merchant navy records 1939 to 1945

A single oak leaf emblem attached to the War Medal ribbon denotes a Mention-in-Despatches; the silver oak leaf, a Kings Commendation for Brave Conduct. Read My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman by Christopher and Michael Watts (Society of Genealogists, 2002) this title is also available in our shop. The swell was of considerable height and the ships became almost unmanageable and steering had to be assisted by engines. Awarded for service in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea or the Indian Ocean between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Within the Returns of Births and Deaths of Passengers 1939-1963 there are for 1939-1945 also records of deaths of soldiers on hospital and troopships, but it is necessary to know the name of the ship. 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. During wartime, however, they can become an auxiliary to the United States Navycalled upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military. 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, . Generally the qualifying service period for the Italy Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Divided first by country and then by shipping company, the book includes the ships of such great Few if any of the troops had ever crossed the English Channel let alone been exposed to the rigours of the North Atlantic. Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. Generally the qualifying service period for the Burma Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday For Matty Towers the three witness statements into his death are very contradictory. She left on 3rd of August with four other troop ships and three ships carrying military equipment still as part of convoy WS 9B. Archives, Open Government Licence He said he always craved the soil under his boots. Then, as European-built iron-hulled sailing ships replaced wooden square-riggers, Canadian shipbuilders found it harder to compete. The cards record the movements of both British-registered and Allied vessels engaged in the war effort. Wafer it states "he failed to re-join ship" and for M. Towers it reads "died as result of accident". Ordinary Seaman Charles Lomax served with the Merchant Navy in WW2. The series generally contains information about radio equipment . In any case, there might be a legitimate reason why only some cards indicate the latest name, i.e. 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. the intended destination, details of the cargo expected to be collected at the next port of call, the initials of the clerk making the entry and the date it was made, vessels requisitioned for military service. In themerchant navy the term officer can refer to a master, mate, engineer, fishing boat skipper, second hand or cook. Records of Royal Naval Reserve ratings in service between 1914 -1955 are available online atwww.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-reserve-service-records.htm. 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. Maurice John Case MBE: 20 . You may also like to read ourguide on Merchant seamens medals and honours. From things he had said prior to his death, the family believe that the story could actually be based on himself and those he served with. 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 . "Service in the Merchant Marine was considered civilian service under several different civilian personnel agencies. Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. 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. If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. Although the design of this website looks rather old-fashioned, it's still updated and is a good resource for Welsh Merchant Navy records. Let us know. Genealogical enquiries should be made in writing and search fees are 30. Merchant Seaman records sometimes identify a vessel an individual served on only by the Ships' Official Number. He died on 21st Aug 1973. Before 1747 no formal record keeping of crews on merchant ships existed. duty by S. Pentith 3rd officer. Matthew Towers was 48 years old when he lost his life. 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. The following books may also prove useful: In general, seamens records for the period 1913-1972 can be found at TNA (unfortunately, most records for the First World War period do not appear to havesurvived). Want to find out more about your relative's service? 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. Records 1939 - 1946. The minimum qualifying period was one day. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. Next Apply for your own . Narrow your search by using double quotation marks to find a ships or persons full name, such as Sydney Star or John Williams. There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. By 1895, they were essentially out of business. Operations in and around the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943 would also qualify. 1939 194 Yeah, reviewing a book Embleme Wappen Malings Deutscher U Boote 1939 194 could . Ships & Convoys. The pouches are arranged in three sequences: Each sequence is in alphabetical order by the seaman's last name. 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. World War Two 1939-1945 - Archives New Zealand Skip to main content Our reading rooms are open. It lists nearly 24,000 Welsh merchant masters, mates and engineers who were active between 1800 and 1945. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. Alternatively, search The National Archives Library to see what is available to consult at Kew. If you have any unwanted Instead, these details were recorded on movements cards held and maintained at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-reserve-service-records.htm, First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve records. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945; . There were no portholes, and ventilation came from the open access hatches which had to be closed at night when the ships were darkened. The ships formed up with the Clyde contingent for convoy WS 16 west of Orsay on the 17th. Unfortunately, many cards contain a lot of abbreviations and there is no known key for them. Records of masters and mates passing the voluntary examination are in series BT 143 (which includes a name index) and in BT 6/218-219. 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. We also found evidence after 1943 of his return to the Army, promotion to Captain and his service in India, near Karachi. Not all changes in ships names are logged on the cards and in such cases it will be necessary to obtain the ships official number (not usually recorded on the cards) and check against that number for all possible name changes. 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. Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from IWM collections Menu. All were willing and did their best to help abandon ship quickly in the short time available. 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?). The world has been led by intensive and extensive waves of darkness from renaissance all the way down to the Covid crisis. Art . Medal record of Alfred Harry Badman, BT 395/1. I know that during 1939 to 1945 he served on a few Navy ships as an engineering officer RNVR and some time ago I sent a letter to obtain a record of the Naval ships he sailed in. If you are ordering more than one record for seamen with similar names, you should check if their records are on the same page. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence MO has 20th Century military records for discharged and deceased veterans. *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. The funeral for 46 year old Jim Wafer was held on Tuesday 1st of June 1943 at St Dominic's Roman Catholic Church then burial at Ford Cemetery. Second World War (1939-1945) Archival records and resources from the Second World War Archival resources from Canada's participation in the Second World War. 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. Want to know what life was like during the War? Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. 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. The weather was initially fair but by the 16th November they were in heavy seas in a Force 8 gale which was right on the beam causing the ships to roll heavily. ","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. 1.30 a.m. Friday 14th of May 1943 Jim Wafer was seen apparently asleep in Seaman Gunners Quarters by Able Seaman Stanley Poole. Conversely, it was fortunate that fair weather allowed the rescue of 80 per cent of the total on board. I remember him telling me about runs to Malta and how soldiers shouldn't have been on ships. The 1939-1945 Star was also awarded to recipients of a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. These entries record a single voyage during which the seaman was engaged on a particular ship. Records we hold This website Search She was ordered into the Clyde and the 990 RAF and 419 troops on board were going to disembark. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Ruth Mcmillen. Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. The registers follow a similar format to Registers of Seamen Tickets in BT 113. In 1939, a third of the world's merchant ships were British, and there were some 200,000 sailors. From 1850 onwards, an officer was only officially qualified or certified as an officer if he had been awarded a Certificate of Competency (by passing an exam) or a Certificate of Service (for long service). Each set of cards records: The cards also show if the ship was torpedoed, mined, damaged or sunk. Use our guide Abbreviations in merchant seamens records to interpret the records. privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards, Available in digital format unless otherwise stated. We do not provide copies of online records please download to view, Visit us in Kew to see original documents or view online records for free, Consider paying for As fast as they drew up new convoy plans, the instructions would change. When the war began, Canada had 38 ocean-going merchant vessels. 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. Consult series BT 140 for details. Monarch of Bermuda sailed on Christmas Eve for Liverpool via Trinidad arriving back on 21st January 1942. The ship left Suez on 27th August via Port Sudan to load commercial cargo at Mombasa for Capetown and the UK. Women also sometimes served at sea in the Merchant Navy. This collection records the movements of ships ordinarily engaged in foreign going trade. AB. We weren't sorry to leave there in a cattle truck three days later, when we were taken to Drancy Prison in Paris. Military ; Card Catalog ; Member Search ; DNA. 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. Read tagging guidelines. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. From 10.00 a.m. 11.00 p.m. he was seen on his rounds attending to blackout by J. Lowe. The convoy would have various naval escorts during the trip which would join and leave as the convoy passed their bases. Historically many vessels have had their names changed, sometimes on more than one occasion. A silver rose on the ribbon bar signifies the award of a bar. 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 Merchant navy defence courses: general information ([Melbourne? A certificate came with a number (and new numbers were assigned if a replacement certificate was issued following the loss of the original). The records are held in alphabetical order by seaman's name . 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. For information on how to order an Official Military Personnel File for a veteran who separated from service before 1957, . Records include photos, honours, service files and death records. Their targets now travel in convoys, fiercely guarded by Royal Navy destroyers, and when contact is finally made the hunters rapidly become the hunted. ConsultBT 122-126and BT 128 (index in BT 127). 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 A merchant seaman had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. The two aircraft carriers escorting the convoy lost aircraft due to crash landings, considered by Admiral Somerville to be due to lack of training and experience of deck landing to a regrettable degree. Shortly after, Samaria set sail for Algiers via the River Clyde, Glasgow. The Lloyd Captains Registers were compiled from the records of certificates issued to foreign-going masters. He may have been in the Devon or Dorset Regiment. 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. Despite the fact that merchant crews were not compelled to sail on the dangerous ocean passages, most indeed did. The men went to their boats in an orderly and quiet manner. It was the Knights of Columbus Hostel on Harvey Road which was frequently used by the servicemen. SA. Most of the prisoners, including myself, were sent from Drancy to concentration camps. privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Seamen's Service on Royal Navy Ships. The convoy arrived in Durban on 18th December. Increased Centralization and the Ikhwan Movement (1926-1934) 13. Some of the seamen discharged during this period. ","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. The contents of the records vary, but they usually include name, age, place of birth, register ticket, ship names, and dates of voyages. In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). Against J. The War Medal 1939-45 was awarded for 28 days full-time service in the Armed Forces between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. The Atlantic Star was also awarded to those awarded a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. Thomas Andrew "Tots" Storey (d.7th Sep 1940), L/Bdr Norman Power Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery. Voyages in the registers were usually recorded either as: Home trade voyages (repeated or reported voyages). Using testimony from new witnesses and hitherto undisclosed public records, he seeks to explain why they were reported missing: believed killed. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. You may be searching for a vesselfor which these cards were never used. 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). On being examined by the ship's surgeon life was found to be extinct. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Coast Guard Nav Bouy Patrols in Pacific 1964 Ship name Grisham. At 8.00 a.m. Matty Towers looked in his bunk and then reported Grandad missing to the Bosun, J. Hynes. ", JEng. 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. Canada's air support was crucial throughout the war. Merchant seamen 1939-1945. Visit The National Archives bookshop for a range of publications on the Merchant Navy. You can find out whether a medal was issued by looking at the markings on the records. 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. Monarch of Bermuda embarked 2,287 troops and was one of ten liners in this convoy which eventually sailed on 12th November. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. 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! If you don't have an account please register. American Merchant Marine Databases includes: . Germany turned submarines, battleships, aircraft and mines on Britains supply lines, while British and American shipyards worked tirelessly to replace those ships that were sunk. 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. Below is the last movement card for the SS Athenia. The two Ellerman ships City of Lincoln and City of Edinburgh had to return to Liverpool and the Clyde because cargo had shifted. Have you found an error with this catalogue description? Fort Pepperrell was in St. John's and many American servicemen were to resident in the capital city. heavily illustrated book presents the details of those ships and describes the fate of those lost between 1939 and 1945. By war's end 410 merchant ships had been built in Canada. "Along with this new series have come some new experiences. To view all records for an individual, select 'ALL' in the Service box. The cards give the name of a ship and details of its movements, namely, the ports at which it docked, and passage between ports. (d.13th October 1945), Capt. However the majority are held by the Maritime History Archive. On the outbreak of the 1939-1945 war between the United Kingdom and Germany (3 September 1939), British-registered merchant ship masters were sent radio messages instructing them to open the sealed envelope which had been deposited in ships' safes as much as a year previously. The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. You can find more details here. All surviving agreements and crew lists with their logbooks are held by The National Archives, . She was torpedoed and shelled by the German U-boat U30 without warning, becoming the first merchant vessel casualty of the Second World War. Dad signed off the ship on 8th May. Merchant Navy Day. We do not provide copies of online records please download to view, Visit us in Kew to see original documents or view online records for free, Consider paying for 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. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results . Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. Archives, Open Government Licence Once you have obtained a certificate number from the index in BT 127, consult the table below for the respective record series reference: Certificate numbers with a letter(s) prefix NWS were issued in the colonies. 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. Helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by 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. But by the time its recommendations were implemented in 1994, the 15-year- old deckboys would have been in their mid-60s, while a seaman of 50 when the war ended would have been 100. 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. Generally awarded if the seaman qualified for one of the Stars. Find out dates of departure and arrival by consulting: Search the alphabetical register (BT 115) on Findmypast () which was compiled from crew lists. Remember, you'll need to show photo ID to be issued with records. E. A. Huntbatch SS Orama (d.15th July 1941), Fireman James Gilbert Goodwin S.S. San Casto (London). At 5.10 p.m. he was assigned A.R.P. The T124X records detail the sea service of merchant seamen who served on Royal Navy ships (or Royal Navy auxiliary vessels). There was no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. . By 08.20 both escorts were proceeding at 6 knots towing Anselms empty boats, but as speed increased to 13 knots these gradually broke away and were lost. In Britain, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries, 3 September is Merchant Navy Day. From 1835, details of seafarers were recorded in registers by the Register Office for Merchant Seamen, later the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, using information from the crew lists. Edit Search New Search. : s.n., between 1939 and 1940) AWM call number: 387.5071094 M554; Online. For each officer registers provide: Look for a certificate entry in theregisters of certificates (they are arranged by certificate number) listed below. Merchant ship movement card (catalogue reference: BT 389). Our Chapter one is called The Idea of the World because it reflects the meaning of the efforts of the ancient's philosophers-geographers to know the shape and size of the Earth, discover its position in space, and find out what is around them. A register entry for a foreign trade voyage, from BT 124. Due to the multifaceted nature of the Merchant Marine, we are very grateful to obtain this collection in order to provide clarity to their service," said Theresa Fitzgerald, Along with this new series have come some new experiences. 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. 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. Most of the masters and mates were from West Wales. Don Fraser, "'Men of a service . These entries do not simply record a single voyage, but a half year (January to June or July to December) during which the seaman was engaged on a particular ship. How do I find out where my uncle was stationed during his stint in the Navy? This information will help us make improvements to the website. 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. Up to 1854 records are arranged by port and registry number; subsequently by ship's official number. The survivors in the water and boats were picked up by HMS Starwort and Challenger approximately 230 on the former and 820 on the latter, but owing to the intense overcrowding an accurate count was not possible. 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. You can also search: the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Our first night there we had doors for beds. This was simply a record of the. He was rescued, repatriated and managed to survive the war. My name was and still is on the wall of remembrance in the Mission to Seaman in South Shields. After five days of normal transportation (i.e., in cattle trucks), we arrived at Bremervorde in northwestern Germany near Bremen, and were then marched several miles to Stalag X-B in Sandbostel, where we were greeted by the stink of death. This camp bordered on primitive in every sense of the word. 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. (M.N. research. 3 hold. 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. Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. By 1878, Canada was the fourth largest ship-owning nation in the world, with a merchant fleet of 7,200 vessels. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. Search for the National Maritime Museums records of master and mate certificates (1850-1927) on Ancestry.co.uk (). At the National Archives, researchers can find information on the United States Navy ranging from the wooden hulled ships of the Continental Navy used in the Revolutionary War, to the deployment of massive Carrier Battle Groups and Navy Task Forces. 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.

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