1914-1915 Star to Ship’s Steward R.G. Goffin, Royal Navy who having joined as a Boy Sailor on 1st July 1892 would still be serving at the time of the Great War during which he would see action aboard the King Edward VII battleship HMS Dominion as well as at HMS Wallington, the Auxiliary Patrol Base on the Humber.
1914-1915 Star; (168407 R.G. GOFFIN. S.S. R.N.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
Ralph George Goffin was born in Burgh-le-Marsh, Spilsby, Lincolnshire on 19th June 1877 and joined the Royal Navy on 1st July 1892 as a Ship’s Steward Boy initially serving with Pembroke on 1st July 1892. He would then transfer to Audacious on 11th September 1892 staying there until transferring back to Pembroke on 5th October 1893. From Pembroke he would be posted to Amphion from 13th February 1894 until 28th February 1895 when he was once more posted back to Pembroke. Appointed Ship’s Steward Assistant on 19th June 1895, his eighteenth birthday when he joined for 12 years service.
He would be posted to Blenheim from 2nd October 1895 until 11th August 1897, then to Sharpshooter from 12th August 1897 until 22nd September 1897 before returning to Pembroke until 1st October 1897. A period ashore Colossus from 2nd October 1897 until 12th February 1898, before returning to Pembroke until 11th March 1898.
On 12th March 1898 he would be sent to Bonaventure from 12th March 1898 until 5th May 1898 when he would move to Rattler. He would be appointed Acting Ship’s Steward on 9th February 1899, and then a Ship’s Steward on 6th November 1899. He would leave for Pembroke on 15th July 1900, before being posted to Gleaner on 23rd August 1900, remaining there until posted to Herald from 1st July 1902 until 13th March 1903, he would then return to Pembroke from 14th March 1903 until 21st November 1903, he would then be posted to Northumberland on 22nd November 1903 until 21st February 1904, Pembroke from 22nd February to 18th March 1904, Rambler from 19th March 1904 until 14th March 1905, Firequeen from 15th to 28th March 1905, Pembroke from 29th March to 19th April 1905, Blenheim from 20th to 27th April 1905, Pembroke from 28th April 1905 until 5th June 1905, Dominion from 6th June 1905 until 19th March 1906, Pembroke from 20th March 1906 until 20th April 1906, Repulse from 21st April until 14th May 1906, then back to Pembroke from 15th May 1906
He would serve aboard Tynemouth from 6th March 1908 until 26th March 1909, Royal Arthur from 27th March until 14th May 1909, Pembroke from 15th May to 11th June 1909, Acheron from 12th June 1909 until 31st March 1910, Pembroke from 1st April to 11th October 1912, Dominion, the King Edward VII class Battleship from 12th October 1912 until 3rd December 1916, Pembroke from 4th to 14th December 1916, Wallington, the Auxiliary Patrol Base on the Humber from 15th December 1916 until 2nd June 1919 when he was shore pensioned, he had been appointed a Victualling Chief Petty Officer on 28th February 1918.
Joining the Royal Fleet Reserve he would be posted to Pembroke between 9th April 1921 and 10th May 1921 before being demobilised.
