merchant navy records 1939 to 1945

Merchant Seaman records sometimes identify a vessel an individual served on only by the Ships' Official Number. 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. 1. 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 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. The History Of Saudi Arabia [PDF] [46hijsi6afh0] - vdoc.pub Our Merchant Navy timeline - The Merchant Navy - NZHistory He survived. If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. 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. Two days later the Coroner held an inquest into Grandad's death and the verdict was given as unascertainable. This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. You can search for ships official numbers through the Crew List Index Project. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Giron. 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. Unfortunately, many cards contain a lot of abbreviations and there is no known key for them. 1939-1945. 09:00 to 17:00. In 1939 the Admiralty instructed the Board of Trade, for reasons of. The troops on Monarch of Bermuda were originally destined for the Far East but would now be discharged at Durban. 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, . 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. There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. Let us know. (PDF) Geophilosophy of premodern | Goran Mutabdzija - Academia.edu Use our guide Abbreviations in merchant seamens records to interpret the records. The National Maritime Museum holds the registers (see below). giving a true reflection as to when the name-change was made. She left on 3rd of August with four other troop ships and three ships carrying military equipment still as part of convoy WS 9B. United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941 - FamilySearch A little after 1.30 a.m. the last person to speak to Grandad was Able Seaman M. Towers. ","spans":[]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Main image:Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic in 1942 during World War 2. A certificate came with a number (and new numbers were assigned if a replacement certificate was issued following the loss of the original). This information will help us make improvements to the website. If they appear on the same page, you should only pay one fee. Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939-1945 - Warsailors.com 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. Conditions on the raider were passable, but the prison ship was deplorable. Up to 1854 records are arranged by port and registry number; subsequently by ship's official number. By war's end 410 merchant ships had been built in Canada. Seedies Merchant Navy Awards - Forces War Records It sank many submarines, but it also lost a large number of warships. 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. was taken ashore by the military authorities for burial. There was no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. 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. privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards, Available in digital format unless otherwise stated. Edward William Quilter Collection | Library of Congress Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck Evan McGilvray 2020-09-30 This military biography explores In themerchant navy the term officer can refer to a master, mate, engineer, fishing boat skipper, second hand or cook. 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). On 1 September 1939 this passenger liner set sail from Glasgow with over 1400 passengers and crew aboard. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. 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. Also awarded, with no minimum service requirement, if service was terminated by death, disability due to service or capture as a prisoner-of-war. 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. Next Apply for your own . By the 26th of June 1943 the crew of the Samaria had heard of the body of Jim Wafer being found in Liverpool. BBC - WW2 People's War - Timeline You may be searching for a ship on dates before or after movement cards were in use on that vessel. MO has 20th Century military records for discharged and deceased veterans. Order records to view when you visit. research. (d.13th October 1945), Capt. The Atlantic Star was also awarded to those awarded a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. After a change of orders she eventually left the Clyde with escorts on 30th June. Monarch of Bermuda arrived in Durban 30th July and carried out repairs. Although the design of this website looks rather old-fashioned, it's still updated and is a good resource for Welsh Merchant Navy records. You do not have to fill in all fields to search. 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. Show all records. 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. Research guide C12: The Merchant Navy: Ship registration and Custom House records; Research guide E1: . American Merchant Marine Databases includes: . Welcome to the The British Merchant Navy - Old Friends Plus. Gunner and T. Moulton Sectionman. This information will help us make improvements to the website. Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. These were to be my grandfather's final words on earth. It was the Knights of Columbus Hostel on Harvey Road which was frequently used by the servicemen. The T124T records detail the sea service of merchant seamen who served on tugs. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Military ; Card Catalog ; Member Search ; DNA. Merchant seafarers were involved in the Second World War from the first day to the last. She was torpedoed and shelled by the German U-boat U30 without warning, becoming the first merchant vessel casualty of the Second World War. Fort Pepperrell was in St. John's and many American servicemen were to resident in the capital city. Willenbrock. 3rd Radio Off. Underneath, the caption reads: `The life-line is firm thanks to the Merchant Navy`. research. The poster shows an ultra-realistic drawing with a coxswain at a ship's wheel, and an officer with binoculars drawn by Charles Wood. A merchant seaman had to have served a minimum of 28 days at sea. card and his grey suit jacket. He said he always craved the soil under his boots. A merchant seaman could qualify after six months service with at least one voyage in an operational area. During wartime, however, they can become an auxiliary to the United States Navycalled upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military. Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from IWM collections Menu. Arrangements for those who succumbed to seasickness consisted of 40 gallon drums which slid about the deck with unpleasant splashings. ","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. Owners and gross tonnage (G.T.) The convoy arrived in Freetown on 1st March. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy ships records: movement cards 1939-1945, Friends of The National On the Samaria crew list and report of character, James Wafer and Matty Towers are consecutive number 59 & 60. Information is contained in pouches and includes personal details such as name, age, rank, rating/grade and qualifications, together with details of the vessels on which the individual served. Some are at TNA, while a few are held by theNational Maritime Museum. Search indexes to crew lists from 1861 to 1913 by name on findmypast (). - Merchant Navy during the Second World War -. 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. The ship left Suez on 27th August via Port Sudan to load commercial cargo at Mombasa for Capetown and the UK. 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. Merchant Navy 1939-1945. Ordinary Seaman Charles Lomax served with the Merchant Navy in WW2. On 13th December the weather reached gale force which repeated the heavy rolling and misery in the troopdecks experienced on the first leg of the voyage. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. Registration of cooks in the Merchant Navy began on 30 June 1908. 09:00 to 17:00. World War Two 1939-1945 - Archives New Zealand Skip to main content Our reading rooms are open. Search for the National Maritime Museums records of master and mate certificates (1850-1927) on Ancestry.co.uk (). We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 It should be noted that the cards do not always reflect changes in the ship's name and that it may be necessary to search for a ship under its various names. The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. 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 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. 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. 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). Little did I know, but back home I was considered missing and presumed dead. Shortly after, Samaria set sail for Algiers via the River Clyde, Glasgow. Captain Elliott concluded that Anselm was abandoned without panic or unnecessary confusion. We also found evidence after 1943 of his return to the Army, promotion to Captain and his service in India, near Karachi. Brian Roy Clarke SS Sithonia, Sea. Records available only at The National Archives in Kew To access the records in this. Fireman. 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. 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. Although the Merchant Navy was a civilian service, during the periods of hostilities some mariners served in uniform with the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Reserve Trawler Section, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries. At 5.10 p.m. he was assigned A.R.P. Catalogue entries for this series have been enhanced as part of a project supported by volunteers. You need to sign in to tag. . 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. 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. 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. This information will help us make improvements to the website. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. 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. 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 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 pouches are arranged in three sequences: Each sequence is in alphabetical order by the seaman's last name. 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. They also record the location (by latitude and longitude) and date a ship was sunk. AB. There were still some men on the after deck, but could not see if they had jumped clear before the ship sank. 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. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. During the war this fleet underwent tremendous expansion as Canadian shipyards produced 403 merchant vessels. Search and download ( charges apply) records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). Most of the casualties were considered to have been killed by the explosion and subsequent flooding in No. Monarch of Bermuda sailed on Christmas Eve for Liverpool via Trinidad arriving back on 21st January 1942. Get a copy of military service records: Overview - GOV.UK Merchant Navy officers - The National Archives Read tagging guidelines. British merchant seamen of World War II - Wikipedia Gunner, R. W. Orr D.E.M.S. Want to know what life was like during the War? Most of these men were not born in Asia; many were Egyptian. Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. His brother Francis David Short was in the First War but I have no details on his service. 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. 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. . Even if a person had several mentions, he would only have one emblem. Some idea of the danger awaiting convoys is given by the following story. He describes why . We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. Research guide C10: The Merchant Navy: World War Two Archives, Open Government Licence If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 261046 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible. ConsultBT 139for certificates of competency from 1861-1921, BT 142forcertificates of service from 1862-1921 andBT 140for certificates of service of engineers examined in the colonies from 1870-1921 (index in BT 141). The medals were claimed and issued from 1946 to 2002. E. A. Huntbatch SS Orama (d.15th July 1941), Fireman James Gilbert Goodwin S.S. San Casto (London). Dad signed off the ship on 8th May. 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.