| Naval Good Shooting Medals _________________________________________________ |
| William Farlie McMULLEN R.M.A. |
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Recipient of the Bluejacket medal
Born on 20 March 1883 in Sepulchres, London. Her was an Electrical Installer by trade when he
enlisted in the RMA on 31 Oct 1901. He held a 2nd class Educational certificate. Originally enlisted in
“Q” Company, he transferred to “H” Company on 20 Aug ’02. He was then embarked on HMS Good
Hope, a 1st class Cruiser, on 19 May ’03.
Whilst on Good Hope he won the Bluejacket Shooting medal as part of the prize firing guns crew for
1903. The gun's crew from Good Hope won the Bluejacket medal firing a 6 inch Breech Loading gun -
the Gun captain was William McFadden, Lance Sergt RMA; & his crew consisted of 8 RMA Gunners, of
which McMullen was the most junior.
McMullen's gunnery ability was graded as “Very good” on 19 Mar ’02 & on 4 May ’03, & again on 2 Nov
’04.
Leaving Good Hope on 27 Mar 05 his conduct was only rated as “Good”, he had lost his GCB (Good
Conduct badge) in Sep ’04. receiving it back again in Mar ’05. He spent a brief period ashore, again
losing his GCB, before being embarked onboard HMS Empress of India 31 Oct ’05 & rec’d his GCB
back again. He remained on her until Mar ’06 when he was embarked on HMS Queen . Whilst on Queen
he lost his GCB again & did 7 days cell time in Feb ’06. Whilst serving on Queen he attained 89% in
his Gunlayers exam. He left her on 4 Mar ’07 but he regained his lost GCB on 1 Mar (again!) however
both of his conduct ratings were “Good”.
Two months ashore & he heads to sea again onboard HMS London on 4 May ’07. Whilst on her he
qualifies as Armourer on 20 July ’07. He remains on London until 18 Apl ’09 with his conduct on
London was rated as “Very Good” despite losing his GCB again on 2 Feb 09. Two months ashore
followed, then he is embarked onboard HMS Goliath 17 Jun ’09 for 1 month, then ashore again until
Feb ’10. During this period he attains 86% on his Gunlayers exam. He regains his GCB whilst ashore
on 3 Aug ’09 & this time manages to hold onto it!
Two short embarkations on HMS Magnificent & Bulwark follow & a stint ashore to Oct 10 when he
embarks on board HMS Africa 28 Oct ’10, where he manages to acquire his 2nd GCB on 3 Aug ’11 &
manages a “Very Good” conduct rating.
However on 3 Dec ’11 he has had enough of Naval life as he decides to “Run” on that date. ie: Naval
parlance for: he deserted. He had completed a little over 10 years service. Nothing further appears on
his Service record.
McMullen earned no other medal for his RM service. I dont know as yet if he served in WWI but I
would doubt it would have been in the RMA or RN. That & possible Army service is being checked tho.
enlisted in the RMA on 31 Oct 1901. He held a 2nd class Educational certificate. Originally enlisted in
“Q” Company, he transferred to “H” Company on 20 Aug ’02. He was then embarked on HMS Good
Hope, a 1st class Cruiser, on 19 May ’03.
Whilst on Good Hope he won the Bluejacket Shooting medal as part of the prize firing guns crew for
1903. The gun's crew from Good Hope won the Bluejacket medal firing a 6 inch Breech Loading gun -
the Gun captain was William McFadden, Lance Sergt RMA; & his crew consisted of 8 RMA Gunners, of
which McMullen was the most junior.
McMullen's gunnery ability was graded as “Very good” on 19 Mar ’02 & on 4 May ’03, & again on 2 Nov
’04.
Leaving Good Hope on 27 Mar 05 his conduct was only rated as “Good”, he had lost his GCB (Good
Conduct badge) in Sep ’04. receiving it back again in Mar ’05. He spent a brief period ashore, again
losing his GCB, before being embarked onboard HMS Empress of India 31 Oct ’05 & rec’d his GCB
back again. He remained on her until Mar ’06 when he was embarked on HMS Queen . Whilst on Queen
he lost his GCB again & did 7 days cell time in Feb ’06. Whilst serving on Queen he attained 89% in
his Gunlayers exam. He left her on 4 Mar ’07 but he regained his lost GCB on 1 Mar (again!) however
both of his conduct ratings were “Good”.
Two months ashore & he heads to sea again onboard HMS London on 4 May ’07. Whilst on her he
qualifies as Armourer on 20 July ’07. He remains on London until 18 Apl ’09 with his conduct on
London was rated as “Very Good” despite losing his GCB again on 2 Feb 09. Two months ashore
followed, then he is embarked onboard HMS Goliath 17 Jun ’09 for 1 month, then ashore again until
Feb ’10. During this period he attains 86% on his Gunlayers exam. He regains his GCB whilst ashore
on 3 Aug ’09 & this time manages to hold onto it!
Two short embarkations on HMS Magnificent & Bulwark follow & a stint ashore to Oct 10 when he
embarks on board HMS Africa 28 Oct ’10, where he manages to acquire his 2nd GCB on 3 Aug ’11 &
manages a “Very Good” conduct rating.
However on 3 Dec ’11 he has had enough of Naval life as he decides to “Run” on that date. ie: Naval
parlance for: he deserted. He had completed a little over 10 years service. Nothing further appears on
his Service record.
McMullen earned no other medal for his RM service. I dont know as yet if he served in WWI but I
would doubt it would have been in the RMA or RN. That & possible Army service is being checked tho.
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