We also found evidence after 1943 of his return to the Army, promotion to Captain and his service in India, near Karachi. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. You can search for ships official numbers through the Crew List Index Project. 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). 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. They subsequently sailed on convoy WS 17. The ship left Suez on 27th August via Port Sudan to load commercial cargo at Mombasa for Capetown and the UK. Archives, Open Government Licence Results 1-2 of 2 View Record Name . A merchant seaman could qualify after six months service with at least one voyage in an operational area. Find out dates of departure and arrival by consulting: Search the alphabetical register (BT 115) on Findmypast () which was compiled from crew lists. Registration of cooks in the Merchant Navy began on 30 June 1908. Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. The cards give the name of a ship and details of its movements, namely, the ports at which it docked, and passage between ports. If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. My name was and still is on the wall of remembrance in the Mission to Seaman in South Shields. Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Merchant Navy Awards 1939-1945 Merchant Navy Awards 1939-1945 This collection details over 9,000 awards made to those who served in the Merchant Navy from 1939-45. Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish ; Military ; Wills & Probate ; Immigration & Travel ; Schools, Directories & Church Histories ; Public Member Trees ; . He describes why . 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. 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 If they appear on the same page, you should only pay one fee. He said he always craved the soil under his boots. In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). They sailed up the Irish Sea to join with the Clyde portion to form convoy WS 9B. In any case, there might be a legitimate reason why only some cards indicate the latest name, i.e. United States Merchant . The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. Most of the casualties were considered to have been killed by the explosion and subsequent flooding in No. The world has been led by intensive and extensive waves of darkness from renaissance all the way down to the Covid crisis. 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. He survived. Some copies of the latter have been digitized and put online by theMaritime History Archivein Canada. Two days later the Coroner held an inquest into Grandad's death and the verdict was given as unascertainable. You can find out whether a medal was issued by looking at the markings on the records. Histories of the United States Merchant Marine from 1900 to 2000 Histories of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II (1939 - 1945) World War II Instruction Manuals for Mariners United States Government Reports on the Merchant Marine in World War II Histories of the United States Merchant Marine in the Korean War (1950 - 1953) All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 Unfortunately, many cards contain a lot of abbreviations and there is no known key for them. Use our guide Abbreviations in merchant seamens records to interpret the records. 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. After four months aboard the raider, we were transferred to a prison ship. ","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. Merchant Navy campaign medal records 1939-1945 - The National Archives Art . 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 These records have only been held at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. On August 26, 1939, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) took control of all shipping. giving a true reflection as to when the name-change was made. The following codes may be found on the record: Markings found on the record may include: The letter R over a code can signify that an application for that medal was reviewed and refused. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 The two Ellerman ships City of Lincoln and City of Edinburgh had to return to Liverpool and the Clyde because cargo had shifted. He was rescued, repatriated and managed to survive the war. Awarded for service in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea or the Indian Ocean between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. 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. This caused miserable conditions throughout the overcrowded and claustrophobic troopdecks. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. Medal record of Alfred Harry Badman, BT 395/1. Read My Ancestor was a Merchant Seaman by Christopher and Michael Watts (Society of Genealogists, 2002) this title is also available in our shop. Most of these men were not born in Asia; many were Egyptian. Other ways to find service records. The Merchant Navy in World War II - 1939 Register - Findmypast Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. The seamens discharge book numbers are usually listed, and you may find the date and place of birth too. Research guide C10: The Merchant Navy: World War Two Photographs CAPTAIN CHARLES FRYATT Want to find out more about your relative's service? Little did I know, but back home I was considered missing and presumed dead. On being examined by the ship's surgeon life was found to be extinct. 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. Catalogue entries for this series have been enhanced as part of a project supported by volunteers. Let us know. If you don't have an account please register. This information will help us make improvements to the website. The ship turned out to be a disguised German raider. Many were singing songs while the boats were being lowered. Domestic and Foreign Policy (1945-1958) 17. Awarded for service between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, serving in the Mediterranean. There were still some men on the after deck, but could not see if they had jumped clear before the ship sank. Awarded for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. This enabled them to arrive at Freetown on the 25th for fuelling and water before sailing on 28th for Durban. Merchant Navy seamen in service since 1918 - The National Archives If a ship had a former name this would be written in brackets. There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. Search indexes to crew lists from 1861 to 1913 by name on findmypast (). 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. Monarch of Bermuda sailed on Christmas Eve for Liverpool via Trinidad arriving back on 21st January 1942. Nortraship. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Ruth Mcmillen. Search and download () records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). American Merchant Marine Databases includes: . 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. A Clasp would be worn to signify service for the other Star. Contact the appropriate state or national archive. 1939-1945. The library does have collections of books, dealing with . 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. Research guide C1: The Merchant Navy: Tracing people: Crew lists 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. The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. Records available only at The National Archives in Kew To access the records in this. 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 8.00 a.m. Matty Towers looked in his bunk and then reported Grandad missing to the Bosun, J. Hynes. Visit The National Archives bookshop for a range of publications on the Merchant Navy. Merchant seafarers were involved in the Second World War from the first day to the last. All were willing and did their best to help abandon ship quickly in the short time available. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Combined Office If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. 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. 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. 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. 1 With only two decades since the ending of the Great War most serving shipmasters would have been at sea during . Merchant Navy 1939-1945. Some idea of the danger awaiting convoys is given by the following story. Most of the masters and mates were from West Wales. (6th June 1944 - 8th May 1945). Then, as European-built iron-hulled sailing ships replaced wooden square-riggers, Canadian shipbuilders found it harder to compete. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. She was ordered into the Clyde and the 990 RAF and 419 troops on board were going to disembark. 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. I remember him telling me that he was actually on his first day of a period of survivors leave when D Day commenced. 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 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). You do not have to fill in all fields to search. The story was hand written and falling apart but I have typed it up for preservation. 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 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). You can search ()the records in Discovery, our catalogue, by filling in the form below. 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 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. The convoy would have various naval escorts during the trip which would join and leave as the convoy passed their bases. 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. A total of 254 officers and men lost their lives in the sinking of Anselm, of which 176 were RAF, 70 from other services and 4 crew. When the war began, Canada had 38 ocean-going merchant vessels. MERCHANT NAVY SEAMAN'S SEA SERVICE RECORDS Sea Service Records . In 1939, a third of the world's merchant ships were British, and there were some 200,000 sailors. Merchant Navy - The port where the merchant mariner signed on as a member of a ship's crew at the commencement or during the war. 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.
Nyu Music Business Curriculum, Grundy Funeral Home Haysi Va Obituaries, Tom Glavine Fastball Speed, Connecticut Inmate Care Packages, Articles M