I am researching Herbrand Edward Dundonald BrasseySackville, 9th Earl De La Warr, and his service in WW1, on board a minesweeper.
Theminesweeper was the “Lady Evelyn”, originally a passenger paddlesteamer, builtin Kinghorn, in Fife, by J. Scott and Company, in 1900, and requisitionedby the Admiralty, in WW1, for service as a minesweeper. This is not to be confusedwith the “HMCS Lady Evelyn”, which patrolled off the coast of Canada.
On the “UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972”,onAncestry.co.uk, Ifound an “Ed Sackville”, listed as a Deck Hand but no ship/boat was mentioned –nor, unfortunately, any date! Later, he apparently became an officer but I haveno proof of that, at the moment.
This must be,however, the same man as to the right of his name is written, “See De La Warr,Earl”. His father was KIA in late 1915, so he had inherited the title at theage of 15. He didn’t join the RNR, on the minesweeper, until 1918, when he was18, and the 9th Earl De La Warr.
I have assumedthat this was the “Lady Evelyn” but have nothing to connect the two together and that's where I could do with some help..
While he appearsas “Ed Sackville”, he was, also, so I believe, known as Lord Buck (because hewas also the Baron Buckhurst), and, possibly, variations of this, including “Bucky”– especially by his friends.
I am hoping thatsomeone on this forum can answer the following questions, please -
1 I’dlike to prove he was on board the “Lady Evelyn”, so does a list of the crewexist anywhere?
2 Is there any way to find out where the boatoperated – I assume around the coast of Britain - but is that so?
3. Can anyone help with discovering when he wasmade an officer, what the rank was, and what ship he was on?
4 Can anyone give me any information about himor any other ships he may have served on?
This is all for a local Museum exhibition concerning WW1, so I'd be grateful for any help.
Sorry about thelong question but I wanted to give as much detail as I could – I hope I’vesucceeded!
John