merchant navy records 1939 to 1945

The Consolidation of the Arabian Territories around Najd (1918-1926) 12. After a change of orders she eventually left the Clyde with escorts on 30th June. Generally awarded if the seaman qualified for one of the Stars. He listed drowning as the probable cause of death. The registers follow a similar format to Registers of Seamen Tickets in BT 113. 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. During wartime, however, they can become an auxiliary to the United States Navycalled upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military. 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. Increased Centralization and the Ikhwan Movement (1926-1934) 13. Merchant Seaman records sometimes identify a vessel an individual served on only by the Ships' Official Number. 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. There were no clasps awarded with the Italy Star. 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). 09:00 to 17:00. 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. If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. to help with the costs of keeping the site running. Most of the prisoners, including myself, were sent from Drancy to concentration camps. Awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. For Matty Towers the three witness statements into his death are very contradictory. Consult series BT 140 for details. If a ship had a former name this would be written in brackets. Don Fraser, "'Men of a service . Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. Archives, Open Government Licence For information on how to order an Official Military Personnel File for a veteran who separated from service before 1957, . In the indexes, names beginning with Mc or Mac are usually found under the letter following that prefix. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. ","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. The details are in an appendix entitled An Alphabetical List of all the Masters and Mates in the Merchant Service. Here's some details: Full Name: Harold Dowle Born: 7th June 1911 I have a card with a discharge A number in the name of H Dowle of 714335 for 12/7/1938 on a ship called Lornaston (148881) from Liverpool. You may also like to read ourguide on Merchant seamens medals and honours. For each officer registers provide: Look for a certificate entry in theregisters of certificates (they are arranged by certificate number) listed below. I remember him telling me that he was actually on his first day of a period of survivors leave when D Day commenced. the National Archives. 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. This information will help us make improvements to the website. Most of the masters and mates were from West Wales. Contact the appropriate state or national archive. The database includes every British registered ship from 1855 to the early 1950s with official numbers 1 to 200000. Canada's air support was crucial throughout the war. Results 1-4 of 4 View Record Name Birth Date; The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. She left on 3rd of August with four other troop ships and three ships carrying military equipment still as part of convoy WS 9B. 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. TNA has detailed research guides on the Fourth and Fifth Registers of Seamen and other records. My mum told me that he did serve. 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. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. : s.n., between 1939 and 1940) AWM call number: 387.5071094 M554; Online. In Britain, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries, 3 September is Merchant Navy Day. Much of the information would have come from the Royal Navy. Awarded after the Battle of the Atlantic for service between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. 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. He died on 21st Aug 1973. James Wafer S.S. Samaria (d.14th May 1943). Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence - Merchant Navy during the Second World War -. The troops on Monarch of Bermuda were originally destined for the Far East but would now be discharged at Durban. Art . There were no portholes, and ventilation came from the open access hatches which had to be closed at night when the ships were darkened. 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. Little did I know, but back home I was considered missing and presumed dead. 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. Showing 1-30 of 261 records. Generally the qualifying service period for the Burma Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Wafer it states "he failed to re-join ship" and for M. Towers it reads "died as result of accident". Add a Name to this List In these instances the cards have been separated and placed alphabetically according to the name shown without a deletion. Most of the casualties were considered to have been killed by the explosion and subsequent flooding in No. 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. He said he always craved the soil under his boots. heavily illustrated book presents the details of those ships and describes the fate of those lost between 1939 and 1945. As fast as they drew up new convoy plans, the instructions would change. 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. Genealogical enquiriesshould be made in writing and search fees are 30. Catalogue entries for this series have been enhanced as part of a project supported by volunteers. A merchant seaman might also qualify serving in operations off the Moroccan coast between 8 November 1942 and 12 May 1943. The official records state the purser took possession of his discharge book, his I.D. Some idea of the danger awaiting convoys is given by the following story. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. Some of the seamen discharged during this period. 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. While the crew were preparing and lowering the lifeboats which were filled with personnel as they calmly filed up from the troop decks, HMS Challenger approached and skilfully placed her bow under the port quarter of Anselm, Many men jumped on board before the two ships became separated. By 05.47 all remaining boats were being rapidly filled by the use of side ladders and side decks while the remaining personnel jumped into the sea to grasp the lifelines of boats and rafts. 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. What are these records? On 1 September 1939 this passenger liner set sail from Glasgow with over 1400 passengers and crew aboard. 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. Operations in and around the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943 would also qualify. They subsequently sailed on convoy WS 17. The cards are of different colours depending on the type of qualification: Consult registers and renewals of certificates of competency ofmasters andmates in BT 317; masters, mates and engineers in BT 318; just engineersin BT 320 (1913-1935) (in process of transfer from National Maritime Museum under references RSS/ENG/5-6); and fishing officers in BT 396. By the 26th of June 1943 the crew of the Samaria had heard of the body of Jim Wafer being found in Liverpool. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results ; . There was no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. "Service in the Merchant Marine was considered civilian service under several different civilian personnel agencies. 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 Merchant Navy 1939-1945. Read tagging guidelines. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve recordscan also beaccessed online. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration On the Samaria crew list and report of character, James Wafer and Matty Towers are consecutive number 59 & 60. *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 registers survive at TNA in BT 120, BT 112, BT 113, BT 114, BT 116 and BT 119. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Ruth Mcmillen. Furthermore, the MID does not appear on the Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards approved from time . Merchant Navy Day. 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. Records of people younger than 100 and still alive, or who died after 1991 are officially closed. 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. Archives, Open Government Licence When he talked to my Grandad he was told that he had a bad headache. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. A little after 1.30 a.m. the last person to speak to Grandad was Able Seaman M. Towers. Image: Mary Evans/Pharcide"}},{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceText","type":"slice-text","primary":{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceTextPrimary","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"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. Sanitary arrangements were, as usual, inadequate. Matthew Towers was 48 years old when he lost his life. For skippers and mates of fishing boats, registers of certificates of competency are in BT 129and registers of certificates of service are in BT 130 (index in BT 138). Shortly after, Samaria set sail for Algiers via the River Clyde, Glasgow. Historically many vessels have had their names changed, sometimes on more than one occasion. The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. 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. 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). I think the tag '' should be removed from: Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events, All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, BT - Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies, Division within BT - Records of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen and successor, Merchant shipping movement cards 1939-1945, Merchant Navy ships' records: movement cards 1939-1945, Merchant Navy ships' records: registration of merchant ships, About our A merchant seaman had to have served a minimum of 28 days at sea. Visit The National Archives bookshop for a range of publications on the Merchant Navy. 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. 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 British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. A merchant seaman qualified serving within a restricted area in the Bay of Bengal. Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. George Smith died later of his injuries. Few if any of the troops had ever crossed the English Channel let alone been exposed to the rigours of the North Atlantic. 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. 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 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. Anyone who qualified for both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star would be awarded the first Star earned. Arrangements for those who succumbed to seasickness consisted of 40 gallon drums which slid about the deck with unpleasant splashings. This guide will help you find and interpret records of Merchant Navy officers from 1845 to 1965. Search and download () records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). They do not contain details of any passengers or crew. For example, MacDonald will not appear under the letter M but under D. 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. The ship left Suez on 27th August via Port Sudan to load commercial cargo at Mombasa for Capetown and the UK. photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. "The World's largest shipping company". Results 1-9 of 9 View Record Name Birth Date; View Record. 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. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence The cards record the movements of both British-registered and Allied vessels engaged in the war effort. ","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. You need to sign in to tag. 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. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. Voyages in the registers were usually recorded either as: Home trade voyages (repeated or reported voyages). Generally the qualifying service period for the Italy Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service.

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