He survived. The official history for the Second World War, Australia in the War of 1939-1945, has been digitised and is available for viewing on the Memorial's web site. Merchant Navy mariners were recorded in the 1841 census but unfortunately not those on board ships either stationed on shore or at sea. Women also sometimes served at sea in the Merchant Navy. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. Read tagging guidelines. Some are at TNA, while a few are held by theNational Maritime Museum. Archives, Open Government Licence 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Coast Guard Nav Bouy Patrols in Pacific 1964 Ship name Grisham. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results . Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. I believe, SS Port Sydney also survived the war so, I am uncertain on which ship Ronnie was serving when torpedoed. My name was and still is on the wall of remembrance in the Mission to Seaman in South Shields. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. By 1895, they were essentially out of business. Tragically, 30,248 merchant seamen lost their lives during World War Two, a death rate proportionally higher than in any of the armed forces. 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. However the majority are held by the Maritime History Archive. The 1939-1945 Star was also awarded to recipients of a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. This was simply a record of the. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. In the top left corner of the record is the ships name. The certificate number obtained from the index indicates: Certificate numbers with a letter(s) prefix NWS were issued in the colonies. The story was hand written and falling apart but I have typed it up for preservation. 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. 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. The Miramar ship index can be useful for obtaining this information. - Merchant Navy during the Second World War -. MERCHANT NAVY SEAMAN'S SEA SERVICE RECORDS Sea Service Records . TNA has detailed research guides on the Fourth and Fifth Registers of Seamen and other records. Instead, these details were recorded on movements cards held and maintained at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. v3.0. 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. Consult copies of the Mercantile Navy List for 1860 to 1864 in The National Archives reading rooms for alphabetical lists of masters and mates (with certificate numbers) as well as one-line obituaries for deceased seamen. It sank many submarines, but it also lost a large number of warships. Our If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. Nortraship. 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. Monarch of Bermuda sailed on Christmas Eve for Liverpool via Trinidad arriving back on 21st January 1942. Most of these men were not born in Asia; many were Egyptian. A register entry for a foreign trade voyage, from BT 124. A merchant seaman could qualify after six months service with at least one voyage in an operational area. AB. After a change of orders she eventually left the Clyde with escorts on 30th June. The T124X records detail the sea service of merchant seamen who served on Royal Navy ships (or Royal Navy auxiliary vessels). This series contains records of Merchant Seamen's Service on Royal Navy Ships. The first time a foreign team have ever beaten them! The story is called The Jinx. 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. 3 hold. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Also awarded, with no minimum service requirement, if service was terminated by death, disability due to service or capture as a prisoner-of-war. He was rescued, repatriated and managed to survive the war. The swell was of considerable height and the ships became almost unmanageable and steering had to be assisted by engines. 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. Monarch of Bermuda arrived in Durban 30th July and carried out repairs. However, service was considered military in nature for those who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946. To find out about a seamans entitlement, contact the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. Search and download () records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). Dad signed off the ship on 8th May. Results 1-4 of 4 View Record Name Birth Date; You can also search: the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Merchant mariners or merchant seamen are assigned to vessels that primarily transport cargo and passengers during peacetime. This collection records the movements of ships ordinarily engaged in foreign going trade. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. For details of the Arctic Star see our guide to Merchant seamans medals and honours. Photographs CAPTAIN CHARLES FRYATT There have been times when I've thought about the few months of kindness and friendliness shown by Frau Wilmbrock and her family in the village of Kirch, where I and fellow Stalag X-B prisoner Jock Reid worked their farm. Hello, I have just started to look for my deceased fathers merchant navy records. When he talked to my Grandad he was told that he had a bad headache. 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. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945; . v3.0, the day by day movements of the ship (in Athenias case the final entry records her sinking), anticipated movements, i.e. Merchant seamen who were discharged from the navy between 1940 and 1972 had their records filed in what became known as 'seamen's pouches'. LOG BOOKS AND CREW AGREEMENTS The movement control staff in Durban were receiving signals from London changing the instructions for the destinations of the various troops. The book's structure follows the chronological evolution of geographical opinions and retains a geohistorical narrative. 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 records were compiled at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. 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. Read My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman by Christopher and Michael Watts (Society of Genealogists, 2002) this title is also available in our shop. Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. 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. You may also like to read ourguide on Merchant seamens medals and honours. The trip back to Liverpool was via Durban, Capetown, Trinidad and Halifax. (These were originally described as 'Asian seamen' but that is misleading. In Britain, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries, 3 September is Merchant Navy Day. Operational and non-operational service may be counted, providing that it was of 28 days or more duration. Operations in and around the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943 would also qualify. Sanitary arrangements were, as usual, inadequate. 09:00 to 17:00. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve recordscan also beaccessed online. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. The convoy arrived in Freetown on 1st March. Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish ; Military ; Wills & Probate ; Immigration & Travel ; Schools, Directories & Church Histories ; Public Member Trees ; . The poster shows an ultra-realistic drawing with a coxswain at a ship's wheel, and an officer with binoculars drawn by Charles Wood. His brother Francis David Short was in the First War but I have no details on his service. We landed in Bordeaux a few weeks later and were taken to the prison camp Caserne Colonial Bordeaux. For ability and general conduct both men are reported as very good. Generally awarded if the seaman qualified for one of the Stars. 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. 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. Increased Centralization and the Ikhwan Movement (1926-1934) 13. The card entries do not all start or end at the same time. The convoy would have various naval escorts during the trip which would join and leave as the convoy passed their bases. The National Archives at St. Louis does not provide information for benefits or separation documents, such as DD-214s, for these records. Captain Elliott concluded that Anselm was abandoned without panic or unnecessary confusion. You need to sign in to tag. 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. At Halifax she embarked American troops to Reykjavik in Iceland and arrived back on 17th October a total journey time of three months. Search 5: service details of Merchant Navy cooks 1913-1956 This is a search in record series BT 319. 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. 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. Narrow your search by using double quotation marks to find a ships or persons full name, such as Sydney Star or John Williams. 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. 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. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. 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. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. ","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. 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). 1.30 a.m. Friday 14th of May 1943 Jim Wafer was seen apparently asleep in Seaman Gunners Quarters by Able Seaman Stanley Poole. 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 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. 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. Canada's air support was crucial throughout the war. The Canadian Merchant Marine had only forty-one ocean-going merchant ships at the outbreak of the Second World War. 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 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, 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. If you don't have an account please register. ", JEng. Edit Search New Search. Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. During the war this fleet underwent tremendous expansion as Canadian shipyards produced 403 merchant vessels. ","spans":[]}]}},{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceImage","type":"slice-image","primary":{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceImagePrimary","image":{"dimensions":{"width":1200,"height":742},"alt":"Black and white photo of a group of officers on the SS City of Manila, a cargo steamer of the Ellerman City Line","copyright":"Mary Evans/Pharcide","url":"https://images.prismic.io/findmypast-titan/16661bfe-a635-4d82-a616-66a6b14d10d7_group-photo-officers-of-ss-city-of-manila-a-cargo-steamer-of-the-ellerman-city-line-sunk-in-the-atlantic-by-a-german-torpedo-in-1942-with-just-one-crew-member-lost-mary-evans-pharcide.jpg?auto=compress,format"},"caption":"Group photo, officers of SS City of Manila, a cargo steamer of the Ellerman City Line, sunk in the Atlantic by a German torpedo in 1942, with just one crew member lost. Merchant Seaman records sometimes identify a vessel an individual served on only by the Ships' Official Number. please If you are ordering more than one record for seamen with similar names, you should check if their records are on the same page. 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. Gunner, R. W. Orr D.E.M.S. 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). Main image:Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic in 1942 during World War 2. 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. The medals were claimed and issued from 1946 to 2002. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. The Oil Concessions 15. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. This information will help us make improvements to the website. Like this page to receive our updates. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. . The two Ellerman ships City of Lincoln and City of Edinburgh had to return to Liverpool and the Clyde because cargo had shifted. The Atlantic Star was also awarded to those awarded a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. Generally the qualifying service period for the Pacific Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Robert Malcolm Barber MV Patella (d.16th Feb 1944). Monarch of Bermuda left Durban on 24th March and returned to Liverpool via Cape Town and Freetown arriving back on 23rd April. At this point the body of Matthew Towers A.B. In the eleven months on the ship Dad had spent three months in Liverpool. 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. By war's end 410 merchant ships had been built in Canada. From 10.00 a.m. 11.00 p.m. he was seen on his rounds attending to blackout by J. Lowe. . If they appear on the same page, you should only pay one fee. Archives, Open Government Licence Ordinary Seaman Charles Lomax served with the Merchant Navy in WW2. 1 With only two decades since the ending of the Great War most serving shipmasters would have been at sea during . Inicio; FAQ's; Biblioteca; Ayuda; Bsqueda avanzada; Comentarios/sugerencias . to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Even if a person had several mentions, he would only have one emblem. The ships formed up with the Clyde contingent for convoy WS 16 west of Orsay on the 17th. 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. Generally the qualifying service period for the Italy Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Showing 1-30 of 261 records. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. Registration of cooks in the Merchant Navy began on 30 June 1908. Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. 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. Next Apply for your own . SS Otranto, Capt. 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. Their targets now travel in convoys, fiercely guarded by Royal Navy destroyers, and when contact is finally made the hunters rapidly become the hunted. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Gunner) fell from the gun platform on A deck to B deck, receiving head injuries. Below is the last movement card for the SS Athenia. George Smith died later of his injuries. 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. Unfortunately, many cards contain a lot of abbreviations and there is no known key for them. This information will help us make improvements to the website. 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. Our first night there we had doors for beds. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. 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). We are now on Facebook. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for ae. 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). Many years later he wrote a short fictional story about a Maritime Regiment gunner who brought nothing but bad luck. For example, MacDonald will not appear under the letter M but under D. the Armed Forces Memorial roll of honour. You do not have to fill in all fields to search. Genealogical enquiriesshould be made in writing and search fees are 30. In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers' records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). Owners and gross tonnage (G.T.) These entries record a single voyage during which the seaman was engaged on a particular ship. The records are held in alphabetical order by seaman's name . We weren't sorry to leave there in a cattle truck three days later, when we were taken to Drancy Prison in Paris. 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. On 28th of May 1943 he was buried in El Alia Cemetery Algiers. research. 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. Before 1747 no formal record keeping of crews on merchant ships existed. By 1878, Canada was the fourth largest ship-owning nation in the world, with a merchant fleet of 7,200 vessels. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. He listed drowning as the probable cause of death. Up to 1854 records are arranged by port and registry number; subsequently by ship's official number. I myself [Captain Elliot] slid into the water shortly before the ship took up a vertical position stern up and then disappeared completely at 05.59. This was 22 minutes after first being torpedoed. 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. 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 caused miserable conditions throughout the overcrowded and claustrophobic troopdecks. To view all records for an individual, select 'ALL' in the Service box. In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). E. A. Huntbatch SS Orama (d.15th July 1941), Fireman James Gilbert Goodwin S.S. San Casto (London). The details are in an appendix entitled An Alphabetical List of all the Masters and Mates in the Merchant Service. The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. Want to know what life was like during the War? *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. If you have any unwanted 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. Find answers to your research questions at, How to File a FOIA Request for Archival Records. Friends of The National American Merchant Marine Databases includes: . "Along with this new series have come some new experiences. 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. According to a later report by the ship Cathay, the previous nights U-Boat dispositions siutuated a submarine close to the position of Anselm and which, despite the three corvette anti-submarine screen, allowed U-96 to put in a successful attack at 05.37 when a torpedo struck the port side reserve bunkers of Anselm. Records of people younger than 100 and still alive, or who died after 1991 are officially closed. List view Image view. The convoy arrived in Durban on 18th December. 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. There was no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. Then, as European-built iron-hulled sailing ships replaced wooden square-riggers, Canadian shipbuilders found it harder to compete. The less said about our stay at Drancy the better. recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items. 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. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy campaign medal records 1939-1945. are on the same page. ","spans":[]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Main image:Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic in 1942 during World War 2.

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