merchant navy records 1939 to 1945nicole alexander bio

The ship had to wait in Aden until the Monster liners Mauretania, Ile de France and Nieuw Amsterdam from convoy CM 15 had passed through ahead of her to disembark at Suez before she did. For Matty Towers the three witness statements into his death are very contradictory. Two days later the Coroner held an inquest into Grandad's death and the verdict was given as unascertainable. They do not contain details of any passengers or crew. Description. Unfortunately, many cards contain a lot of abbreviations and there is no known key for them. Merchant seamen who were discharged from the navy between 1940 and 1972 had their records filed in what became known as 'seamen's pouches'. There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. The seamens discharge book numbers are usually listed, and you may find the date and place of birth too. Next Apply for your own . From the mid-18th century, masters or owners of most British-registered merchant ships were required to keep a record of their crew before the ship left port. However, service was considered military in nature for those who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946. The card entries do not all start or end at the same time. Awarded for service in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea or the Indian Ocean between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Anyone who qualified for both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star would be awarded the first Star earned. Another important archive open to the public is theLloyds Marine Collectionat the Guildhall Library which holds the Captains Registers for the period up to 1948, voyage record cards 1927 to 1975 and runs of theLloyds Registers, Lloyds ListsandMercantile Navy Lists. I think the tag '' should be removed from: Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events, All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, BT - Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies, Division within BT - Records of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen and successor, Merchant shipping movement cards 1939-1945, Merchant Navy ships' records: movement cards 1939-1945, Merchant Navy ships' records: registration of merchant ships, About our From 1845 onwards a system of examinations was introduced for masters and mates. For more information on the Arctic Star and advice on how you can still apply for it, see our guide to Merchant seamans medals and honours. Brian Roy Clarke SS Sithonia, Sea. A merchant seaman had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. The steamer Anselm had left Liverpool with Monarch of Bermuda to join convoy WS 9B but hadnt been able to maintain the 12 knots speed. You need to sign in to tag. Information about official records for the Merchant Navy (UK) can be found at the National Maritime Museum (UK) Details about the role of the Australian Merchant Navy and the role Australian merchant ships played in World War II can be found at Merchant Ships of Australia in World War 2. The database includes every British registered ship from 1855 to the early 1950s with official numbers 1 to 200000. Archives, Open Government Licence The story was hand written and falling apart but I have typed it up for preservation. The ship remained in Liverpool for five weeks during which time two weeks voyage repairs were carried out so I should imagine that Mum saw a good deal of Dad during that time. Dad signed off the ship on 8th May. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence The world has been led by intensive and extensive waves of darkness from renaissance all the way down to the Covid crisis. World War Two 1939-1945 - Archives New Zealand Skip to main content Our reading rooms are open. On 11th February Monarch of Bermuda embarked 2,500 troops and had to anchor with other troopships in the River Mersey held up by fog until the 16th. AB. During the one-way exchange of fire (the raider kept of range), Able Seaman George Smith was seriously injured and the third engineer, Mr. Gibson, and the steward, Mr. Gernardt, were killed. Few if any of the troops had ever crossed the English Channel let alone been exposed to the rigours of the North Atlantic. Ronnie stayed with the Merchant Navy during the war and was torpedoed off the east coast of the USA at some point. Royal Australian Navy History, WWII Merchant ship movement records - Australia; Ron Wylie, Australian merchant navy: stories of the war at sea Background information. This number made up around one third of the entire global merchant fleet at the time, with many of the seamen coming from all over the Empire, including India, Hong Kong and West Africa. Service Number . Tragically, 30,248 merchant seamen lost their lives during World War Two, a death rate proportionally higher than in any of the armed forces. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy ships records: movement cards 1939-1945, Friends of The National ","spans":[]}]}},{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceQuote","type":"slice-quote","primary":{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceQuotePrimary","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"As the outbreak of World War II edged closer in 1939, the British merchant fleet remained the largest in the world, employing some 200,000 men and women. It may help to know the number of a ship as ships are sometimes referred to in the records by their number rather then their name. Merchant Navy Awards 1939-1945 This collection details over 9,000 awards made to those who served in the Merchant Navy from 1939-45. ConsultBT 122-126and BT 128 (index in BT 127). Using testimony from new witnesses and hitherto undisclosed public records, he seeks to explain why they were reported missing: believed killed. The trip back to Liverpool was via Durban, Capetown, Trinidad and Halifax. You may be searching for a vesselfor which these cards were never used. ","copyright":"INF13-213 (52)","url":"https://images.prismic.io/findmypast-titan/9794e89f-46cb-4342-8b53-47272a1b0f4b_inf13-213-52-world-war-ii-poster-the-life-line-is-firm-thanks-to-the-merchant-navy.jpg?auto=compress,format"},"caption":"The Life-line Is Firm Thanks To The Merchant Navy Image: INF13-213 (52)"}},{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceText","type":"slice-text","primary":{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceTextPrimary","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Despite sharing the word Navy in their titles, the difference between the Royal and Merchant Navies was that sailors in the latter were classed as civilians. Consult series BT 128 for details. The registers follow a similar format to Registers of Seamen Tickets in BT 113. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, SAINT LOUIS, December 16, 2019 The public now has access to previously unavailable information concerning former merchant mariners and their maritime service through Merchant Marine Licensing Files, made available by the, The public can access these records in two ways: through a request made via an. We can either copy our records onto paper or deliver them to you digitally, Visit us in Kew to see original documents or view online records for free, Consider paying for Merchant Navy mariners were recorded in the 1841 census but unfortunately not those on board ships either stationed on shore or at sea. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. The stokehold and engine-room were soon flooded and with the engines stopped, the ship lost way and within eight minutes, Captain Elliott reported that Anselm was badly down by the head. After the outbreak of war, Germany declared that every vessel of the British mercantile marine was to be regarded as a warship, meaning that the sailors of the Merchant Navy faced tremendous risks. This collection records the movements of ships ordinarily engaged in foreign going trade. The ship turned out to be a disguised German raider. Conditions on the raider were passable, but the prison ship was deplorable. Genealogical enquiries should be made in writing and search fees are 30. . Divided first by country and then by shipping company, the book includes the ships of such great Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. For ability and general conduct both men are reported as very good. For service before 1845, when registers of Merchant Navy officers were not kept, you must look for records kept for other purposes (such ascrew lists, agreements and log books) but which may include incidental mention of officers. Edit Search New Search. We weren't sorry to leave there in a cattle truck three days later, when we were taken to Drancy Prison in Paris. Monarch of Bermuda embarked 2,287 troops and was one of ten liners in this convoy which eventually sailed on 12th November. Members Featured Photos by AJ Hawker Tankers-At Sea or in Rivers 2468 photos 4219 comments by AJ Hawker Cargo Ships---Engines midships 2392 photos 4199 comments by Russ Kennedy Tugs-Icebreaker & Research & Supply 955 photos 1720 comments by Gary L Tankers-At Sea or in Rivers 2468 photos During that period the ship may have been on several voyages, and he may have been engaged for some or all of the period. The Royal Canadian Navy was the third-largest fleet in the world by the end of the war, having enlisted 100,000 men and 6,500 women. As the outbreak of World War II edged closer in 1939, the British merchant fleet remained the largest in the world, employing some 200,000 men and women. Friends of The National Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. On the 18th the weather worsened to force 6 with a rough sea and short, heavy swell with poor visibility. She left Aden on 21st August and arrived at Suez on 25th August. Each set of cards records: The cards also show if the ship was torpedoed, mined, damaged or sunk. Then, as European-built iron-hulled sailing ships replaced wooden square-riggers, Canadian shipbuilders found it harder to compete. to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Saudi Arabia and the Second World War (1939-1945) 16. After four months aboard the raider, we were transferred to a prison ship. Archives, Open Government Licence These files have joined our collection in an effort to better serve the public who are looking for proof of their ancestor's service, The first block of this series contained 4,800 cubic feet of records, The Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC) is the approving official for World War II Merchant Marine separation documents. Anyone who qualified for both the France & Germany Star and the Atlantic Star would be awarded the first Star earned, with a Clasp. Despite sharing the word Navy in their titles, the difference between the Royal and Merchant Navies was that sailors in the latter were classed as civilians. Awarded for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Owners and gross tonnage (G.T.) The ship Adrastus had to heave-to to secure cargo which had come adrift and didnt catch up with the convoy until three days later. When he talked to my Grandad he was told that he had a bad headache. Merchant Navy Day. If there is no entry on a card for the early or later part of the war, check the crew lists and agreements in series BT 99, BT 100, BT 380or BT 381which may hold further details. The convoy was originally supposed to sail at the end of October 1942 as WS 13 but its designation was changed to WS 12Z (a lucky omen?). He died on 21st Aug 1973. The series generally contains information about radio equipment . Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. They contain the following information: Search BT 352, a combined index to masters, mates, engineers and fishing officers certificates of competency covering home and foreign trade. In themerchant navy the term officer can refer to a master, mate, engineer, fishing boat skipper, second hand or cook. Gunner and T. Moulton Sectionman. At 5.10 p.m. he was assigned A.R.P. The slower ships left the convoy at Capetown and the convoy increased speed to 14 knots rounding the Cape into a full gale which eventually turned so that they had a following sea. The National Archives holds indexes to the registers covering the period 1913-1956 (the registers themselves, for 1915-1958, are held at the National Maritime Museum). Merchant Navy ships' records: movement cards 1939-1945; Merchant Navy ships' records: registration of merchant ships; Add a tag. Have you found an error with this catalogue description? "On the 16th July 1940, I was on 4-8 watch when according to the 8-12 watch a ship flying Yugoslav colours had opened fire from the port quarter, killing the radio operator and setting fire to the bridge. In the longest campaign of the war, the British merchant fleet, with its naval escorts, struggled to bring food, fuel, equipment and raw materials from America and elsewhere across the Atlantic,. "The World's largest shipping company". Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from IWM collections Menu. This information will help us make improvements to the website. photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. Index record for Ryan, John McMahon in the World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 from Ancestry.com, historical military records. Despite the fact that merchant crews were not compelled to sail on the dangerous ocean passages, most indeed did. Thomas Coakley examined the body and states no violence was used in his death but his body was badly damaged, due to it being trapped for days under the lock gates of the dock. 1.30 a.m. Friday 14th of May 1943 Jim Wafer was seen apparently asleep in Seaman Gunners Quarters by Able Seaman Stanley Poole. On August 26, 1939, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) took control of all shipping. Like this page to receive our updates. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. Personnel records available to the public are now held byThe National Archives (TNA), formerly known as the Public Record Office, the website has helpful research guides. You may be searching for a ship on dates before or after movement cards were in use on that vessel. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the Second World War. To access the records in this section you will either need to visit usor, where you can identify a specific document reference, order a copy(). When they reached Aden on 15th August the convoy was disbanded. This collection of records, BT 395, lists the medals awarded to merchant seamen for their service in the Second World War (1939-1945), with the exception of the. Monday, July 16, 1945 o First atomic bomb exploded Heat generated by the blast was 4 times the temperature at the center of the sun Blew out windows in houses more than 200 miles away Killed every living creature within a mile o Ruby Wilkening joined several other women waiting for the blast Worried about her husband who was already at the test site No one knew what to expect o . Monarch of Bermuda left Durban on 24th March and returned to Liverpool via Cape Town and Freetown arriving back on 23rd April. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Merchantmen at War Official Story of Merchant Navy 1939 - 1944 at the best online prices at eBay! The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. These entries record a single voyage during which the seaman was engaged on a particular ship. A microfiche index to their holdings is kept by TNA. The U-boat War in World War Two (Kriegsmarine, 1939-1945) and World War One (Kaiserliche Marine, 1914-1918) and the Allied efforts to counter the threat. Shortly after, Samaria set sail for Algiers via the River Clyde, Glasgow. In the Merchant Navy there is a requirement that the 28 days should have been served at sea. privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards, Available in digital format unless otherwise stated. For details of the Arctic Star see our guide to Merchant seamans medals and honours. Merchant Navy service Records of pre-World War I and colonial service World War I service with the Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force an War gratuity cards for World War I and World War II Records of Navy service after 1970 Other contacts We hold the following records about service in the Royal Australian Navy: These cards have been selected as they reflect the economic, social and demographic condition of the UK, as documented by the state's dealings with individuals, communities and organisations outside its own formal boundaries (2.2.2.1 of PRO's acquisition policy). When Germany invaded Norway on April 9-1940, the Norwegian ships that were in allied waters at the time were requisitioned by Royal Norwegian Government, which early on in the war managed to escape to the U.K. (the King was evacuated on June 7). In 1939, a third of the world's merchant ships were British, and there were some 200,000 sailors. You can search for ships official numbers through the Crew List Index Project. Services and information Second World War death records Search the war dead service files from the Second World War. 09:00 to 17:00. Captain Elliott concluded that Anselm was abandoned without panic or unnecessary confusion. The third statement, quite surprising, from W. Orr, is missing from the official records although he is listed as giving evidence to the inquiry into Matty Towers death. The Consolidation of the Arabian Territories around Najd (1918-1926) 12. In some cases, not all the cards relating to a vessel have been amended to reflect the latest name-change. A certificate came with a number (and new numbers were assigned if a replacement certificate was issued following the loss of the original). Medals were not automatically issued, but had to be claimed by the merchant seaman. Here's some details: Full Name: Harold Dowle Born: 7th June 1911 I have a card with a discharge A number in the name of H Dowle of 714335 for 12/7/1938 on a ship called Lornaston (148881) from Liverpool. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. This camp bordered on primitive in every sense of the word. A register entry for a foreign trade voyage, from BT 124. (d.13th October 1945), Capt. At 05.55 all the boats but one had cleared the ship, by which time the foredeck was completely submerged and the water almost up to the level of the promenade deck. On 5th July when she was 300 miles astern of convoy WS 9B she was torpedoed by U-96 under Capt. The pouches are arranged in three sequences: Each sequence is in alphabetical order by the seaman's last name. Records 1939 - 1946. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-reserve-service-records.htm, First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve records. This was simply a record of the. Leonard Chapman Royal Fusiliers, We are also getting his diaries scanned as a book by the National Archives which we hope will serve as a fantastic record of a day in the life of a soldier on the convoys, both as a diary and also reflections and impressions which are very creative and moving. Matthew Towers was 48 years old when he lost his life. The British Merchant Navy was the largest in the world and required more crew than Great Britain had merchant seamen, as a result large numbers of Indian, Chinese and West African seamen were engaged to crew ships which regularly traded from Great Britain to ports in those areas. This enabled them to arrive at Freetown on the 25th for fuelling and water before sailing on 28th for Durban. At Halifax she embarked American troops to Reykjavik in Iceland and arrived back on 17th October a total journey time of three months. Although the design of this website looks rather old-fashioned, it's still updated and is a good resource for Welsh Merchant Navy records. This information will help us make improvements to the website. The T124X records detail the sea service of merchant seamen who served on Royal Navy ships (or Royal Navy auxiliary vessels). Details of masters and mates who have voluntarily passed an examination appear inthe Lloyds Register of Shipping (copies of which are available at The National Archives). *Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. By now the United States had entered the war and Japanese forces were invading Malaya. Eight of them are searchable here whilst the ninth, the Arctic Star, was not awarded until 2012 and records of its award do not exist at The National Archives. List view Image view. Little did I know, but back home I was considered missing and presumed dead. If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. Use the name indexes (indicated below in brackets) to locate a certificate number. Many were singing songs while the boats were being lowered. 1939-1950. I have a record of him being on HMS Leonian in 1941/2 from a list of people he wanted to write telegrams to from the ship. At 7.05 p.m. Matthew Towers A.B. You can search ()the records in Discovery, our catalogue, by filling in the form below. Seamen's records ('pouches') are in: BT 372, Crew agreements and log books are in: BT 380, Coast trade crew agreements and log books are in: BT 381, Fifth Register of Seaman's Service is in: BT 382, Crew agreements and log books for requisitioned or chartered Allied foreign ships are in: BT 387, Special Operations Records, merchant seamen, are in: BT 391, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1872-1992, Have you found an error with this catalogue description? Search All Records ; . I hope to also take a digital diary when it is finished to the Arctic Convoy Museum at Loch Ewe. While in Freetown news came through that the Japanese had landed in Java and Batavia and the Dutch East Indies had surrendered which would mean no more convoys to the Far East. The National Archives' catalogue Catalogue description Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Database of World War II Medals issued to Merchant Seamen Search within or browse this series to find. Awarded after the Battle of the Atlantic for service between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. Index record for Merchant, Leslie Arthur in the World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 from Ancestry.com, historical military records. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. On 1 September 1939 this passenger liner set sail from Glasgow with over 1400 passengers and crew aboard. Hello, I have just started to look for my deceased fathers merchant navy records. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence Search indexes to crew lists from 1861 to 1913 by name on findmypast (). Results 1-2 of 2 View Record Name . USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Giron. For example, MacDonald will not appear under the letter M but under D. SS Otranto, Capt. Want to find out more about your relative's service? The contents of the records vary, but they usually include name, age, place of birth, register ticket, ship names, and dates of voyages. Read My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman by Christopher and Michael Watts (Society of Genealogists, 2002) this title is also available in our shop. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945; . Gunner, R. W. Orr D.E.M.S. At 5.00 p.m. on Thursday 13th of May 1943, my grandfather Jim reported for duty on troop ship S.S. Samaria to J. Lowe 2nd officer. The only good thing I remember about Drancy was the kindness of the French women who had nothing themselves, but nevertheless threw loaves of bread to us past the guards. Inicio; FAQ's; Biblioteca; Ayuda; Bsqueda avanzada; Comentarios/sugerencias . If they appear on the same page, you should only pay one fee. To have have kept all the cards together would have rendered them out of alphabetical order (in contravention of the specification) with possible adverse consequences for the list. research. (6th June 1944 - 8th May 1945). The Lloyd Captains Registers were compiled from the records of certificates issued to foreign-going masters. Voyages in the registers were usually recorded either as: Home trade voyages (repeated or reported voyages). v3.0, the Lloyd Lists which are available at the Guildhall Library or the, record of voyages (certificates up to 1888 only) dates are for when the records were filed and are not arrival dates sometimes records were filed after a series of voyages, date of death (certificates after 1888 only and only sometimes), date, number and place of issue of the masters certificate obtained, any other special qualification, including the steam certificate from 1874, name and number (taken from the Mercantile Navy Lists) of each ship (date of engagement and discharge as master or mate and the destination of each voyage), any special awards (for example, war service), pasted-in summaries of the qualifications and service from 1851 of masters who were still active in 1869, green for skippers and mates of fishing boats. All First World War records for these formations have been transferred to TNA. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, guide on Merchant seamens medals and honours, World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen, records of merchant seamen serving after 1917, Abbreviations in merchant seamens records, Friends of The National This guide will help you find and interpret records of Merchant Navy officers from 1845 to 1965. To find out about a seamans entitlement, contact the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. A little after 1.30 a.m. the last person to speak to Grandad was Able Seaman M. Towers. There were still some men on the after deck, but could not see if they had jumped clear before the ship sank. The certificate number obtained from the index indicates: Certificate numbers with a letter(s) prefix NWS were issued in the colonies. Merchant seafarers were involved in the Second World War from the first day to the last. Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish ; Military ; Wills & Probate ; Immigration & Travel ; Schools, Directories & Church Histories ; Public Member Trees ; . Our Use our guide Abbreviations in merchant seamens records to interpret the records. The registers survive at TNA in BT 120, BT 112, BT 113, BT 114, BT 116 and BT 119. It was the job of the Ministry to decide what cargo the ships would carry and the function they would fulfil in order to best support the war effort, while crewing and provisioning remained under the jurisdiction of the shipping industry. Some useful printed works include: The Roll of Honour of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets 1939-1945, 3 vols (London: Ministry of . Registers were created to record the awarding of these certificates to officers and what they had done to qualify for them. You can find out whether a medal was issued by looking at the markings on the records. Consult our guide to records of merchant seamen serving after 1917for advice on searching within registers of seamen and seamens pouchesto establishvoyage details which you may be able to apply to the service of officers. Even if a person had several mentions, he would only have one emblem. Object category. E. A. Huntbatch SS Orama (d.15th July 1941), Fireman James Gilbert Goodwin S.S. San Casto (London). The poster shows an ultra-realistic drawing with a coxswain at a ship's wheel, and an officer with binoculars drawn by Charles Wood.

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