My father in law during 1939 and 1940 was, according to his records, at various shore establishments  Pembroke 2 (Speedwell)
Badger (Speedwell), Spartiate (Goat Fell), Fortitude (Goat Fell)
and Skirmisher (Goat Fell).  Does this mean he was on board the ships (named in brackets) whilst docked at the various establishments.  Comments would be appreciated.  Thank you in advance

Lynn

The names in brackets are ships.  It was normal for small ships to have their accounts/paperwork administered by a shore base - hence the first name.  

PEMBROKE 2 - naval base at Chatham.
(Speedwell) - this was the ship he was actually serving on. This was a minesweeper, 815 tons, built 1935. She joined the 5th Minesweeping Flotilla in 1939. She was employed in sweeping the Thames estuary.

BADGER - Base at Harwich.
- still on Speedwell; they had moved, to sweep along the east coast.


SPARTIATE - Base at Glasgow.
(Goatfell)- a Caledonian Steam Packet paddle steamer, 624 tons built 1934. Taken over by the navy in 1939 and converted to a minesweeper.  She was part of the 11th Minesweeping Flotilla, based at Greenock, employed in sweeping the river Clyde.

FORTITUDE - naval base at Ardrossan, Scotland.  I see he remained on the Goatfell, so it just means the accounts etc. were transferred.

SKIRMISHER - base at Milford Haven, Wales.  The 11th MSF shifted base to here in late 1940

Lynn
For Speedwell, have a look at :
http://www.halcyon-class.co.uk/speedwell/speedwell/hms_speedwell.htm

..and for Goatfell (ex-Caledonia), see:

http://freespace.virgin.net/tom.lee/calednavyimg.htm

Dear PhiloNauticus
Thank you so much for all this information.  My husband was in his early teens when his father died (in the early fifties) and other members of the family have very little knowledge of his time in the navy.  This information has certainly brought his naval career to life.  Many, many thanks.  
ps  this all came about from my cleaning an old medal(which we thought was an old coin because of its colour)and finding his service number on it.  The 'coin' turned out to be his Silver Long Service Medal.