Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. This information will help us make improvements to the website. The swell was of considerable height and the ships became almost unmanageable and steering had to be assisted by engines. 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. 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. This enabled them to arrive at Freetown on the 25th for fuelling and water before sailing on 28th for Durban. A merchant seaman could qualify after six months service with at least one voyage in an operational area. She was ordered into the Clyde and the 990 RAF and 419 troops on board were going to disembark. Digital copies of Merchant shipping movement cards 1939-1945 can be searched and downloaded. The story is called The Jinx. 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. To view all records for an individual, select 'ALL' in the Service box. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. On the Samaria crew list and report of character, James Wafer and Matty Towers are consecutive number 59 & 60. 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). Merchant mariners or merchant seamen are assigned to vessels that primarily transport cargo and passengers during peacetime. Search All Records ; . Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. You can find more details here. Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck Evan McGilvray 2020-09-30 This military biography explores The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. We weren't sorry to leave there in a cattle truck three days later, when we were taken to Drancy Prison in Paris. Showing 1-30 of 261 records. Generally the qualifying service period for the Burma Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. I remember him telling me that he was actually on his first day of a period of survivors leave when D Day commenced. SA. 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) Archives, Open Government Licence the-raf-in-camera-1939-1945 1/11 Downloaded from uniport.edu.ng on March 2, 2023 by guest . This collection includes Merchant Navy Seamen records held at The National Archives. 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). The records are held in alphabetical order by seaman's name . Our 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. Some of these records are alsoavailable on the subscription websitewww.findmypast.co.uk. How do I find out where my uncle was stationed during his stint in the Navy? World War Two 1939-1945 - Archives New Zealand Skip to main content Our reading rooms are open. Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. Operational and non-operational service may be counted, providing that it was of 28 days or more duration. 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. Read tagging guidelines. I remember him telling me about runs to Malta and how soldiers shouldn't have been on ships. 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. On 5th July when she was 300 miles astern of convoy WS 9B she was torpedoed by U-96 under Capt. Each set of cards records: The cards also show if the ship was torpedoed, mined, damaged or sunk. 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. We also found evidence after 1943 of his return to the Army, promotion to Captain and his service in India, near Karachi. Merchant seamen who were discharged from the navy between 1940 and 1972 had their records filed in what became known as 'seamen's pouches'. Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from v3.0. The Miramar ship index can be useful for obtaining this information. Many were singing songs while the boats were being lowered. Some copies of the latter have been digitized and put online by theMaritime History Archivein Canada. 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. was taken ashore by the military authorities for burial. The date commemorates the sinking of the first British merchant ship in 1939, just hours after Britain declared war on Germany. It does not, however, include: You may be searching for a ship using a former name. For skippers and mates of fishing boats, registers of certificates of competency are in BT 129and registers of certificates of service are in BT 130 (index in BT 138). The Atlantic Star was also awarded to those awarded a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. Leonard Chapman Royal Fusiliers, We are also getting his diaries scanned as a book by the National Archives which we hope will serve as a fantastic record of a day in the life of a soldier on the convoys, both as a diary and also reflections and impressions which are very creative and moving. You need to sign in to tag. By the 26th of June 1943 the crew of the Samaria had heard of the body of Jim Wafer being found in Liverpool. 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. 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. Medals were not automatically issued, but had to be claimed by the merchant seaman. The stokehold and engine-room were soon flooded and with the engines stopped, the ship lost way and within eight minutes, Captain Elliott reported that Anselm was badly down by the head. The world has been led by intensive and extensive waves of darkness from renaissance all the way down to the Covid crisis. TNA has detailed research guides on the Fourth and Fifth Registers of Seamen and other records. The movement control staff in Durban were receiving signals from London changing the instructions for the destinations of the various troops. Registers were created to record the awarding of these certificates to officers and what they had done to qualify for them. Inicio; FAQ's; Biblioteca; Ayuda; Bsqueda avanzada; Comentarios/sugerencias . 1939-1945. Alternatively, search The National Archives Library to see what is available to consult at Kew. Merchant Seaman records sometimes identify a vessel an individual served on only by the Ships' Official Number. By 1878, Canada was the fourth largest ship-owning nation in the world, with a merchant fleet of 7,200 vessels. You may be searching for a ship on dates before or after movement cards were in use on that vessel. Whilst it is only short, it gives a vivid account of life on board ship as a RA gunner during WW2. Robert Malcolm Barber MV Patella (d.16th Feb 1944). He signed up in 1915 at the age of 18. privacy policy, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Seamen's Service on Royal Navy Ships. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. William Gibb and Sgt Fox found my Grandad's body in the South West corner of the West Huskisson dock. 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. Add a Name to this List Find out dates of departure and arrival by consulting: Search the alphabetical register (BT 115) on Findmypast () which was compiled from crew lists. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. Although the design of this website looks rather old-fashioned, it's still updated and is a good resource for Welsh Merchant Navy records. Sanitary arrangements were, as usual, inadequate. Using testimony from new witnesses and hitherto undisclosed public records, he seeks to explain why they were reported missing: believed killed. The slower ships left the convoy at Capetown and the convoy increased speed to 14 knots rounding the Cape into a full gale which eventually turned so that they had a following sea. 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 may also like to read ourguide on Merchant seamens medals and honours. They sailed up the Irish Sea to join with the Clyde portion to form convoy WS 9B. 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? The survivors in the water and boats were picked up by HMS Starwort and Challenger approximately 230 on the former and 820 on the latter, but owing to the intense overcrowding an accurate count was not possible. ). Awarded for service between 11 June 1943 and 8 May 1945, in the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea. 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 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. The Socio-political Structure of Saudi Arabia after its Creation 14. Consult series BT 128 for details. (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. In 1939, a third of the world's merchant ships were British, and there were some 200,000 sailors. List view Image view. Conditions on the raider were passable, but the prison ship was deplorable. Medal record of Alfred Harry Badman, BT 395/1. Awarded for service between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, serving in the Mediterranean. 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! The book's structure follows the chronological evolution of geographical opinions and retains a geohistorical narrative. - Merchant Navy during the Second World War -. You do not have to fill in all fields to search. The Canadian Merchant Marine had only forty-one ocean-going merchant ships at the outbreak of the Second World War. On 28th of May 1943 he was buried in El Alia Cemetery Algiers. Let us know. This camp bordered on primitive in every sense of the word. 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 story was hand written and falling apart but I have typed it up for preservation. It lists nearly 24,000 Welsh merchant masters, mates and engineers who were active between 1800 and 1945. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945; . George James William "Dick" Durling BEM. During wartime, however, they can become an auxiliary to the United States Navycalled upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence The ships formed up with the Clyde contingent for convoy WS 16 west of Orsay on the 17th. 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. 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. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve records can also be accessed online. 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. There were no clasps awarded with the Italy Star. This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. By 08.20 both escorts were proceeding at 6 knots towing Anselms empty boats, but as speed increased to 13 knots these gradually broke away and were lost. The National Maritime Museum holds the registers (see below). 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. From 1845 onwards a system of examinations was introduced for masters and mates. Results 1-4 of 4 View Record Name Birth Date; Monarch of Bermuda embarked 2,287 troops and was one of ten liners in this convoy which eventually sailed on 12th November. 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. Another brother Thomas was in the British Army. 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. 09:00 to 17:00. 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. Saudi Arabia and the Second World War (1939-1945) 16. If anyone knows of my father, Captain Len Chapman I will be pleased to hear! 3rd Radio Off. 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. This caused miserable conditions throughout the overcrowded and claustrophobic troopdecks. For example, MacDonald will not appear under the letter M but under D. 1 With only two decades since the ending of the Great War most serving shipmasters would have been at sea during . The certificate number obtained from the index indicates: Certificate numbers with a letter(s) prefix NWS were issued in the colonies. 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. 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. After four months aboard the raider, we were transferred to a prison ship. 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. He may have been in the Devon or Dorset Regiment. Operations in and around the Dodecanese, Corsica, Greece, Sardinia and Yugoslavia after 11 June 1943 would also qualify. 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. This was simply a record of the. Show all records. Search indexes to crew lists from 1861 to 1913 by name on findmypast (). We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. This information will help us make improvements to the website. When they reached Aden on 15th August the convoy was disbanded. While in Freetown news came through that the Japanese had landed in Java and Batavia and the Dutch East Indies had surrendered which would mean no more convoys to the Far East. The ship had to wait in Aden until the Monster liners Mauretania, Ile de France and Nieuw Amsterdam from convoy CM 15 had passed through ahead of her to disembark at Suez before she did. Log book and Crew Agreements to be found in BT 381, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1872-1992. Look at the websites of other archives and organisations which hold agreements and crew lists, including the Maritime History Archive in Newfoundland, the National Maritime Museum, the National Records of Scotland, the National Archives of Ireland, and local archives. Merchant ship movement card (catalogue reference: BT 389). 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. The convoy arrived in Freetown on 1st March. The convoy would have various naval escorts during the trip which would join and leave as the convoy passed their bases. The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers' records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). 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. His brother Francis David Short was in the First War but I have no details on his service. Back to Search Results Veterans History Project Service Summary: War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945 Branch of Service: Merchant Marine Unit of Service: SS George W. Lively; SS George Sters; SS James Hyram Walker; SS War Bonnet Location of Service: Atlantic; Pacific; Normandy, France; Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Guam (Mariana Islands) Highest Rank: Active Boatswain All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for ae. 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. The official records state the purser took possession of his discharge book, his I.D. Willenbrock. Archives, Open Government Licence heavily illustrated book presents the details of those ships and describes the fate of those lost between 1939 and 1945. Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence Gunner) fell from the gun platform on A deck to B deck, receiving head injuries. 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?). 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. One statement indicates he fell forward unhindered over the gun deck another says he staggered, gripped a rail and fell backwards to his death. The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. ","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. Generally awarded if the seaman qualified for one of the Stars. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve recordscan also beaccessed online. 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. 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. Merchant navy defence courses: general information ([Melbourne? Some useful printed works include: The Roll of Honour of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets 1939-1945, 3 vols (London: Ministry of . 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. If you are ordering more than one record for seamen with similar names, you should check if their records are on the same page. 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 From 10.00 a.m. 11.00 p.m. he was seen on his rounds attending to blackout by J. Lowe. There were still some men on the after deck, but could not see if they had jumped clear before the ship sank. The registers follow a similar format to Registers of Seamen Tickets in BT 113. 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, 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 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). 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. They cover masters with foreign trade certificates sailing either as masters or mates. James Wafer S.S. Samaria (d.14th May 1943). The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers and the free to access part of the website is funded by donations from our visitors. 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. 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,. These records have been selected on the basis that they reflect the economic, social and demographic condition of the UK, as documented by the state's dealings with individuals, communities and organisations outside of its own formal boundaries (2.2.2.1 of PRO's acquisition policy). Thomas Andrew "Tots" Storey (d.7th Sep 1940), L/Bdr Norman Power Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery. We landed in Bordeaux a few weeks later and were taken to the prison camp Caserne Colonial Bordeaux. 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. Brian Roy Clarke SS Sithonia, Sea. The cards are presented in alphabetical order by ship's name. This meant that Monarch of Bermuda with eight other liners and the cruiser HMS Royal Sovereign increased speed from 13 knots to 16 knots. Two days later the Coroner held an inquest into Grandad's death and the verdict was given as unascertainable. Most of the prisoners, including myself, were sent from Drancy to concentration camps. The ship left Suez on 27th August via Port Sudan to load commercial cargo at Mombasa for Capetown and the UK. He describes why . Monarch of Bermuda arrived in Durban 30th July and carried out repairs. Modern entries giving wholesale name-changes to a ship's multiple set of cards could not be made to historic records. My name was and still is on the wall of remembrance in the Mission to Seaman in South Shields. Maurice "Ginger" Archer SS Wendover. These records come from The National Archives' record series BT112, BT113, BT114, BT115, BT116, BT119 and BT120. Awarded for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. The troops on Monarch of Bermuda were originally destined for the Far East but would now be discharged at Durban. You need to sign in to tag. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. Search and download ( charges apply) records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). Hello, I have just started to look for my deceased fathers merchant navy records. At first it was voluntary and applied only to foreign-going vessels. ","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 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. Search for the National Maritime Museums records of master and mate certificates (1850-1927) on Ancestry.co.uk ().