The Royal Navy in World War I for Family Historians

Richard Marks


Region:
South East
Notice Period:
Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
Type:
Professional
Fee:
Paid: £75 plus travel @45p per mile up to 50 miles from Reading. Can also be run online
Category:
History
Updated:
10th January 2024

This talk is designed for Family Historians who are researching their relatives who served in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Naval Division during World War One.

The First World War saw a huge change in the Royal Navy with submarines and aircraft joining the fleet for the first time in a major conflict, and we will look at some of these and what they meant to the men and women who served in the Royal Navy during the war.

This talk is aimed at unravelling the Royal Navy between 1914 and 1918 for family historians. We will look at the ranks of the Navy and also the roles each rank undertook both onboard ship and ashore in order to help researchers gain an understanding of what family relatives were doing during the war and what some of terminology and jargon used by the navy and sailors referred to. The navy was a huge organisation with personnel involved not only in crewing warships but also in flying operations, medical care, logistics and operations ashore in France. We will look at all these aspects of the service and what they meant to relatives who were serving in the navy.

Photographs can sometimes be tricky to decipher so we will look at some tips on what clues may be hiding in old family photographs which will help add more to the story of a family.

We will also look at where documents and sources useful to exploring family history related to the navy may be found.

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About Richard Marks

I am a freelance professional historian residing in Berkshire. I specialize in industrial, military, and railway history, as well as the history of science. My current research focuses on industrial and social change during the Victorian era, the progression of Britain's railway and canal systems in the latter half of the 19th century, and the broader history of British industry. I earned my PhD in history from the University of Reading in 2024 and also have experience teaching a range of historical subjects to diverse groups.

My talks are suitable for different audiences and group sizes. I can adjust the length and format to meet your needs. My goal is to inform and entertain, and to leave the audience with a new insight and a desire to learn more.

My previous career in technology, working with British and international manufacturing companies, has given me a unique perspective as an historian.

Feedback from previous talks: "Richard had clearly done a massive amount of research and preparation. He is an excellent presenter very knowledgeable and engaging speaker. It was informative and thought provoking."

"I found the whole subject fascinating and wanted to learn more."

Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Richard Marks


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