted at age 16 ? ). He was 5'-7" tall, brown hair, hazel eyes and of fresh complexion. His trade was listed as Laborr, He had continuous RN service until 9 April 1908. His character was always shown as VG. On 9 April 1908 his record notes "shore clasp" ( I am not sure what means ). On 10 April 1908 MULLANE joined RFR at Devonport B.

The 1911 England and Wales Census taken on 2 April 1911 lists TIMOTHY and Julia as living at 14, Ethyl Road, Customs House, London. TIMOTHY is 34 and Julia as 33 and married for five years. (1905 ?). Both are listed as born in Co. Cork. MULLANEs occupation is Sailor (Boatswain) "worker on ship".Did he give himself a promotion ?

SERVICE IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR - From 7 April 1914 MULLANE is shown as serving on OCEAN, ALBION and LAURENTIC. The first two are of interest as they were both predreadnought battleships. MULLANE joined OCEAN on 2 August 1914. In 1915 OCEAN was assigned to the Dardanelles Expedition Fleet. On 18 March 1915 OCEAN attempted to tow IRRESTIBLE out of Erenkui Bay on the Turkish Coast where she had been damaged by a mine. This proved impossible and after rescuing survivors and making for the sea, OCEAN struk a drifting mine. The crew and survivors off IRRESTIBLE were taken off and OCEAN was left to sink. This was MULLANEs first encounter with a mine. MULLANE served on ALBION until 18 May 1916 when he was awarded a Clasp For Good Conduct and returned to VIVID. On 1 Nov 1916 MULLANE joined LAURENTIC. On 25 Jan 1917 LAURENTIC struk two mines laid the previous two days by U-80 and sank, MULLANE is noted as Discharged/Dead on ADM 171/110 and that his Star, War and Victory Medals were issued to Ww- War Widow.

Naturally I would like to know more about his service with the Naval Brigade and to locate his Trio and Plaque. And anything to further his story.
Thanks for reading this, Baden Powell