Benjamin Bruce: A black Domestic/Steward in the Royal Navy 1899 to 1921

By John D Ellis

Benjamin Bruce was born in Africa in 1880. He served in the Royal Navy between 1899 and 1921. When he first enlisted, aged 19 years, he was 5 feet 1 and ½” tall, and by the time he was discharged he was 5 feet 4” tall. Described as having black hair and brown eyes, his complexion was variously described as black, brown and “of colour” (he also had a scar on the right side of his head). A waiter by occupation, he spent his whole service with the Royal Navy as a Domestic (servant) and Officer’s Steward (these roles frequently being racially defined).

As both Domestic 2nd Class and Domestic 1st Class:

HMS Arethusa November 1899 to December 1901 (a cruiser on the Pacific Station in 1900 and sent to the China Station in 1901 to protect British subjects and property during the “Boxer Rebellion”).

As a Domestic 2nd Class:

HMS Pembroke April to September 1903 (shore based at Chatham). HMS Jupiter September 1903 to January 1905 (a battleship in the Channel Fleet). HMS Commonwealth May to December 1905 (a pre-dreadnaught battleship in Portsmouth). HMS Victory I January 1906 (probably a shore base). HMS Victory II January to July 1906 (probably a shore base). HMS Hecla July 1906 (a depot ship).

As a Domestic 2nd Class then 1st Class:

HMS Wildfire July to December 1906 (probably a shore base).

As a Domestic 1st Class:

HMS Pembroke December 1906 to January 1907 (shore based at Chatham).

As Officer’s Steward 1st Class:

HMS Pembroke January 1907 to January 1910 (shore based at Chatham. Cabin-Cook May to June 1908).

As Officer’s Steward 2nd Class:

HMS Hecla January 1910 to April 1912 (a depot ship). HMS Crescent May to June 1912 (a cruiser). HMS St George June 1912 to March 1914 (a depot ship). HMS King George V April to November 1914 (a dread-naught battleship with the Grand Fleet at Scapa-Flow during this period).

HMS Leander November 1914 to March 1915 (a depot ship). HMS Pembroke I March to May 1915 (shore based at Chatham). HMS Victory II May 1915 to May 1917 (probably a shore base). HMS Vivid II June to August 1917 (shore based at Devonport). HMS Hecla September 1917 (a depot ship).

As Officer’s Steward 1st Class:

HMS Hecla November 1917 (a depot ship). HMS Greenwich (Oxford) November 1917 to February 1919 (a depot ship). HMS Blenheim February to November 1919 (a depot ship). HMS Victory I November 1919 to December 1921 (probably a shore base).

Post Script

Benjamin Bruce was paid a War Gratuity. He received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal 1914-1920 for his service in the First World War and was awarded a pension in May 1921.

According to the Hawkins Family Tree (jackiehawkins2004) on ancestry.co.uk Benjamin Bruce married Florence Mary Hayward (1883-1965) in Alresford, Hampshire in 1905. The family tree also suggests that he was born in Liberia. The couple and their family later resided in Culcheth Lancashire. Benjamin Bruce died in 1960.^[1]Sources: For Benjamin Bruce see: British Royal Navy Seamen 1899-1924. The National Archives (TNA) ADM 188/542/357885. findmpast.co.uk For the Bruce family see: … Continue reading