Information about official records for the Merchant Navy (UK) can be found at the National Maritime Museum (UK) Details about the role of the Australian Merchant Navy and the role Australian merchant ships played in World War II can be found at Merchant Ships of Australia in World War 2. Another brother Thomas was in the British Army. Awarded after the Battle of the Atlantic for service between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. When they reached Aden on 15th August the convoy was disbanded. Many were singing songs while the boats were being lowered. privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Seamen's Service on Royal Navy Ships. ","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. 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. "The World's largest shipping company". Don Fraser, "'Men of a service . Merchant Navy 1939-1945 Royal Navy 1939-1945 Naval Warfare Atlantic 1939-1945 Malta 1939-1945 British Home Front 1939-1945 British Army 1939-1945 Submarines German Home Front 1939-1945 Prisoners of War, . The convoy would have various naval escorts during the trip which would join and leave as the convoy passed their bases. Have you found an error with this catalogue description? Historically many vessels have had their names changed, sometimes on more than one occasion. 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. 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. . It was the Knights of Columbus Hostel on Harvey Road which was frequently used by the servicemen. 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. On 5th July when she was 300 miles astern of convoy WS 9B she was torpedoed by U-96 under Capt. These records come from The National Archives' record series BT112, BT113, BT114, BT115, BT116, BT119 and BT120. James Wafer S.S. Samaria (d.14th May 1943). Monarch of Bermuda sailed on Christmas Eve for Liverpool via Trinidad arriving back on 21st January 1942. The first time a foreign team have ever beaten them! Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. 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. The contents of the records vary, but they usually include name, age, place of birth, register ticket, ship names, and dates of voyages. 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. Fireman. 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. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. My name was and still is on the wall of remembrance in the Mission to Seaman in South Shields. 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. Some are at TNA, while a few are held by theNational Maritime Museum. 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). There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. 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. A merchant seaman might also qualify serving in operations off the Moroccan coast between 8 November 1942 and 12 May 1943. The library does have collections of books, dealing with . For information on how to order an Official Military Personnel File for a veteran who separated from service before 1957, . Services and information Second World War death records Search the war dead service files from the Second World War. (BSLOC_2013_11_114) Everett Collection Mary Evans","spans":[{"start":0,"end":131,"type":"em"}]}]}}],"metaTitle":null,"metaOgTitle":null,"metaDescription":null,"metaOgDescription":null,"metaCanonical":null,"addNoIndexTag":null,"_meta":{"__ref":"PrismicMeta:XgIZ8RAAACEA9U7G"}}},"TrustpilotTrustScore:4bdc84ff000064000505d022":{"__typename":"TrustpilotTrustScore","id":"4bdc84ff000064000505d022","trustScore":3.8},"PrismicRelatedDocument:XgIaTRAAACEA9VB8":{"__typename":"PrismicRelatedDocument","id":"XgIaTRAAACEA9VB8","lang":"en-us","type":"article-page-1939","uid":"the-merchant-navy"},"PrismicRelatedDocument:XgIaGBAAACEA9U96":{"__typename":"PrismicRelatedDocument","id":"XgIaGBAAACEA9U96","lang":"en-au","type":"article-page-1939","uid":"the-merchant-navy"},"PrismicRelatedDocument:XgIaORAAACIA9VAa":{"__typename":"PrismicRelatedDocument","id":"XgIaORAAACIA9VAa","lang":"en-ie","type":"article-page-1939","uid":"the-merchant-navy"},"PrismicMeta:XgIZ8RAAACEA9U7G":{"__typename":"PrismicMeta","id":"XgIZ8RAAACEA9U7G","firstPublicationDate":"2019-12-24T14:00:46+0000","lastPublicationDate":"2019-12-24T14:00:46+0000","alternateLanguages":[{"__ref":"PrismicRelatedDocument:XgIaTRAAACEA9VB8"},{"__ref":"PrismicRelatedDocument:XgIaGBAAACEA9U96"},{"__ref":"PrismicRelatedDocument:XgIaORAAACIA9VAa"}]}},"pathname":"/1939register/the-merchant-navy","publicPath":"/titan/dist/","browser":{"name":"Safari","fullVersion":"15.5","majorVersion":"15","osName":"Mac OS","isBot":false}}, Discover the sailors in your family history with the 1939 Register. Awarded for service between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945, in direct support of land operations in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany, in the North sea, the English Channel or the Bay of Biscay (service off the coast of the south of France could qualify for the Italy Star, see below). Modern entries giving wholesale name-changes to a ship's multiple set of cards could not be made to historic records. Visit The National Archives bookshop for a range of publications on the Merchant Navy. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. This guide will help you find and interpret records of Merchant Navy officers from 1845 to 1965. 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. The database includes every British registered ship from 1855 to the early 1950s with official numbers 1 to 200000. There were no clasps awarded with the Italy Star. Monarch of Bermuda sailed for Suez with an estimated 2,200 troops on board on 28th June in company with seven other ships and escorted by the destroyers HMS Reading and Piorun (Polish). 3 hold. The Crew List Index Project (CLIP) offers a searchable index of ships by official number. please
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). If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. Merchant navy defence courses: general information ([Melbourne? Also awarded, with no minimum service requirement, if service was terminated by death, disability due to service or capture as a prisoner-of-war. Military ; Card Catalog ; Member Search ; DNA. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for ae. In the eleven months on the ship Dad had spent three months in Liverpool. You can also search: the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items. 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. The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. From 1845 onwards a system of examinations was introduced for masters and mates. It may help to know the number of a ship as ships are sometimes referred to in the records by their number rather then their name. 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. He was rescued, repatriated and managed to survive the war. The Oil Concessions 15. 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 Genealogical enquiries should be made in writing and search fees are 30. This information will help us make improvements to the website. 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. 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. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. Sanitary arrangements were, as usual, inadequate. Each set of cards records: The cards also show if the ship was torpedoed, mined, damaged or sunk. 1 With only two decades since the ending of the Great War most serving shipmasters would have been at sea during . By now the United States had entered the war and Japanese forces were invading Malaya. Use the name indexes (indicated below in brackets) to locate a certificate number. Owners and gross tonnage (G.T.) All surviving agreements and crew lists with their logbooks are held by The National Archives, . Records we hold This website Search 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). If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. After four months aboard the raider, we were transferred to a prison ship. Search The Gazette for lists of masters and mates who passed officer examinations. 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. The column on the right of each record contains a reference number to the entitlement file held by the Registry of Shipping and Seamen. Their targets now travel in convoys, fiercely guarded by Royal Navy destroyers, and when contact is finally made the hunters rapidly become the hunted. 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. Search indexes to crew lists from 1861 to 1913 by name on findmypast (). By 1878, Canada was the fourth largest ship-owning nation in the world, with a merchant fleet of 7,200 vessels. A merchant seaman had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. Ordinary Seaman Charles Lomax served with the Merchant Navy in WW2. Some of these records are alsoavailable on the subscription websitewww.findmypast.co.uk. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. At Halifax she embarked American troops to Reykjavik in Iceland and arrived back on 17th October a total journey time of three months. 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. Search for the National Maritime Museums records of master and mate certificates (1850-1927) on Ancestry.co.uk (). Results 1-2 of 2 View Record Name . Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from IWM collections Menu. Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. The men went to their boats in an orderly and quiet manner. In any case, there might be a legitimate reason why only some cards indicate the latest name, i.e. Generally the qualifying service period for the Italy Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. 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. 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. Merchant Seaman records sometimes identify a vessel an individual served on only by the Ships' Official Number. The convoy arrived in Durban on 18th December. 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. : s.n., between 1939 and 1940) AWM call number: 387.5071094 M554; Online. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy ships records: movement cards 1939-1945, Friends of The National 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. By 1895, they were essentially out of business. If a seaman is not listed, it may be because they have not claimed their medal entitlement. The date commemorates the sinking of the first British merchant ship in 1939, just hours after Britain declared war on Germany. The Guildhall Library does not hold crew lists. This information will help us make improvements to the website. . His brother Francis David Short was in the First War but I have no details on his service. I was held in Stalag X-B for two years, and I will never forget that smell it lingered constantly. AB. You might also find information about an officer by searching the records of ordinary merchant seamen. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Coast Guard Nav Bouy Patrols in Pacific 1964 Ship name Grisham. On the Samaria crew list and report of character, James Wafer and Matty Towers are consecutive number 59 & 60. At 7.05 p.m. Matthew Towers A.B. The Lloyd Captains Registers were compiled from the records of certificates issued to foreign-going masters. 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. Conversely, it was fortunate that fair weather allowed the rescue of 80 per cent of the total on board. Art . 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. Medals and awards Refer to our research guides: Campaign and service medals Australian military honours and awards Where to look for photographs ","spans":[]}]}},{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceImage","type":"slice-image","primary":{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceImagePrimary","image":{"dimensions":{"width":1200,"height":1882},"alt":"Propaganda poster for the Merchant Navy during World War II. All were willing and did their best to help abandon ship quickly in the short time available. 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 A little after 1.30 a.m. the last person to speak to Grandad was Able Seaman M. Towers. If you are ordering more than one record for seamen with similar names, you should check if their records are on the same page. Operational and non-operational service may be counted, providing that it was of 28 days or more duration. 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). 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. 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. In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers' records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. This information will help us make improvements to the website. Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. The passage to Durban took longer than anticipated because the route diverted to sail closer to the African coast and the convoy speed dropped to 6.1/2 knots to enable the RN escorts to rendezvous with a tanker for refuelling at Point Noire. Anyone who qualified for both the France & Germany Star and the Atlantic Star would be awarded the first Star earned, with a Clasp. British seamen who served under the T124X agreement; British seamen who served under the T124T agreement; Non-British seamen who served under the T124X agreement.
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