First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve recordscan also beaccessed online. At 7.05 p.m. Matthew Towers A.B. 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. Merchant Marine Records Document Maritime Service A silver rose on the ribbon bar signifies the award of a bar. card and his grey suit jacket. 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. Awarded after the Battle of the Atlantic for service between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945. 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 are researching his time in India but know of some stories but not a lot except playing hockey against and Indian Team and winning! A merchant seaman qualified serving within a restricted area in the Bay of Bengal. Catalogue description Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Combined Office Merchant Navy Operations, Seamen's Pouches Search within or browse this series to find specific. Generally awarded if the seaman qualified for one of the Stars. My name was and still is on the wall of remembrance in the Mission to Seaman in South Shields. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. The Merchant Navy - Historical Sheet - Second World War - History 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). However the majority are held by the Maritime History Archive. 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). Saudi Arabia and the Second World War (1939-1945) 16. On the outbreak of the 1939-1945 war between the United Kingdom and Germany (3 September 1939), British-registered merchant ship masters were sent radio messages instructing them to open the sealed envelope which had been deposited in ships' safes as much as a year previously. You may be searching for a ship on dates before or after movement cards were in use on that vessel. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve records can also be accessed online. 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 War Medal 1939-1945 | ADF Members & Families | Defence 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. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Giron. The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. I was held in Stalag X-B for two years, and I will never forget that smell it lingered constantly. (M.N. Some idea of the danger awaiting convoys is given by the following story. To determine eligibility for a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 214, or a Report of Casualty, DD Form 1300, customers will be directed to to, View the National Archives Operating Status. Search and download ( charges apply) records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). Modern entries giving wholesale name-changes to a ship's multiple set of cards could not be made to historic records. For information on how to order an Official Military Personnel File for a veteran who separated from service before 1957, . Records of people younger than 100 and still alive, or who died after 1991 are officially closed. The story is called The Jinx. The two aircraft carriers escorting the convoy lost aircraft due to crash landings, considered by Admiral Somerville to be due to lack of training and experience of deck landing to a regrettable degree. Find an object | Imperial War Museums 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). My mum told me that he did serve. Many were singing songs while the boats were being lowered. A merchant seaman could qualify after six months service with at least one voyage in an operational area. ", JEng. Merchant seamen who were discharged from the navy between 1940 and 1972 had their records filed in what became known as 'seamen's pouches'. If you don't have an account please register. 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. Royal Australian Navy History, WWII Merchant ship movement records - Australia; Ron Wylie, Australian merchant navy: stories of the war at sea Background information. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Many years later he wrote a short fictional story about a Maritime Regiment gunner who brought nothing but bad luck. Also awarded, with no minimum service requirement, if service was terminated by death, disability due to service or capture as a prisoner-of-war. 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. "The World's largest shipping company". We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. It should be noted that the cards do not always reflect changes in the ship's name and that it may be necessary to search for a ship under its various names. Merchant Navy - Registered Ticket Records - GenGuide 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 She was ordered into the Clyde and the 990 RAF and 419 troops on board were going to disembark. 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. You might also find information about an officer by searching the records of ordinary merchant seamen. Helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by 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 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. Friends of The National 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. SA. 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. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. 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. (PDF) Geophilosophy of premodern | Goran Mutabdzija - Academia.edu Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy ships records: movement cards 1939-1945, Friends of The National 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. A Clasp would be worn to signify service for the other Star. The seamens discharge book numbers are usually listed, and you may find the date and place of birth too. Records include photos, honours, service files and death records. 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. Operations in and around the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943 would also qualify. These records were compiled at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. He survived. (These were originally described as 'Asian seamen' but that is misleading. Increased Centralization and the Ikhwan Movement (1926-1934) 13. You can also search: the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. The often slow-moving shipsand the civilian merchant mariners who maneuvered themwere easy targets for enemy fire. 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. There were no clasps awarded with the Italy Star. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Coast Guard Nav Bouy Patrols in Pacific 1964 Ship name Grisham. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. 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. I hope to also take a digital diary when it is finished to the Arctic Convoy Museum at Loch Ewe. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. 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. Willenbrock. Few if any of the troops had ever crossed the English Channel let alone been exposed to the rigours of the North Atlantic. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 Samaria sailed out of Liverpool on Friday 14th of May 1943 and was on the Clyde Monday 17th of May. The Guildhall Library does not hold crew lists. Find an object | Imperial War Museums The cards record the movements of both British-registered and Allied vessels engaged in the war effort. 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. Researching Australian military service: Second World War, Merchant 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. v3.0. Visit the Crew List Index Project (CLIP) website, which has information about merchant seamen on British registered ships from 1861 to 1913. Instead, these details were recorded on movements cards held and maintained at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday Some are at TNA, while a few are held by theNational Maritime Museum. This caused miserable conditions throughout the overcrowded and claustrophobic troopdecks. Conversely, it was fortunate that fair weather allowed the rescue of 80 per cent of the total on board. Canada's air support was crucial throughout the war. Tragically, 30,248 merchant seamen lost their lives during World War Two, a death rate proportionally higher than in any of the armed forces. Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck Evan McGilvray 2020-09-30 This military biography explores They subsequently sailed on convoy WS 17. The 1939-1945 Star was also awarded to recipients of a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. Owners and gross tonnage (G.T.) The movement control staff in Durban were receiving signals from London changing the instructions for the destinations of the various troops. You do not have to fill in all fields to search. By war's end 410 merchant ships had been built in Canada. Brian Roy Clarke SS Sithonia, Sea. Whilst it is only short, it gives a vivid account of life on board ship as a RA gunner during WW2. The T124X records detail the sea service of merchant seamen who served on Royal Navy ships (or Royal Navy auxiliary vessels). If you are ordering more than one record for seamen with similar names, you should check if their records are on the same page. On 5th July when she was 300 miles astern of convoy WS 9B she was torpedoed by U-96 under Capt. If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small Monarch of Bermuda embarked 2,287 troops and was one of ten liners in this convoy which eventually sailed on 12th November. Nortraship. 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 . Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. 1.30 a.m. Friday 14th of May 1943 Jim Wafer was seen apparently asleep in Seaman Gunners Quarters by Able Seaman Stanley Poole. Search 5: service details of Merchant Navy cooks 1913-1956 This is a search in record series BT 319. ","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. Unfortunately, all their hard work diverting troops and stores came to nothing because Singapore fell into Japanese hands. The ship turned out to be a disguised German raider. This information will help us make improvements to the website. The records are held in alphabetical order by seaman's name . the-raf-in-camera-1939-1945 1/11 Downloaded from uniport.edu.ng on March 2, 2023 by guest . This collection records the movements of ships ordinarily engaged in foreign going trade. The men went to their boats in an orderly and quiet manner. At first it was voluntary and applied only to foreign-going vessels. Most of the casualties were considered to have been killed by the explosion and subsequent flooding in No. Some of the seamen discharged during this period. The Socio-political Structure of Saudi Arabia after its Creation 14. 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 A register entry for a foreign trade voyage, from BT 124. It sank many submarines, but it also lost a large number of warships. The date commemorates the sinking of the first British merchant ship in 1939, just hours after Britain declared war on Germany. Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Their targets now travel in convoys, fiercely guarded by Royal Navy destroyers, and when contact is finally made the hunters rapidly become the hunted. 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. Consult series BT 140 for details. Historically many vessels have had their names changed, sometimes on more than one occasion. Maurice "Ginger" Archer SS Wendover. We weren't sorry to leave there in a cattle truck three days later, when we were taken to Drancy Prison in Paris. Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 She left Aden on 21st August and arrived at Suez on 25th August. 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. Search The Gazette for lists of masters and mates who passed officer examinations. Using testimony from new witnesses and hitherto undisclosed public records, he seeks to explain why they were reported missing: believed killed. All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Ruth Mcmillen. recording and preserving recollections, documents, photographs and small items. The National Archives at St. Louis does not provide information for benefits or separation documents, such as DD-214s, for these records. Woodman here relates the Merchant Navy's colourful history and brings to life the day-to-day experiences of the seamen. You can search for ships official numbers through the Crew List Index Project. Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. 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. Merchant Navy - Musters Records of the Ships Crew - GenGuide Merchant Navy campaign medal records 1939-1945 - The National Archives 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. If they appear on the same page, you should only pay one fee. Crew List Index Project 1. 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'. In May 1943 S.S. Samaria was in West Huskisson dock at my grandfather's home port of Liverpool. An incomplete set of captains registers is available on microfilm in The National Archives reading rooms. If you don't have an account please register. MERCHANT NAVY SEAMAN'S SEA SERVICE RECORDS Sea Service Records . 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 seafarers were involved in the Second World War from the first day to the last. United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941 - FamilySearch Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish ; Military ; Wills & Probate ; Immigration & Travel ; Schools, Directories & Church Histories ; Public Member Trees ; . The cards give the name of a ship and details of its movements, namely, the ports at which it docked, and passage between ports. In some cases, not all the cards relating to a vessel have been amended to reflect the latest name-change. Roll of Honour, 1939-45 - The Merchant Navy - NZHistory You may also like to read ourguide on Merchant seamens medals and honours. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. please the Armed Forces Memorial roll of honour. 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. World War Two 1939-1945 - Archives New Zealand Skip to main content Our reading rooms are open. Results 1-4 of 4 View Record Name Birth Date; Merchant Navy ships' records: movement cards 1939-1945; Merchant Navy ships' records: registration of merchant ships; Add a tag. The British Merchant Navy - Old Friends Plus List view Image view. During the war this fleet underwent tremendous expansion as Canadian shipyards produced 403 merchant vessels. research. A certificate came with a number (and new numbers were assigned if a replacement certificate was issued following the loss of the original). The National Maritime Museum holds the registers (see below). Art . Most of the prisoners, including myself, were sent from Drancy to concentration camps. The British Merchant Navy was the largest in the world and required more crew than Great Britain had merchant seamen, as a result large numbers of Indian, Chinese and West African seamen were engaged to crew ships which regularly traded from Great Britain to ports in those areas. For details of the Arctic Star see our guide to Merchant seamans medals and honours. 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. If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Registration of cooks in the Merchant Navy began on 30 June 1908. This camp bordered on primitive in every sense of the word. After four months aboard the raider, we were transferred to a prison ship. What ship was Admiral Harold Stark on during D-Day? Robert Malcolm Barber MV Patella (d.16th Feb 1944). 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. 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. Many thousands of POWs died there. Although the design of this website looks rather old-fashioned, it's still updated and is a good resource for Welsh Merchant Navy records. Records of Merchant Navy from other sources. Genealogical enquiriesshould be made in writing and search fees are 30. This information will help us make improvements to the website. . Merchant Navy in the Second World War 1939-1945 - Wartime Memories Project Services and information Second World War death records Search the war dead service files from the Second World War. . Catalogue entries for this series have been enhanced as part of a project supported by volunteers. 1939 194 Yeah, reviewing a book Embleme Wappen Malings Deutscher U Boote 1939 194 could . He said he always craved the soil under his boots. George Smith died later of his injuries. Archival records and resources from the Second World War PDF Merchant Navy seamen and officers 1913-1972 - The National Archives 1 With only two decades since the ending of the Great War most serving shipmasters would have been at sea during .