Herbert was a bad lad!

Herbert Saddington was born on 31 January 1884 in Chorlton upon Medlock, Lancashire. (GRO ref: March quarter 1884, Chorlton Registration District, Vol 8c, Page 813). His parents are currently unknown.

On 5 April 1891, Herbert was living at 6 Rosamund Place, Chorlton upon Medlock, Manchester, the adopted son of Samuel Hartwell, Carter, aged 63, born in Derbyshire, and his wife, Anne, also aged 63, born in Cheshire (RG12/3183, Folio 59, Page 4). However, as Herbert was only 7, it seems to me that there must have been some kind of connection for two such relatively elderly people to have taken in a small boy.

According to his Continuous Service Record (ADM188/355), Herbert joined the training ship, HMS Impregnable, as Boy 2nd Class on 28 April 1899. He became Boy 1st Class, and served on the Impregnable in that capacity from 1 February 1900 to 26 September 1900. His conduct was described as VG [Very Good].

On 27 September 1900, Herbert transferred to the frigate,HMS Agincourt until 6 November 1900, moving to the battleship, HMS Nile, on 7 November 1900. On 31 March 1901, according to the census index, Herbert was in Devonport, Devon, and his occupation was Boy 1st Class. He was still serving on board HMS Nile, and remained there until 28 June 1901.

On 29 June 1901, Herbert moved to another battleship, HMS Magnificent, and his conduct was again described as Very Good.

Indeed, Herbert was still on board HMS Magnificent when he enlisted for a 12 year stretch in the Royal Navy on 31 January 1902. His occupation was described as OS [Ordinary Seaman], "Arethusa", although there is as yet no evidence that he trained on the Arethusa. For further information on the "Arethusa", please see here.

When Herbert enlisted in January 1902, he was 18 years old, 5 foot 4 1/2 inches tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He also had an anchor and a bracelet tattooed on his left wrist.

However, this was when things began to come apart at the seams. Between 31 January 1902 and 24 February 1902, his conduct was only described as Good, and he spent 7 days in the cells for an unspecified reason. During the period 4 March 1902 and 7 December 1902, his conduct was described as Indifferent.

On 8 December 1902, Herbert was court martialled and sentenced to 12 months hard labour for (1) "Using threatening & insulting language & behaving with contempt to his Superior Officer" and (2) "Striking his Superior Officer being in the execution of his office". It is likely that Herbert would have served his sentence at one of the two naval prisons at Bodmin in Cornwall or Lewes in Sussex.

However, less than 12 months later, on 31 October 1903, Herbert is back on board ship, this time on HMS Viva II as an Ordinary Seaman. He remains on board until 15 December 1903, and his conduct is again Indifferent. On 16 December 1903, he transferred to the cruiser, HMS Bonaventure, where he was promoted to Able Seaman. He stayed with HMS Bonaventure until 14 February 1904, when he spent another 7 days in the cells, before being transferred to the destroyer, HMS Griffon, which was to be his last ship.

Herbert served on board HMS Griffon from 21 February 1904 to 6 June 1904. He then spent a further 14 days in the cells, returning to duty on 21 June 1904. It is unclear from his Record what Herbert did wrong next, but he is not counted as serving between 28 August 1904 and 27 November 1904. Herbert is then back on board HMS Griffon, but he does not stay long. The last date given for service is 12 January 1905, and in the Remarks section of Herbert's Continuous Service Record, it says "13.2.05 Approves discharge - services no longer required".

It all started out so well, but only 3 years into a 12 year enlistment, Herbert was discharged from the Royal Navy, having spent 35 days in the cells and about 10 months in a naval prison. As yet, I do not know where Herbert went and what he did with the rest of his life, but it will be very interesting to find out. I also hope to make further enquiries into his various misdeeds whilst in the Navy. Any further information on this bad lad will be gratefully received!