Alice - What was your grandfather's name? Do you know anything more? "The British Navy" - Alfred Stenzel and Adolf Sonnenschein (1898) - has been transcribed as a "Google" book on line and I believe you can still likely locate an out-of-print copy. Just "google" the title and use the keyword Cork for searching the contents at the website. An excerpt: "The small yard Haulbowline in the harbour of Queenstown near Cork, which stands under a Rear-Admiral acting as 'Senior Officer on the Coast of Ireland'; he discharges in a way the functions of Port Admiral for all Ireland and the whole island belongs to his range of command; the operations however are not extensive, Haul- bowline being fitted neither for building ships nor for fitting them out, but only for smaller repairs and for the supply of various kinds of stores, principally coals. It is a base of operations for the fleet on the South coast of Ireland." A Cork website found on a Google search: " The five largest islands in Cork Harbour are Great Island, Fota Island, Little Island, Haulbowline Island and Spike Island. All, with the exception of Spike Island, are now connected to the mainland. The headquarters of the Irish Navy is on Haulbowline Island. Before its handover to the Irish State in 1838, Cork Harbour was also an important base for the British Navy. Many old fortifications dot the hills of the harbour. The construction of these started in the 17th century. Fort Camden (Davis) and Fort Carlisle (Meagher) act as sentinels on either side of the entrance to the Harbour. Fort Westmoreland (Mitchell) on Spike Island has been used until recently as a detention centre. Five Martello Towers were built after the Napoleonic Wars finished in 1815. Three are on the north side of Great Island, one is on Haulbowline Island and the largest is at Ringaskiddy." ***An extensive history at the following website with photographs: http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/redan/cork.htm ***There is another website which I found on a Google search using the "phrase" British Army and the keyword Stenzel. This website's author appears to have an extensive knowledge about the British Navy and amassed a huge library of same; perhaps there is a viable e-mail address there for an inquiry. At the very least, he has listed sources for further study. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Simon_Harley/Library ----- Original Message ----- From: <dmrkls@aol.com> To: <irelandgenweb@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 4:35 PM Subject: Re: [Irish Genealogy] question about British Navy > Is there a way to track the Irish lads who served in the British Navy?? my > Grampa supposedly served in such out of Cork Harbor around the time of the > Boer Wars in Africa. Thank you for any leads. Alice