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. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. A merchant seaman had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. For more information on the Arctic Star and advice on how you can still apply for it, see our guide to Merchant seamans medals and honours. 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. All surviving agreements and crew lists with their logbooks are held by The National Archives, . USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration 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 Most of the masters and mates were from West Wales. He was rescued, repatriated and managed to survive the war. Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant - Discovery 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. The World S Merchant Fleets 1939 The Particulars And Wartime Fates Of 6 Research guide C10: The Merchant Navy: World War Two 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, Sanitary arrangements were, as usual, inadequate. PDF Information Leaflet / Historical Records - Gov.uk The following books may also prove useful: In general, seamens records for the period 1913-1972 can be found at TNA (unfortunately, most records for the First World War period do not appear to havesurvived). Hello, I have just started to look for my deceased fathers merchant navy records. It lists nearly 24,000 Welsh merchant masters, mates and engineers who were active between 1800 and 1945. LOG BOOKS AND CREW AGREEMENTS First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve records can also be accessed online. Consult series BT 140 for details. Despite the fact that merchant crews were not compelled to sail on the dangerous ocean passages, most indeed did. A certificate came with a number (and new numbers were assigned if a replacement certificate was issued following the loss of the original). Divided first by country and then by shipping company, the book includes the ships of such great Use our guide Abbreviations in merchant seamens records to interpret the records. There was no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. Maurice John Case MBE: 20 . In the indexes, names beginning with Mc or Mac are usually found under the letter following that prefix. The convoy arrived in Durban on 18th December. 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 Some of the seamen discharged during this period. Most of these men were not born in Asia; many were Egyptian. The Canadian Merchant Marine had only forty-one ocean-going merchant ships at the outbreak of the Second World War. 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. Monday, July 16, 1945 o First atomic bomb exploded Heat generated by the blast was 4 times the temperature at the center of the sun Blew out windows in houses more than 200 miles away Killed every living creature within a mile o Ruby Wilkening joined several other women waiting for the blast Worried about her husband who was already at the test site No one knew what to expect o . For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday At 8.00 a.m. Matty Towers looked in his bunk and then reported Grandad missing to the Bosun, J. Hynes. The Oil Concessions 15. The ships formed up with the Clyde contingent for convoy WS 16 west of Orsay on the 17th. Merchant Vessel Files: Also included among the Coast Guard records is a series of Merchant Vessel Information Files, 1939 - 1952, which is arranged alphabetically by name of vessel and contains information about merchant vessels that entered U.S. ports during World War II. However, it was still important to record the movements of merchant vessels and so the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen established this series of cards, now held by The National Archives in series BT 389. The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. These entries do not simply record a single voyage, but a half year (January to June or July to December) during which the seaman was engaged on a particular ship. The library does have collections of books, dealing with . This information will help us make improvements to the website. I remember him telling me about runs to Malta and how soldiers shouldn't have been on ships. ","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. 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. 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). For details of the Arctic Star see our guide to Merchant seamans medals and honours. Merchant seamen 1939-1945. Most of the casualties were considered to have been killed by the explosion and subsequent flooding in No. Little did I know, but back home I was considered missing and presumed dead. The details are in an appendix entitled An Alphabetical List of all the Masters and Mates in the Merchant Service. The Merchant Navy - Historical Sheet - Second World War - History (6th June 1944 - 8th May 1945). 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. Those giving evidence included J. Cornwall M.N. Operations in and around the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943 would also qualify. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 Use the name indexes (indicated below in brackets) to locate a certificate number. 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. Nortraship. Art . This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. In Britain, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries, 3 September is Merchant Navy Day. Other ways to find service records. In 1939 the Admiralty instructed the Board of Trade, for reasons of security, to prevent masters of merchant vessels from using ships logs or crew lists and agreements to record destinations or ports of call. Edit Search New Search. For example, MacDonald will not appear under the letter M but under D. Description. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results . I believe, SS Port Sydney also survived the war so, I am uncertain on which ship Ronnie was serving when torpedoed. 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. Like this page to receive our updates. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday The family believed that the torpedoed ship was the Tacoma Star of the Blue Star Line but I believe that ship was lost with all hands and Ronnie's name does not appear on the casualty list. 09:00 to 17:00. For ability and general conduct both men are reported as very good. 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. In any case, there might be a legitimate reason why only some cards indicate the latest name, i.e. The certificate number obtained from the index indicates: Certificate numbers with a letter(s) prefix NWS were issued in the colonies. Using testimony from new witnesses and hitherto undisclosed public records, he seeks to explain why they were reported missing: believed killed. 1939 194 Yeah, reviewing a book Embleme Wappen Malings Deutscher U Boote 1939 194 could . 10thFeb 2023 - Please note we currently have a huge backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. 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. 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. Monarch of Bermuda left Durban on 24th March and returned to Liverpool via Cape Town and Freetown arriving back on 23rd April. Medals and awards Refer to our research guides: Campaign and service medals Australian military honours and awards Where to look for photographs Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. (These were originally described as 'Asian seamen' but that is misleading. Records of Merchant Navy from other sources. The database includes every British registered ship from 1855 to the early 1950s with official numbers 1 to 200000. Archives, Open Government Licence 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. Awarded for service between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945, in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. 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. Find out dates of departure and arrival by consulting: Search the alphabetical register (BT 115) on Findmypast () which was compiled from crew lists. 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. IWM collections. 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. They do not contain details of any passengers or crew. Royal Australian Navy service records | naa.gov.au The official records state the purser took possession of his discharge book, his I.D. By 1895, they were essentially out of business. Merchant Navy Day. 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. 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). Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Database of World War II - Archive Some useful printed works include: The Roll of Honour of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets 1939-1945, 3 vols (London: Ministry of . A Clasp would be worn to signify service for the other Star. I have a record of him being on HMS Leonian in 1941/2 from a list of people he wanted to write telegrams to from the ship. Archives, Open Government Licence I was held in Stalag X-B for two years, and I will never forget that smell it lingered constantly. Merchant Navy 1939-1945. This enabled them to arrive at Freetown on the 25th for fuelling and water before sailing on 28th for Durban. Royal Australian Navy History, WWII Merchant ship movement records - Australia; Ron Wylie, Australian merchant navy: stories of the war at sea Background information. Merchant Navy timeline - The Merchant Navy - NZHistory 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. The qualifying service period for the Atlantic Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Even if a person had several mentions, he would only have one emblem. Recently added privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Seamen's Service on Royal Navy Ships. To find out about a seamans entitlement, contact the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. A merchant seaman might also qualify serving in operations off the Moroccan coast between 8 November 1942 and 12 May 1943. A silver rose on the ribbon bar signifies the award of a bar. Underneath, the caption reads: `The life-line is firm thanks to the Merchant Navy`. On 1 September 1939 this passenger liner set sail from Glasgow with over 1400 passengers and crew aboard. 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. Instead, these details were recorded on movements cards held and maintained at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. We are researching his time in India but know of some stories but not a lot except playing hockey against and Indian Team and winning! Merchant Navy Awards 1939-1945 This collection details over 9,000 awards made to those who served in the Merchant Navy from 1939-45. This section includes over 21.000 Allied Warships and over 11.000 Allied Commanders of WWII, from the US Navy, Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Australian Navy, The Polish Navy and others. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence Merchant seamen who were discharged from the navy between 1940 and 1972 had their records filed in what became known as 'seamen's pouches'. Don Fraser, "'Men of a service . The Merchant Navy in World War II - 1939 Register - Findmypast privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards, Available in digital format unless otherwise stated. Maurice "Ginger" Archer SS Wendover. A Short History Of The Merchant Navy | Imperial War Museums United States Merchant . The exact number of New Zealand Merchant Navy war deaths will probably never be known with certainty, as the recording of personal information, nationality, next-of-kin and service in the Merchant Navy was not as comprehensive as it was for the armed forces. At the National Archives, researchers can find information on the United States Navy ranging from the wooden hulled ships of the Continental Navy used in the Revolutionary War, to the deployment of massive Carrier Battle Groups and Navy Task Forces. Their targets now travel in convoys, fiercely guarded by Royal Navy destroyers, and when contact is finally made the hunters rapidly become the hunted. Main image:Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic in 1942 during World War 2. The National Maritime Museum holds the registers (see below). The Guildhall Library does not hold crew lists. Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from BBC - WW2 People's War - Timeline Remember, you'll need to show photo ID to be issued with records. 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. This was simply a record of the. Voyages in the registers were usually recorded either as: Home trade voyages (repeated or reported voyages). 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. The registers follow a similar format to Registers of Seamen Tickets in BT 113. Records we hold This website Search The British Merchant Navy - Old Friends Plus Archival records and resources from the Second World War 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. 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. (d.13th October 1945), Capt. The story is called The Jinx. Object category. Next Apply for your own . If you have any unwanted Many years later he wrote a short fictional story about a Maritime Regiment gunner who brought nothing but bad luck. In 1939, a third of the world's merchant ships were British, and there were some 200,000 sailors. The book's structure follows the chronological evolution of geographical opinions and retains a geohistorical narrative. 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. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish ; Military ; Wills & Probate ; Immigration & Travel ; Schools, Directories & Church Histories ; Public Member Trees ; . You may also like to read ourguide on Merchant seamens medals and honours. Generally the qualifying service period for the Italy Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Get a copy of military service records: Overview - GOV.UK the Armed Forces Memorial roll of honour. Genealogical enquiriesshould be made in writing and search fees are 30. ","spans":[]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Main image:Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic in 1942 during World War 2. Our Military ; Card Catalog ; Member Search ; DNA. Fireman. 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. Many thousands of POWs died there. Merchant navy defence courses: general information ([Melbourne? Crew List Index Project Merchant Navy Records | Ships Nostalgia 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. For information on how to order an Official Military Personnel File for a veteran who separated from service before 1957, . James Wafer S.S. Samaria (d.14th May 1943). 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 website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. On 11th February Monarch of Bermuda embarked 2,500 troops and had to anchor with other troopships in the River Mersey held up by fog until the 16th. AB. 09:00 to 17:00. . However the majority are held by the Maritime History Archive. Ships & Convoys. heavily illustrated book presents the details of those ships and describes the fate of those lost between 1939 and 1945. WW2 Records - Merchant Navy Each set of cards records: The cards also show if the ship was torpedoed, mined, damaged or sunk. Merchant Marine Records Document Maritime Service He died on 21st Aug 1973. An incomplete set of captains registers is available on microfilm in The National Archives reading rooms. Records 1939 - 1946. PDF Embleme Wappen Malings Deutscher U Boote 1939 194 (PDF) Medals were not automatically issued, but had to be claimed by the merchant seaman. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve recordscan also beaccessed online. the-raf-in-camera-1939-1945 1/11 Downloaded from uniport.edu.ng on March 2, 2023 by guest . In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers' records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). This information will help us make improvements to the website. *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. Tragically, 30,248 merchant seamen lost their lives during World War Two, a death rate proportionally higher than in any of the armed forces. This camp bordered on primitive in every sense of the word. 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. There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. 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. It sank many submarines, but it also lost a large number of warships. Log book and Crew Agreements to be found in BT 381, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1872-1992. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. Some idea of the danger awaiting convoys is given by the following story. Awarded for service in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea or the Indian Ocean between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. TNA has detailed research guides on the Fourth and Fifth Registers of Seamen and other records. Saudi Arabia and the Second World War (1939-1945) 16.