Medals were not automatically issued, but had to be claimed by the merchant seaman. James Wafer S.S. Samaria (d.14th May 1943) James Wafer started service as an Able Seaman during World War 1 and had survived active service as a teenage merchant man on a ship called Romney. "Service in the Merchant Marine was considered civilian service under several different civilian personnel agencies. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve recordscan also beaccessed online. PDF Information Leaflet / Historical Records - Gov.uk 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. v3.0, the Lloyd Lists which are available at the Guildhall Library or the, record of voyages (certificates up to 1888 only) dates are for when the records were filed and are not arrival dates sometimes records were filed after a series of voyages, date of death (certificates after 1888 only and only sometimes), date, number and place of issue of the masters certificate obtained, any other special qualification, including the steam certificate from 1874, name and number (taken from the Mercantile Navy Lists) of each ship (date of engagement and discharge as master or mate and the destination of each voyage), any special awards (for example, war service), pasted-in summaries of the qualifications and service from 1851 of masters who were still active in 1869, green for skippers and mates of fishing boats. At 5.10 p.m. he was assigned A.R.P. 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. Below is the last movement card for the SS Athenia. The History Of Saudi Arabia [PDF] [46hijsi6afh0] - vdoc.pub These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. At first it was voluntary and applied only to foreign-going vessels. The medals were claimed and issued from 1946 to 2002. 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. 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. Awarded for service between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945, in direct support of land operations in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany, in the North sea, the English Channel or the Bay of Biscay (service off the coast of the south of France could qualify for the Italy Star, see below). Records available only at The National Archives in Kew To access the records in this. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Most of the casualties were considered to have been killed by the explosion and subsequent flooding in No. He may have been in the Devon or Dorset Regiment. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. Sanitary arrangements were, as usual, inadequate. They do not contain details of any passengers or crew. You need to sign in to tag. Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. If they appear on the same page, you should only pay one fee. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday Art . This collection includes Merchant Navy Seamen records held at The National Archives. Some idea of the danger awaiting convoys is given by the following story. 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 In Britain, New Zealand and other Commonwealth countries, 3 September is Merchant Navy Day. Find out dates of departure and arrival by consulting: Search the alphabetical register (BT 115) on Findmypast () which was compiled from crew lists. Inicio; FAQ's; Biblioteca; Ayuda; Bsqueda avanzada; Comentarios/sugerencias . The first time a foreign team have ever beaten them! Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from Results 1-4 of 4 View Record Name Birth Date; Historically many vessels have had their names changed, sometimes on more than one occasion. ","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. United States Merchant . All were willing and did their best to help abandon ship quickly in the short time available. Object category. The Merchant Navy in World War II - 1939 Register - Findmypast If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from IWM collections Menu. I remember him telling me about runs to Malta and how soldiers shouldn't have been on ships. Monarch of Bermuda arrived in Durban 30th July and carried out repairs. 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. Merchantmen at War Official Story of Merchant Navy 1939 - 1944 Monarch of Bermuda sailed on Christmas Eve for Liverpool via Trinidad arriving back on 21st January 1942. Fireman. All First World War records for these formations have been transferred to TNA. Find an object | Imperial War Museums WWII Military Unit Records at the National Archives - History On 1 September 1939 this passenger liner set sail from Glasgow with over 1400 passengers and crew aboard. They subsequently sailed on convoy WS 17. 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. "The World's largest shipping company". Monarch of Bermuda embarked 2,287 troops and was one of ten liners in this convoy which eventually sailed on 12th November. She was ordered into the Clyde and the 990 RAF and 419 troops on board were going to disembark. 09:00 to 17:00. There was no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. Order records to view when you visit. At this point the body of Matthew Towers A.B. Ships & Convoys. 09:00 to 17:00. Much of the information would have come from the Royal Navy. Gunner) fell from the gun platform on A deck to B deck, receiving head injuries. He describes why . You can find out whether a medal was issued by looking at the markings on the records. Our 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. Photographs CAPTAIN CHARLES FRYATT Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. What ship was Admiral Harold Stark on during D-Day? The details are in an appendix entitled An Alphabetical List of all the Masters and Mates in the Merchant Service. Naval History.ca - Canadian Merchant Ship Losses, 1939-1945 v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy campaign medal records 1939-1945. are on the same page. A certificate came with a number (and new numbers were assigned if a replacement certificate was issued following the loss of the original). Edward William Quilter Collection | Library of Congress Saudi Arabia and the Second World War (1939-1945) 16. The ship turned out to be a disguised German raider. Search and download () records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). When Germany invaded Norway on April 9-1940, the Norwegian ships that were in allied waters at the time were requisitioned by Royal Norwegian Government, which early on in the war managed to escape to the U.K. (the King was evacuated on June 7). 09:00 to 17:00. Index record for Ryan, John McMahon in the World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 from Ancestry.com, historical military records. Awarded for service between 10 June 1940 and 12 May 1943, serving in the Mediterranean. The seamens discharge book numbers are usually listed, and you may find the date and place of birth too. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. Voyages in the registers were usually recorded either as: Home trade voyages (repeated or reported voyages). An incomplete set of captains registers is available on microfilm in The National Archives reading rooms. 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. James Wafer S.S. Samaria (d.14th May 1943). The troops on Monarch of Bermuda were originally destined for the Far East but would now be discharged at Durban. On 5th July when she was 300 miles astern of convoy WS 9B she was torpedoed by U-96 under Capt. Merchant Navy - Musters Records of the Ships Crew - GenGuide www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-reserve-service-records.htm, First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve records. By war's end 410 merchant ships had been built in Canada. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. Like this page to receive our updates. Genealogical enquiriesshould be made in writing and search fees are 30. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. 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. There were no clasps awarded with the Italy Star. William Gibb and Sgt Fox found my Grandad's body in the South West corner of the West Huskisson dock. Willenbrock. 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. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy ships records: movement cards 1939-1945, Friends of The National 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. Military ; Card Catalog ; Member Search ; DNA. Before 1747 no formal record keeping of crews on merchant ships existed. If a seaman is not listed, it may be because they have not claimed their medal entitlement. Thomas Andrew "Tots" Storey (d.7th Sep 1940), L/Bdr Norman Power Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery. Merchant Navy mariners were recorded in the 1841 census but unfortunately not those on board ships either stationed on shore or at sea. Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. This information will help us make improvements to the website. (These were originally described as 'Asian seamen' but that is misleading. The ship left Suez on 27th August via Port Sudan to load commercial cargo at Mombasa for Capetown and the UK. 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. The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers and the free to access part of the website is funded by donations from our visitors. 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. 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? Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. Medal record of Alfred Harry Badman, BT 395/1. On the 23rd November the convoy was ordered to split into slow and fast convoys. Robert Malcolm Barber MV Patella (d.16th Feb 1944). 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 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. The cards give the name of a ship and details of its movements, namely, the ports at which it docked, and passage between ports. 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 caused miserable conditions throughout the overcrowded and claustrophobic troopdecks. Increased Centralization and the Ikhwan Movement (1926-1934) 13. 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. research. 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. Woodman here relates the Merchant Navy's colourful history and brings to life the day-to-day experiences of the seamen. A merchant seaman had to have served a minimum of 28 days at sea. Generally awarded if the seaman qualified for one of the Stars. (d.13th October 1945), Capt. newspaper ad NYT 1945 WWII drydock Navy ship LINDOL Celanese synthetic 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. Women also sometimes served at sea in the Merchant Navy. In the indexes, names beginning with Mc or Mac are usually found under the letter following that prefix. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. 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. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. These files have joined our collection in an effort to better serve the public who are looking for proof of their ancestor's service, The first block of this series contained 4,800 cubic feet of records, The Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC) is the approving official for World War II Merchant Marine separation documents. Instead, these details were recorded on movements cards held and maintained at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. Merchant navy defence courses: general information ([Melbourne? 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. 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. ","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 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. Department of the Navy Records | National Archives The Crew List Index Project (CLIP) offers a searchable index of ships by official number. (M.N. 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. Search All Records ; . At Halifax she embarked American troops to Reykjavik in Iceland and arrived back on 17th October a total journey time of three months. 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. 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. 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. Some of these records are alsoavailable on the subscription websitewww.findmypast.co.uk. Records of Merchant Navy from other sources. Nine types of medals were awarded to British merchant seamen who served in the Second World War and who met the qualifications for each medal. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve records can also be accessed online. This series contains records of Merchant Seamen's Service on Royal Navy Ships. 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. Matthew Towers was 48 years old when he lost his life. Unfortunately, all their hard work diverting troops and stores came to nothing because Singapore fell into Japanese hands. the National Archives. This information will help us make improvements to the website. For information on how to order an Official Military Personnel File for a veteran who separated from service before 1957, . : s.n., between 1939 and 1940) AWM call number: 387.5071094 M554; Online. A register entry for home trade voyages, from BT 126. 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. Catalogue entries for this series have been enhanced as part of a project supported by volunteers. A merchant seaman had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. The series generally contains information about radio equipment . I hope to also take a digital diary when it is finished to the Arctic Convoy Museum at Loch Ewe. 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. In 1939 the Admiralty instructed the Board of Trade, for reasons of. ","copyright":"INF13-213 (52)","url":"https://images.prismic.io/findmypast-titan/9794e89f-46cb-4342-8b53-47272a1b0f4b_inf13-213-52-world-war-ii-poster-the-life-line-is-firm-thanks-to-the-merchant-navy.jpg?auto=compress,format"},"caption":"The Life-line Is Firm Thanks To The Merchant Navy Image: INF13-213 (52)"}},{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceText","type":"slice-text","primary":{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceTextPrimary","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Despite sharing the word Navy in their titles, the difference between the Royal and Merchant Navies was that sailors in the latter were classed as civilians. The World S Merchant Fleets 1939 The Particulars And Wartime Fates Of 6 Operational and non-operational service may be counted, providing that it was of 28 days or more duration. Edit Search New Search. 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. Awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. They sailed up the Irish Sea to join with the Clyde portion to form convoy WS 9B. giving a true reflection as to when the name-change was made. 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! Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events.Sign up, All content is available under the Open Government Licence Despite sharing the word Navy in their titles, the difference between the Royal and Merchant Navies was that sailors in the latter were classed as civilians. Merchant Navy officers - The National Archives There were still some men on the after deck, but could not see if they had jumped clear before the ship sank. Gunner, R. W. Orr D.E.M.S. 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). research. The card entries do not all start or end at the same time. The convoy arrived in Durban on 18th December. In the Merchant Navy there is a requirement that the 28 days should have been served at sea. At 05.55 all the boats but one had cleared the ship, by which time the foredeck was completely submerged and the water almost up to the level of the promenade deck. 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. Little did I know, but back home I was considered missing and presumed dead. Awarded for service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. Maurice John Case MBE: 20 . Merchant Navy Records | Ships Nostalgia Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. She was torpedoed and shelled by the German U-boat U30 without warning, becoming the first merchant vessel casualty of the Second World War. A merchant seaman could qualify after six months service with at least one voyage in an operational area. Fort Pepperrell was in St. John's and many American servicemen were to resident in the capital city. 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. The cards record the movements of both British-registered and Allied vessels engaged in the war effort. On being examined by the ship's surgeon life was found to be extinct. There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. The library does have collections of books, dealing with . This meant that Monarch of Bermuda with eight other liners and the cruiser HMS Royal Sovereign increased speed from 13 knots to 16 knots. His brother Francis David Short was in the First War but I have no details on his service. Furthermore, the MID does not appear on the Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards approved from time . 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, There were no portholes, and ventilation came from the open access hatches which had to be closed at night when the ships were darkened. Merchant ship movement card (catalogue reference: BT 389). The minimum qualifying period was one day. Conversely, it was fortunate that fair weather allowed the rescue of 80 per cent of the total on board. Some copies of the latter have been digitized and put online by theMaritime History Archivein Canada. Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Merchant Shipping Most of the masters and mates were from West Wales. Alternatively, search The National Archives Library to see what is available to consult at Kew. MO has 20th Century military records for discharged and deceased veterans. He survived. 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. Merchant Seaman records sometimes identify a vessel an individual served on only by the Ships' Official Number. 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. All surviving agreements and crew lists with their logbooks are held by The National Archives, . 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 In these instances the cards have been separated and placed alphabetically according to the name shown without a deletion. During the war this fleet underwent tremendous expansion as Canadian shipyards produced 403 merchant vessels. 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). Canada's Merchant Navy: The Men That Saved The World - Legion Magazine AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results ; . 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. You may be searching for a ship on dates before or after movement cards were in use on that vessel. 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. At 8.00 a.m. Matty Towers looked in his bunk and then reported Grandad missing to the Bosun, J. Hynes. By the 26th of June 1943 the crew of the Samaria had heard of the body of Jim Wafer being found in Liverpool. AB. Requesting service records - Royal Navy Research Archive The movement control staff in Durban were receiving signals from London changing the instructions for the destinations of the various troops. The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen.