Hi, I have a great Grandfather Joseph Davis,21 born Eastington. on the 1881 Census he is aboard the HMS Alexandra in a foreign port(as a Stoker) can anyone enlighten me as to how he would have joined the Navy in those days,how long would he have had to serve. by Dec 1883 he was back homegetting married. I presume his ship was with the other ships at the bombardment of Alexandria as my Husbands Great Uncle was on board the HMS Monarch in Malta Harbour, he was a Able seaman I would be interested to find out. ANN from Essex