We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. As fast as they drew up new convoy plans, the instructions would change. research. Tragically, 30,248 merchant seamen lost their lives during World War Two, a death rate proportionally higher than in any of the armed forces. Shortly after, Samaria set sail for Algiers via the River Clyde, Glasgow. Genealogical enquiriesshould be made in writing and search fees are 30. In general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers' records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). We weren't sorry to leave there in a cattle truck three days later, when we were taken to Drancy Prison in Paris. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results ; . The Royal Canadian Navy was the third-largest fleet in the world by the end of the war, having enlisted 100,000 men and 6,500 women. 1.30 a.m. Friday 14th of May 1943 Jim Wafer was seen apparently asleep in Seaman Gunners Quarters by Able Seaman Stanley Poole. Chapter one is called The Idea of the World because it reflects the meaning of the efforts of the ancient's philosophers-geographers to know the shape and size of the Earth, discover its position in space, and find out what is around them. 09:00 to 17:00. The date commemorates the sinking of the first British merchant ship in 1939, just hours after Britain declared war on Germany. Some useful printed works include: The Roll of Honour of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets 1939-1945, 3 vols (London: Ministry of . Read tagging guidelines. The convoy arrived in Freetown on 1st March. Anyone who qualified for both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star would be awarded the first Star earned. v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy campaign medal records 1939-1945. are on the same page. The card entries do not all start or end at the same time. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. To view all records for an individual, select 'ALL' in the Service box. During the war this fleet underwent tremendous expansion as Canadian shipyards produced 403 merchant vessels. The National Archives holds indexes to the registers covering the period 1913-1956 (the registers themselves, for 1915-1958, are held at the National Maritime Museum). These records were compiled at the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. The Atlantic Star was also awarded to those awarded a gallantry medal, with no minimum qualifying period. 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. She was ordered into the Clyde and the 990 RAF and 419 troops on board were going to disembark. First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve recordscan also beaccessed online. Research guidance for records relating to World War 2. 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. They subsequently sailed on convoy WS 17. George James William "Dick" Durling BEM. Records include photos, honours, service files and death records. 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. 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. An incomplete set of captains registers is available on microfilm in The National Archives reading rooms. Increased Centralization and the Ikhwan Movement (1926-1934) 13. Narrow your search by using double quotation marks to find a ships or persons full name, such as Sydney Star or John Williams. 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 research. 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. James Wafer S.S. Samaria (d.14th May 1943). The movement control staff in Durban were receiving signals from London changing the instructions for the destinations of the various troops. 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). Hello, I have just started to look for my deceased fathers merchant navy records. Merchant seamen who were discharged from the navy between 1940 and 1972 had their records filed in what became known as 'seamen's pouches'. please 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. As the U-boat is forced to hide beneath the surface of the sea a cat- . 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! USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Conversely, it was fortunate that fair weather allowed the rescue of 80 per cent of the total on board. Genealogical enquiries should be made in writing and search fees are 30. The column on the right of each record contains a reference number to the entitlement file held by the Registry of Shipping and Seamen. ","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. In the Merchant Navy there is a requirement that the 28 days should have been served at sea. There was also no minimum qualifying period if service was terminated due to death or disability while on active duty. Search and download () records of World War Two Medals issued to Merchant Seamen (BT 395). 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. There were no portholes, and ventilation came from the open access hatches which had to be closed at night when the ships were darkened. ", JEng. While the crew were preparing and lowering the lifeboats which were filled with personnel as they calmly filed up from the troop decks, HMS Challenger approached and skilfully placed her bow under the port quarter of Anselm, Many men jumped on board before the two ships became separated. By 05.47 all remaining boats were being rapidly filled by the use of side ladders and side decks while the remaining personnel jumped into the sea to grasp the lifelines of boats and rafts. 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. - Merchant Navy during the Second World War -. If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Some idea of the danger awaiting convoys is given by the following story. Medals and awards Refer to our research guides: Campaign and service medals Australian military honours and awards Where to look for photographs Below is the last movement card for the SS Athenia. Records of Merchant Navy from other sources. The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers and the free to access part of the website is funded by donations from our visitors. Under an Admiralty instruction during World War II masters of merchant ships were ordered not to record in the tabular section of the log book the ports at which their ships called or details of their voyages in case this information got into enemy hands. Our first night there we had doors for beds. Please ensure the tag is appropriate for the record. 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. At 6.25 p.m. Wednesday 26th of May 1943 P.C. You need to sign in to tag. Nortraship. 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. You need to sign in to tag. 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 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. 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. 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-raf-in-camera-1939-1945 1/11 Downloaded from uniport.edu.ng on March 2, 2023 by guest . Few if any of the troops had ever crossed the English Channel let alone been exposed to the rigours of the North Atlantic. 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. Edit Search New Search. Read tagging guidelines. The book's structure follows the chronological evolution of geographical opinions and retains a geohistorical narrative. Sanitary arrangements were, as usual, inadequate. The series generally contains information about radio equipment . When the war began, Canada had 38 ocean-going merchant vessels. I have a record of him being on HMS Leonian in 1941/2 from a list of people he wanted to write telegrams to from the ship. The library does have collections of books, dealing with . This was simply a record of the. At this point the body of Matthew Towers A.B. Generally awarded if the seaman qualified for one of the Stars. Merchant Navy 1939-1945. In the eleven months on the ship Dad had spent three months in Liverpool. By 1895, they were essentially out of business. This information will help us make improvements to the website. He may have been in the Devon or Dorset Regiment. 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 general Second World War Royal Naval Reserve officers records and post 1950 records are held by CN Pers (Commodore Naval Personnel). 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. (d.13th October 1945), Capt. 1939-1950. Records of masters and mates passing the voluntary examination are in series BT 143 (which includes a name index) and in BT 6/218-219. When they reached Aden on 15th August the convoy was disbanded. Ronnie stayed with the Merchant Navy during the war and was torpedoed off the east coast of the USA at some point. Most of the prisoners, including myself, were sent from Drancy to concentration camps. ). For more information on the Arctic Star and advice on how you can still apply for it, see our guide to Merchant seamans medals and honours. The swell was of considerable height and the ships became almost unmanageable and steering had to be assisted by engines. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. My mum told me that he did serve. 09:00 to 17:00. Dad signed off the ship on 8th May. This series contains records of Merchant Seamen's Service on Royal Navy Ships. 09:00 to 17:00. Merchant Seaman records sometimes identify a vessel an individual served on only by the Ships' Official Number. This meant that Monarch of Bermuda with eight other liners and the cruiser HMS Royal Sovereign increased speed from 13 knots to 16 knots. I think the tag '' should be removed from: Subscribe now for regular news, updates and priority booking for events, All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, BT - Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies, Division within BT - Records of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen and successor, Merchant shipping movement cards 1939-1945, Merchant Navy ships' records: movement cards 1939-1945, Merchant Navy ships' records: registration of merchant ships, About our Want to know what life was like during the War? v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Merchant Navy ships records: movement cards 1939-1945, Friends of The National Generally the qualifying service period for the Burma Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Use our guide Abbreviations in merchant seamens records to interpret the records. 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. If they appear on the same page, you should only pay one fee. A merchant seaman had to serve in the Atlantic, home waters, North Russia Convoys or South Atlantic waters. 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 . Help us improve catalogue descriptions by adding tags. Willenbrock. Ships & Convoys. Alternatively, search The National Archives Library to see what is available to consult at Kew. . After a change of orders she eventually left the Clyde with escorts on 30th June. 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. 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. Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck Evan McGilvray 2020-09-30 This military biography explores On August 26, 1939, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) took control of all shipping. 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. Main image:Allied convoy crossing the North Atlantic in 1942 during World War 2. 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). Don Fraser, "'Men of a service . Log book and Crew Agreements to be found in BT 381, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1872-1992. To find out about a seamans entitlement, contact the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. A single oak leaf emblem attached to the War Medal ribbon denotes a Mention-in-Despatches; the silver oak leaf, a Kings Commendation for Brave Conduct. Saudi Arabia and the Second World War (1939-1945) 16. In the top left corner of the record is the ships name. 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. ","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. 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. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-reserve-service-records.htm, First World War Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve records. Monarch of Bermuda sailed on Christmas Eve for Liverpool via Trinidad arriving back on 21st January 1942. 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. 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. 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. The image you order will usually come with a number of medal records for other seamen. All surviving agreements and crew lists with their logbooks are held by The National Archives, . They sailed up the Irish Sea to join with the Clyde portion to form convoy WS 9B. He signed up in 1915 at the age of 18. Medal record of Alfred Harry Badman, BT 395/1. 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. Maurice John Case MBE: 20 . Personnel records available to the public are now held byThe National Archives (TNA), formerly known as the Public Record Office, the website has helpful research guides. The Miramar ship index can be useful for obtaining this information. Whilst it is only short, it gives a vivid account of life on board ship as a RA gunner during WW2. Consult copies of the Mercantile Navy List for 1860 to 1864 in The National Archives reading rooms for alphabetical lists of masters and mates (with certificate numbers) as well as one-line obituaries for deceased seamen. Awarded for service in the Burma Campaign between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Order records to view when you visit. Despite the fact that merchant crews were not compelled to sail on the dangerous ocean passages, most indeed did. All were willing and did their best to help abandon ship quickly in the short time available. duty by S. Pentith 3rd officer. Thomas Andrew "Tots" Storey (d.7th Sep 1940), L/Bdr Norman Power Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery. Woodman here relates the Merchant Navy's colourful history and brings to life the day-to-day experiences of the seamen. Enter the tag you would like to associate with this record and click 'Add tag'. Brian Roy Clarke SS Sithonia, Sea. The British Merchant Navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. Like this page to receive our updates. ","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. 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). All Web: UK, World War II Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 results for Ruth Mcmillen. We place some essential cookies on your device to make this website work. Merchant Navy ships' records: movement cards 1939-1945; Merchant Navy ships' records: registration of merchant ships; Add a tag. *Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. On 5th July when she was 300 miles astern of convoy WS 9B she was torpedoed by U-96 under Capt. These records are digitised cards recording the movements of British and Allied merchant ships during the Second World War. There was no minimum time qualification for a Merchant Seaman. We'd like to use additional cookies to remember your settings and understand how you use our services. Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from IWM collections Menu. I hope to also take a digital diary when it is finished to the Arctic Convoy Museum at Loch Ewe. 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?). 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 Each set of cards records: The cards also show if the ship was torpedoed, mined, damaged or sunk. "The World's largest shipping company". 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 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). From things he had said prior to his death, the family believe that the story could actually be based on himself and those he served with. Maurice "Ginger" Archer SS Wendover. 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. This is the story of my Grandad, James Wafer and his best friend and shipmate Matty Towers. AncestryDNA Activate a Kit ; AncestryDNA Learning Hub ; What's Included in Your Results . At Halifax she embarked American troops to Reykjavik in Iceland and arrived back on 17th October a total journey time of three months. His brother Francis David Short was in the First War but I have no details on his service. If you provide contact details, we will be in touch about your request within 10 working days. Welcome to the The British Merchant Navy - Old Friends Plus. Conditions on the raider were passable, but the prison ship was deplorable. For quick pointersTuesday to Saturday The seamens discharge book numbers are usually listed, and you may find the date and place of birth too. (6th June 1944 - 8th May 1945). 1. ","spans":[]}]}},{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceImage","type":"slice-image","primary":{"__typename":"PrismicArticlePage1939BodySliceImagePrimary","image":{"dimensions":{"width":1200,"height":742},"alt":"Black and white photo of a group of officers on the SS City of Manila, a cargo steamer of the Ellerman City Line","copyright":"Mary Evans/Pharcide","url":"https://images.prismic.io/findmypast-titan/16661bfe-a635-4d82-a616-66a6b14d10d7_group-photo-officers-of-ss-city-of-manila-a-cargo-steamer-of-the-ellerman-city-line-sunk-in-the-atlantic-by-a-german-torpedo-in-1942-with-just-one-crew-member-lost-mary-evans-pharcide.jpg?auto=compress,format"},"caption":"Group photo, officers of SS City of Manila, a cargo steamer of the Ellerman City Line, sunk in the Atlantic by a German torpedo in 1942, with just one crew member lost. On the 18th the weather worsened to force 6 with a rough sea and short, heavy swell with poor visibility. 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. Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Anyone who qualified for both the France & Germany Star and the Atlantic Star would be awarded the first Star earned, with a Clasp. Search The Gazette for lists of masters and mates who passed officer examinations. Generally the qualifying service period for the Italy Star could only begin after the 1939-1945 Star had been earned by six months service. Women also sometimes served at sea in the Merchant Navy. Discovery is a catalogue of archival records across the UK and beyond, from which you can search 32 million records. Records of people younger than 100 and still alive, or who died after 1991 are officially closed. If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. He said he always craved the soil under his boots. . Alternatively, search more than 1 million objects from 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. 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. My name was and still is on the wall of remembrance in the Mission to Seaman in South Shields. Registers were created to record the awarding of these certificates to officers and what they had done to qualify for them. A register entry for a foreign trade voyage, from BT 124. For Matty Towers the three witness statements into his death are very contradictory. 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 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. 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.
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