Kathleen, you wrote .. > On Feb.8, to Aug 7, 1908 it says "Run Portland" Again , I assume that he took off for parts unknown . Would that be from the Isle of Portland? Family legend says he "jumped ship in Halifax, Canada" So much for family stories. What if it was Portland, Maine? Sue -- TheShipsList Website http://www.theshipslist.com/ On 4/18/2011 10:53 PM, KATHLEEN LOPEZ wrote: > I am new to the list and hope that someone can assist. I am helping a friend with her Irish grandfather, Michael Byrne, born Nov. 16, 1884 in Ballinglass, Wicklow. I downloaded his R. N. papers from the National Archives. At the top, near his name it says "Devonport". I assume that was where he enlisted--July 11, 1906--for 12 years. Several things I wonder about; his age says what appears to be "F E" That means what?------full age? Under CHARACTER it says "V. G."----I suppose very good ? On Feb.8, to Aug 7, 1908 it says "Run Portland" Again , I assume that he took off for parts unknown . Would that be from the Isle of Portland? Family legend says he "jumped ship in Halifax, Canada" So much for family stories. In the Census for 1911 in Toronto, Ontario he appears with a wife and 22 day old child. Now how would he ever get to Canada being a runaway from the navy? I always thought the runners were hunted down non stop. His last ship was "Sapphire 11". ! Is! > there any way to trace the movements of that ship in the period Michael was in the navy? My sincere thanks for any help offered. > Kathleen in Toronto >

Sue Ummm 'cos is was Portland, Dorset,......you known....the original Portland, where all that lovely stone comes from ;-) And for the record there are a number of burials from the Sapphire, noted on my web site, in the Military Cemetery here at Portland for the period in question : for details see : http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/MIs/A-F.html http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/MIs/G-M.html http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/MIs/N-Z.html To add a bit of icing to the cake Kathleen may be interested to know that Sapphire II was originally the Imperieuse, which was renamed circa 1905 for her duties here at Portland when I gather she was used as a depot ship, presumably for what were then known as torpedo boat destroyers that were based here. And photos of the Imperieuse can be seen at : http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/hms_imperieuse.htm Paul On Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:42:47 -0300, Shipper <shipper@theshipslist.com> wrote: >Kathleen, > >you wrote .. >> On Feb.8, to Aug 7, 1908 it says "Run Portland" Again , I assume that he took off for parts unknown . Would that be from the Isle of Portland? Family legend says he "jumped ship in Halifax, Canada" So much for family stories. >What if it was Portland, Maine? > >Sue 50° 33' N, 2° 26' W http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html