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This information will help us make improvements to the website. Search and download ( charges apply) records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). 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. A little after 1.30 a.m. the last person to speak to Grandad was Able Seaman M. Towers. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy ships records: movement cards 1939-1945, Friends of The National Samaria sailed from Clyde 19th of May to Algiers and arrived 27th of May 1943. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results ; . 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. The entries are arranged in date order and provide: Apply for a copy of a certificate from the National Maritime Museums Caird Library you will need the certificate number. Royal Australian Navy History, WWII Merchant ship movement records - Australia; Ron Wylie, Australian merchant navy: stories of the war at sea Background information. Art . Whilst it is only short, it gives a vivid account of life on board ship as a RA gunner during WW2. In the indexes, names beginning with Mc or Mac are usually found under the letter following that prefix. Edit Search New Search. In the top left corner of the record is the ships name. If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. 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). Records available only at The National Archives in Kew To access the records in this. A man was washed overboard from one of the escorting destroyers but was not recovered. 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. American Merchant Marine Databases includes: . 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. Digital copies of Merchant shipping movement cards 1939-1945 can be searched and downloaded. Archives, Open Government Licence We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. Gunner) fell from the gun platform on A deck to B deck, receiving head injuries. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. 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. Visit The National Archives bookshop for a range of publications on the Merchant Navy. The first time a foreign team have ever beaten them! Most of the casualties were considered to have been killed by the explosion and subsequent flooding in No. Registration of cooks in the Merchant Navy began on 30 June 1908. The 1939-1945 Star was also awarded to recipients of a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. The minimum qualifying period was one day. 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. They sailed up the Irish Sea to join with the Clyde portion to form convoy WS 9B. Captain Elliott concluded that Anselm was abandoned without panic or unnecessary confusion. 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. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. By 1878, Canada was the fourth largest ship-owning nation in the world, with a merchant fleet of 7,200 vessels. Many were singing songs while the boats were being lowered. Fireman. Results 1-9 of 9 View Record Name Birth Date; View Record. When he talked to my Grandad he was told that he had a bad headache. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small The Canadian Merchant Marine had only forty-one ocean-going merchant ships at the outbreak of the Second World War. The convoy was originally supposed to sail at the end of October 1942 as WS 13 but its designation was changed to WS 12Z (a lucky omen?). Also some happy times with the Indian Army who were great allies and enjoyed partying English style, as a relief from the war time battles. The qualifying service period for the Atlantic Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. 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. 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. Awarded after the Battle of the Atlantic for service between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. The Miramar ship index can be useful for obtaining this information. This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. (M.N. Using testimony from new witnesses and hitherto undisclosed public records, he seeks to explain why they were reported missing: believed killed. The registers survive at TNA in BT 120, BT 112, BT 113, BT 114, BT 116 and BT 119. In some cases, not all the cards relating to a vessel have been amended to reflect the latest name-change. (6th June 1944 - 8th May 1945). My name was and still is on the wall of remembrance in the Mission to Seaman in South Shields. 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. The convoy arrived in Freetown on 1st March. You may be searching for a ship on dates before or after movement cards were in use on that vessel. Below is the last movement card for the SS Athenia. She was torpedoed and shelled by the German U-boat U30 without warning, becoming the first merchant vessel casualty of the Second World War. Research guide C12: The Merchant Navy: Ship registration and Custom House records; Research guide E1: . However, service was considered military in nature for those who served between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946. 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. 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. For Matty Towers the three witness statements into his death are very contradictory. The series generally contains information about radio equipment . ", JEng. 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 Navy seamen in service since 1918, About our If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. The official record of these two mens' deaths falls so short of telling the whole story. Generally the qualifying service period for the Burma Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Contact the appropriate state or national archive. You may also like to read ourguide on Merchant seamens medals and honours. He said he always craved the soil under his boots. To access the records in this section you will either need to visit usor, where you can identify a specific document reference, order a copy(). The library does have collections of books, dealing with . It was the Knights of Columbus Hostel on Harvey Road which was frequently used by the servicemen. 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. 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. Modern entries giving wholesale name-changes to a ship's multiple set of cards could not be made to historic records. IWM collections. Edit Search New Search. The cards are presented in alphabetical order by ship's name. 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. From 10.00 a.m. 11.00 p.m. he was seen on his rounds attending to blackout by J. Lowe. He was torpedoed and sunk twice but fortunately rescued on both occasions. The medals were claimed and issued from 1946 to 2002. 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. You need to sign in to tag. Fort Pepperrell was in St. John's and many American servicemen were to resident in the capital city. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration The often slow-moving shipsand the civilian merchant mariners who maneuvered themwere easy targets for enemy fire. If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. (d.13th October 1945), Capt. After four months aboard the raider, we were transferred to a prison ship. Strange that we have sworn coroners statements from my grandfather's inquest placing him on the ship and performing his duties, but the official entry in the log claims he failed to re-join the ship. 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. Records of Merchant seamen serving in the Royal Navy under T124X and T124T contracts The UK National Archive (formerly the Public Record Office) holds the following records which are available for online access: The reference BT 391 includes the T124X records which detail the sea service of merchant seamen who served on Royal Navy ships. World War Two 1939-1945 - Archives New Zealand Skip to main content Our reading rooms are open. Most of the prisoners, including myself, were sent from Drancy to concentration camps. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. Matthew Towers was 48 years old when he lost his life. A microfiche index to their holdings is kept by TNA. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. "Along with this new series have come some new experiences. LOG BOOKS AND CREW AGREEMENTS If anyone knows of my father, Captain Len Chapman I will be pleased to hear! United States Merchant . 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. : s.n., between 1939 and 1940) AWM call number: 387.5071094 M554; Online. On the Samaria crew list and report of character, James Wafer and Matty Towers are consecutive number 59 & 60. Merchant Navy mariners were recorded in the 1841 census but unfortunately not those on board ships either stationed on shore or at sea. Against J. The trip back to Liverpool was via Durban, Capetown, Trinidad and Halifax. Monarch of Bermuda left Durban on 24th March and returned to Liverpool via Cape Town and Freetown arriving back on 23rd April. 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. It sank many submarines, but it also lost a large number of warships. The records are held in alphabetical order by seaman's name . Show all records. In these instances the cards have been separated and placed alphabetically according to the name shown without a deletion. We are now on Facebook. The ship Adrastus had to heave-to to secure cargo which had come adrift and didnt catch up with the convoy until three days later. 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. Seamen's records ('pouches') are in: BT 372, Crew agreements and log books are in: BT 380, Coast trade crew agreements and log books are in: BT 381, Fifth Register of Seaman's Service is in: BT 382, Crew agreements and log books for requisitioned or chartered Allied foreign ships are in: BT 387, Special Operations Records, merchant seamen, are in: BT 391, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1872-1992, Have you found an error with this catalogue description? Genealogical enquiriesshould be made in writing and search fees are 30. 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. 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. The funeral for 46 year old Jim Wafer was held on Tuesday 1st of June 1943 at St Dominic's Roman Catholic Church then burial at Ford Cemetery. Medal record of Alfred Harry Badman, BT 395/1. 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. Merchant Navy ships' records: movement cards 1939-1945; Merchant Navy ships' records: registration of merchant ships; Add a tag. The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. They also record the location (by latitude and longitude) and date a ship was sunk. Conditions on the raider were passable, but the prison ship was deplorable. 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). For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday 3rd Radio Off. They do not contain details of any passengers or crew. Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. Many years later he wrote a short fictional story about a Maritime Regiment gunner who brought nothing but bad luck. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Merchantmen at War Official Story of Merchant Navy 1939 - 1944 at the best online prices at eBay! You might also find information about an officer by searching the records of ordinary merchant seamen. recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items. Medals were not automatically issued, but had to be claimed by the merchant seaman. Robert Malcolm Barber MV Patella (d.16th Feb 1944). Helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by 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. Find out dates of departure and arrival by consulting: Search the alphabetical register (BT 115) on Findmypast () which was compiled from crew lists. "Service in the Merchant Marine was considered civilian service under several different civilian personnel agencies. Records 1939 - 1946. Merchant seafarers were involved in the Second World War from the first day to the last. He survived. The Crew List Index Project (CLIP) offers a searchable index of ships by official number. During wartime, however, they can become an auxiliary to the United States Navycalled upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military. Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. Search indexes to crew lists from 1861 to 1913 by name on findmypast (). At 8 am on December 7, the Japanese submarine I-26 torpedoed SS Cynthia Olson, manned by mariners and transporting lumber for the Army from Tacoma, Washington to Honolulu.All aboard perished, making these merchant mariners among the earliest American casualties of the war. Results 1-2 of 2 View Record Name . 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 they appear on the same page, you should only pay one fee. If there is no entry on a card for the early or later part of the war, check the crew lists and agreements in series BT 99, BT 100, BT 380or BT 381which may hold further details. If a seaman is not listed, it may be because they have not claimed their medal entitlement. When they reached Aden on 15th August the convoy was disbanded. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck Evan McGilvray 2020-09-30 This military biography explores There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. Want to find out more about your relative's service? 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. ","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. 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. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence The card entries do not all start or end at the same time. Log book and Crew Agreements to be found in BT 381, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1872-1992. A Clasp would be worn to signify service for the other Star. Showing 1-30 of 261 records. Merchant Navy Day. This was a process which had started with the award of Merchant Navy War Service medals, and the inclusion of the merchant navy in Anzac Day marches in the mid-1970s. It does not, however, include: You may be searching for a ship using a former name. Generally awarded if the seaman qualified for one of the Stars. Women also sometimes served at sea in the Merchant Navy. 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. If you don't have an account please register. On 1 September 1939 this passenger liner set sail from Glasgow with over 1400 passengers and crew aboard. research. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results . 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. Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. 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). Awarded for service between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, serving in the Mediterranean. 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. ","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. 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. 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. 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 is run by volunteers and the free to access part of the website is funded by donations from our visitors. Nortraship. 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. ","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. A register entry for a foreign trade voyage, from BT 124. The ship turned out to be a disguised German raider. If a ship had a former name this would be written in brackets. How do I find out where my uncle was stationed during his stint in the Navy? After the outbreak of war, Germany declared that every vessel of the British mercantile marine was to be regarded as a warship, meaning that the sailors of the Merchant Navy faced tremendous risks. Once you have obtained a certificate number from the index in BT 127, consult the table below for the respective record series reference: Certificate numbers with a letter(s) prefix NWS were issued in the colonies. She left Aden on 21st August and arrived at Suez on 25th August. The story is called The Jinx. In the longest campaign of the war, the British merchant fleet, with its naval escorts, struggled to bring food, fuel, equipment and raw materials from America and elsewhere across the Atlantic,. ConsultBT 122-126and BT 128 (index in BT 127). George James William "Dick" Durling BEM. This guide will help you find and interpret records of Merchant Navy officers from 1845 to 1965. A certificate came with a number (and new numbers were assigned if a replacement certificate was issued following the loss of the original). Few if any of the troops had ever crossed the English Channel let alone been exposed to the rigours of the North Atlantic. Our Records of Merchant Navy from other sources. Canada's air support was crucial throughout the war. Read tagging guidelines. Divided first by country and then by shipping company, the book includes the ships of such great Instead, these details were recorded on movements cards held and maintained at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Movement Cards, Available in digital format unless otherwise stated. You can also search: the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. 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 you are ordering more than one record for seamen with similar names, you should check if their records are on the same page. 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. He listed drowning as the probable cause of death. Archives, Open Government Licence 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.