merchant navy records 1939 to 1945 merchant navy records 1939 to 1945

Search 5: service details of Merchant Navy cooks 1913-1956 This is a search in record series BT 319. 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. Some of these records are alsoavailable on the subscription websitewww.findmypast.co.uk. As well as the registers of certificates of competency for engineers at The National Archives (in series BT 139, see above), the National Maritime Museum holds registers for the following years and certificate numbers: The National Maritime Museum holds the registers, bearing numbers 5001-41021 (reference RSS/CO/1-6). Samaria sailed from Clyde 19th of May to Algiers and arrived 27th of May 1943. The story is called The Jinx. There was no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. The medals were claimed and issued from 1946 to 2002. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish ; Military ; Wills & Probate ; Immigration & Travel ; Schools, Directories & Church Histories ; Public Member Trees ; . 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. Main image:Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic in 1942 during World War 2. Awarded for service between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, serving in the Mediterranean. 3rd Radio Off. After the declaration of war in September 1939, the Ministry of Shipping then under the control of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Gilmour took control of the merchant fleet. Awarded for service between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945, in direct support of land operations in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany, in the North sea, the English Channel or the Bay of Biscay (service off the coast of the south of France could qualify for the Italy Star, see below). At 7.05 p.m. Matthew Towers A.B. 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). privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Seamen's Service on Royal Navy Ships. What ship was Admiral Harold Stark on during D-Day? 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. A Clasp would be worn to signify service for the other Star. The National Maritime Museum holds the registers (see below). In themerchant navy the term officer can refer to a master, mate, engineer, fishing boat skipper, second hand or cook. Before 1747 no formal record keeping of crews on merchant ships existed. In the indexes, names beginning with Mc or Mac are usually found under the letter following that prefix. 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. Add a Name to this List The qualifying service period for the Atlantic Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. 1939 194 Yeah, reviewing a book Embleme Wappen Malings Deutscher U Boote 1939 194 could . was taken ashore by the military authorities for burial. It lists nearly 24,000 Welsh merchant masters, mates and engineers who were active between 1800 and 1945. During that period the ship may have been on several voyages, and he may have been engaged for some or all of the period. Merchant Navy ships' records: movement cards 1939-1945; Merchant Navy ships' records: registration of merchant ships; Add a tag. These entries record a single voyage during which the seaman was engaged on a particular ship. Below is the last movement card for the SS Athenia. Many merchant seamen came from parts of the British Empire, such as India, Hong Kong and west African countries. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Search indexes to crew lists from 1861 to 1913 by name on findmypast (). The two Ellerman ships City of Lincoln and City of Edinburgh had to return to Liverpool and the Clyde because cargo had shifted. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. 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. A little after 1.30 a.m. the last person to speak to Grandad was Able Seaman M. Towers. IWM collections. At 8 am on December 7, the Japanese submarine I-26 torpedoed SS Cynthia Olson, manned by mariners and transporting lumber for the Army from Tacoma, Washington to Honolulu.All aboard perished, making these merchant mariners among the earliest American casualties of the war. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. Search Discovery, our catalogue, by name of person or ship in T 335 to find what the award was, the persons rank at the time, and the ship they were serving on. Many were singing songs while the boats were being lowered. Use the name indexes (indicated below in brackets) to locate a certificate number. If anyone knows of my father, Captain Len Chapman I will be pleased to hear! When the convoy arrived at Durban on 21st March the Commodore recommended that the Armed Merchant Cruisers used for convoy protection were not suitable owing to their slow speed of 12.1/2 knots when the liners carrying 4,000 troops were capable of 18 knots or more. the National Archives. ","spans":[]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Main image:Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic in 1942 during World War 2. Under an Admiralty instruction during World War II masters of merchant ships were ordered not to record in the tabular section of the log book the ports at which their ships called or details of their voyages in case this information got into enemy hands. The National Archives' catalogue This record (browse from here by hierarchy or by reference) Catalogue description Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Seamen's Service. Visit The National Archives bookshop for a range of publications on the Merchant Navy. The column on the right of each record contains a reference number to the entitlement file held by the Registry of Shipping and Seamen. Unfortunately, many cards contain a lot of abbreviations and there is no known key for them. The minimum qualifying period was one day. Conversely, it was fortunate that fair weather allowed the rescue of 80 per cent of the total on board. Nine types of medals were awarded to British merchant seamen who served in the Second World War and who met the qualifications for each medal. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy campaign medal records 1939-1945. are on the same page. You do not have to fill in all fields to search. 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. ","spans":[]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The struggle for control over the Atlantic shipping routes, which would eventually become known as the Battle of the Atlantic, was one of the longest campaigns of WWII. Results 1-4 of 4 View Record Name Birth Date; 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. Catalogue description Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Combined Office Merchant Navy Operations, Seamen's Pouches Search within or browse this series to find specific. In May 1943 S.S. Samaria was in West Huskisson dock at my grandfather's home port of Liverpool. The trip back to Liverpool was via Durban, Capetown, Trinidad and Halifax. I believe, SS Port Sydney also survived the war so, I am uncertain on which ship Ronnie was serving when torpedoed. Narrow your search by using double quotation marks to find a ships or persons full name, such as Sydney Star or John Williams. Hello, I have just started to look for my deceased fathers merchant navy records. The staff had been working 48 hours without sleep planning the convoy and then tearing up the plan and movement orders as changes took place. Owners and gross tonnage (G.T.) Merchant Navy Awards 1939-1945 This collection details over 9,000 awards made to those who served in the Merchant Navy from 1939-45. privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards, Available in digital format unless otherwise stated. Operations in and around the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943 would also qualify. You can find more details here. This collection records the movements of ships ordinarily engaged in foreign going trade. Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. There were still some men on the after deck, but could not see if they had jumped clear before the ship sank. If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. . Let us know. Awarded for service between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945, in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. Some of the seamen discharged during this period. James Wafer S.S. Samaria (d.14th May 1943) James Wafer started service as an Able Seaman during World War 1 and had survived active service as a teenage merchant man on a ship called Romney. 1 With only two decades since the ending of the Great War most serving shipmasters would have been at sea during . 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). His brother Francis David Short was in the First War but I have no details on his service. A merchant seaman had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. 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. Results 1-2 of 2 View Record Name . *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. 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. 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. 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. . Next Apply for your own . Despite the fact that merchant crews were not compelled to sail on the dangerous ocean passages, most indeed did. British seamen who served under the T124X agreement; British seamen who served under the T124T agreement; Non-British seamen who served under the T124X agreement. Monarch of Bermuda left Durban on 24th March and returned to Liverpool via Cape Town and Freetown arriving back on 23rd April. 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 Arctic Star. 1.30 a.m. Friday 14th of May 1943 Jim Wafer was seen apparently asleep in Seaman Gunners Quarters by Able Seaman Stanley Poole. Have you found an error with this catalogue description? How do I find out where my uncle was stationed during his stint in the Navy? All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Giron. Brian Roy Clarke SS Sithonia, Sea. The Miramar ship index can be useful for obtaining this information. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. This information will help us make improvements to the website. Little did I know, but back home I was considered missing and presumed dead. However, service was considered military in nature for those who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Ruth Mcmillen. In 1939 the Admiralty instructed the Board of Trade, for reasons of. In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers' records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). After the First World War King George V, in recognition of the contribution made to the British war effort by merchant ships, granted the title of Merchant Navy to non-military sailors. 09:00 to 17:00. Other ways to find service records. Unfortunately, all their hard work diverting troops and stores came to nothing because Singapore fell into Japanese hands. Gunner and T. Moulton Sectionman. reference to the medal papers file (held at the Registry of Shipping and Seamen), DNA: Director of Naval Accounts (the Royal Navy medal issuing authority) or, more recently, Do Not Authorise, Refer to Aust: the medals were not issued to an individual by the Registry of Shipping but referred on to the Australian authorities, Refer to NZ: the medals were not issued to an individual by the Registry of Shipping but referred on to the New Zealand authorities. 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. Particular emphasis was put on implementing the convoy system, by which warships would customarily escort groups of merchant ships to deter attacks from German U-boats. It supported Britain's Bomber Command from 1943 to 1945, contributing a huge strike force. Generally the qualifying service period for the Pacific Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. 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 convoy arrived in Freetown on 1st March. 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 Numbers were allocated to the certificate of service in BT 130 are as follows: We hold indexes to registers of certificates of competence and service for cooks, 1913-1956 in BT 319. Many years later he wrote a short fictional story about a Maritime Regiment gunner who brought nothing but bad luck. 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? The Lloyd Captains Registers were compiled from the records of certificates issued to foreign-going masters. Wafer it states "he failed to re-join ship" and for M. Towers it reads "died as result of accident". Merchant Vessel Files: Also included among the Coast Guard records is a series of Merchant Vessel Information Files, 1939 - 1952, which is arranged alphabetically by name of vessel and contains information about merchant vessels that entered U.S. ports during World War II. TNA has detailed research guides on the Fourth and Fifth Registers of Seamen and other records. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. You may be searching for a vesselfor which these cards were never used. Those giving evidence included J. Cornwall M.N. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence Visit the Crew List Index Project (CLIP) website, which has information about merchant seamen on British registered ships from 1861 to 1913. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. Order records to view when you visit. At this point the body of Matthew Towers A.B. On the 18th the weather worsened to force 6 with a rough sea and short, heavy swell with poor visibility. They sailed up the Irish Sea to join with the Clyde portion to form convoy WS 9B. Sanitary arrangements were, as usual, inadequate. Become a Member With all of Britains oil arriving by sea, half of her food, and most of her raw materials more than a million tonnes per week, in total- the smooth functioning of the merchant fleet was integral to the nations survival. In the top left corner of the record is the ships name. Look at the websites of other archives and organisations which hold agreements and crew lists, including the Maritime History Archive in Newfoundland, the National Maritime Museum, the National Records of Scotland, the National Archives of Ireland, and local archives. 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. "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. Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. A register entry for home trade voyages, from BT 126. Women also sometimes served at sea in the Merchant Navy. This meant that Monarch of Bermuda with eight other liners and the cruiser HMS Royal Sovereign increased speed from 13 knots to 16 knots. v3.0, the day by day movements of the ship (in Athenias case the final entry records her sinking), anticipated movements, i.e. Samaria sailed out of Liverpool on Friday 14th of May 1943 and was on the Clyde Monday 17th of May. To view all records for an individual, select 'ALL' in the Service box. Using testimony from new witnesses and hitherto undisclosed public records, he seeks to explain why they were reported missing: believed killed. Dad signed off the ship on 8th May. Instead, these details were recorded on movements cards held and maintained at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. The first chapter of this books presents the three waves operations of social, political, economic, technological, military and educational aspect of world affairs under the following subjects. Suffice it to say the remainder of the convoy including Monarch of Bermuda made the passage safely arriving in Freetown on 13th July to fuel and take on water and sailing on 17th July for Durban. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Our first night there we had doors for beds. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Coast Guard Nav Bouy Patrols in Pacific 1964 Ship name Grisham. You can search for ships official numbers through the Crew List Index Project. To find out about a seamans entitlement, contact the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. The exact number of New Zealand Merchant Navy war deaths will probably never be known with certainty, as the recording of personal information, nationality, next-of-kin and service in the Merchant Navy was not as comprehensive as it was for the armed forces. 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. To determine eligibility for a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 214, or a Report of Casualty, DD Form 1300, customers will be directed to to, View the National Archives Operating Status. The first time a foreign team have ever beaten them! Like this page to receive our updates. The records are held in alphabetical order by seaman's name . USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Operational and non-operational service may be counted, providing that it was of 28 days or more duration. Show all records. All First World War records for these formations have been transferred to TNA. 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. Most of the masters and mates were from West Wales. Much of the information would have come from the Royal Navy. 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. Underneath, the caption reads: `The life-line is firm thanks to the Merchant Navy`. Some are at TNA, while a few are held by theNational Maritime Museum. Even if a person had several mentions, he would only have one emblem. My mum told me that he did serve. Records we hold This website Search Now, many warships had immediately packed the harbour, so, the navy men and merchant seamen had all gone to St. John's for their off hours. Merchant Navy 1939-1945 Royal Navy 1939-1945 Naval Warfare Atlantic 1939-1945 Malta 1939-1945 British Home Front 1939-1945 British Army 1939-1945 Submarines German Home Front 1939-1945 Prisoners of War, . The series generally contains information about radio equipment . Records 1939 - 1946. Merchant Navy mariners were recorded in the 1841 census but unfortunately not those on board ships either stationed on shore or at sea. SA. Medal record of Alfred Harry Badman, BT 395/1. Let us know. . 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. "Along with this new series have come some new experiences. Military ; Card Catalog ; Member Search ; DNA. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence You can also search: the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Consult series BT 140 for details. As the U-boat is forced to hide beneath the surface of the sea a cat- . . There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results ; . All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for ae. After four months aboard the raider, we were transferred to a prison ship. Records include photos, honours, service files and death records. Gunner) fell from the gun platform on A deck to B deck, receiving head injuries. Fireman. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday The troop decks in this compartment contained many RAF and RAOC and the number of casualties was probably increased by the wooden laddersbeing smashed by the explosion. Anselm was indeed unfortunate to have been sighted and torpedoed whilst within the supposed protection of an anti-submarine screen by an isolated homeward bound U-Boat. George Smith died later of his injuries. This information will help us make improvements to the website. By 1895, they were essentially out of business. v3.0. A silver rose on the ribbon bar signifies the award of a bar. Showing 1-30 of 261 records. Merchant seafarers were involved in the Second World War from the first day to the last. The Consolidation of the Arabian Territories around Najd (1918-1926) 12. He listed drowning as the probable cause of death. The ship left Suez on 27th August via Port Sudan to load commercial cargo at Mombasa for Capetown and the UK. 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. Search and download () records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. Increased Centralization and the Ikhwan Movement (1926-1934) 13. Some copies of the latter have been digitized and put online by theMaritime History Archivein Canada. I remember him telling me that he was actually on his first day of a period of survivors leave when D Day commenced. They were first recorded on board vessels in port from 1851 (1861 for Scotland) and from 1861 measures were taken to record mariners at sea. The cards give the name of a ship and details of its movements, namely, the ports at which it docked, and passage between ports. A certificate came with a number (and new numbers were assigned if a replacement certificate was issued following the loss of the original). Photographs CAPTAIN CHARLES FRYATT If you have any unwanted Ordinary Seaman Charles Lomax served with the Merchant Navy in WW2. In early 1945, in the face of advancing British forces, the camp was evacuated, and we were marched to Marlag und Milag Nord, from where I was later repatriated. Whilst it is only short, it gives a vivid account of life on board ship as a RA gunner during WW2. The registers survive at TNA in BT 120, BT 112, BT 113, BT 114, BT 116 and BT 119. Read tagging guidelines. If you don't have an account please register. ","spans":[]}]}},{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceText","type":"slice-text","primary":{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceTextPrimary","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"After the declaration of war in September 1939, the Ministry of Shipping then under the control of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Gilmour took control of the merchant fleet. ","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.