The navy official list books, available from 1673, give ports of call for ships during each year. Merchant navy crew lists from the late19th and early20th centuries have recently been made available to search online at. There are no copies of actual discharge books, but records known as crs10 service files detail the same information found within a discharge book. If you have been impacted by a natural disaster such as the wildfires in california, and need priority service to replace a separation document usually dd form 214 or equivalent, place the word natural disaster in the comments section of evetrecs or in the purpose section of the standard form sf 180, request pertaining to military records. Records of deaths of merchant seamen recorded for pension purposes for the ministry of pensions, from 1944 to 1951. Once you have located the discharge number, you can then search for the seamans cr2 card in bt 348 which is organised numerically by that number omitting any prefix letter before it. Hi, i have recently had a search conducted at southampton archives and they have been unable to find the records of my relative leslie arthur whitney, who was an apprentice in the merchant navy, and left the service in 1928, to join the police force. But when asked what the merchant navy was, 54% of the british population couldnt answer correctly, even though almost 90% have heard of them. We hope to have the problem resolved soon and apologize for.
World war ii cadet nursing corps card files, 19421948. Merchant navy discharge number records armed forces. Crs 20 acknowledging a request for release from the armed forces and informing application what action he should take if the request is granted. In 2015 ancestry released an extensive list of indentured merchant navy apprentices for the years 18241910. Those records crew lists, ships logs and articles of agreement, 1948 to 1983 were transferred to library and archives canada. It also has details of a mariners dates of engagement or discharge on board particular vessels. Merchant seamen serving since 1918 the national archives. The term merchant navy refers to a nations commercial shipping and crews. Merchant marine service records including voyage discharges from u. These records consist of file cards for merchant marine ships having navy armed guard on board, and some army troop transports.
Crew lists, originally termed musterrolls or musterbooks, began in the 18th. Get a seamans discharge book or british seamans card gov. Explanation of merchant seamans medal card sailors, navies. These include the first, second and third registers of merchant seamens service, 183556. You are also obliged to ensure that the discharge book has been filled in correctly by the master or that the shipowner issues a record of service. Records relating to individual seamen filed together in a pouch. Navy until a separate department of the navy was established by act of april 30, 1798 1 stat. Application for a discharge book, british seamans card msf. This is a guide to locating records of merchant seamen in service since the end of the first world war, including records from the second world war, and up to the last decades of the 20th century. These pre1967 records, from record group 26, records of the u. One million merchant navy seamen records published online friday, september 2nd, 2011 at 8.
Central index of merchant seamen southampton city council. Merchant navy registry veterans affairs canada po box 7700 charlottetown, pe c1a 8m9. Abbreviations in merchant seamens records the national. Where to find merchant navy records personnel records available to the public are now held by the national archives tna, formerly known as the public record office, the website has helpful research guides. I had a question that i am hope can be answered easily by the members that are much more knowledgable than myself. As the outbreak of world war ii edged closer in 1939, the british merchant fleet remained the largest in the world, employing some 200,000 men and women. The british merchant navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. Some of these lists are available in the family history library. These crs 10 forms are often referred to as seamens docket books and can. Dec, 20 this entry was posted in merchant seamen, military, the national archives uk, world war ii and tagged board of trade, british, campaign medals, coastguard agency, discharge book, maritime, medals, merchant navy, merchant seamen, national archives, pouches, register of seamen, register of shipping, second world war, service records, tna.
There are 998,838 records available to search between these dates. Tracing merchant seamen the majority of records relating to merchant seamen are with the national archives, ruskin avenue, kew, richmond, surrey tw9 4du. Movement report cards detail the travel information of ships throughout wwii. The merchant shipping act of 1835, replaced muster books with agreements and crew lists which were filed at the registrar general of shipping and seamen previously known as the register office of. Records of individual merchant seamens sea service details are held in alphabetical surname order. The british seamans card is similar to a british passport and is internationally accepted, allowing seafarers to land at foreign ports without having to obtain visas. The certificate may be issued in connection with a bcnrndrb action. Online world war ii indexes and records usa a genealogy guide online world war ii indexes and records usa. Records of the bureau of naval personnel national archives. The merchant navy seamen records comprise two main sections. Merchant navy seamans sea service records sea service records this office is not able to supply information concerning the sea service details of individual merchant seamen from 1973 to the present date. Merchant seamen crewed the ships of the british merchant navy which kept the united kingdom supplied with raw materials, arms, ammunition, fuel, food and all of the necessities of a nation at war throughout world war ii literally enabling the country to defend itself. The merchant navy is a private organisation of commercial and trading ships.
England military records genealogy familysearch wiki. Jul 02, 2014 application for a discharge book and or british seamans card. Merchant navy, second world war australian war memorial. Catalogue description registry of shipping and seamen.
The front page of the crs10 docket book provides the following information. Records of merchant shipping and seamen by kelvin smith, christopher t and michael j watts. One million merchant navy seamen records published online. Seafarers registry, contributions and marine emergency. They give the seamans name, discharge a number, rank or rating. This is a guide to locating records of merchant seamen in service since the end of. The board of trade issued these cards and they fall into three types. Britain, merchant seamen, 18351857 search the national archives merchant seamen records and discover your ancestor who lived his life at sea. To locate seamen during this period, it is best to consult the cr1 cards held at the national archives in series bt 349 which is on microfiche and catalogued alphabetically by surname. Otherwise, the following persons are entitled to receive an administratively issued certificate. Explanation of merchant seamans medal card sailors. Records of merchant shipping and seamen by kelvin smith, christopher t and michael j watts richmond, surrey. Msf 4509 application for a discharge book and or british seamans card rev 0819.
The merchant navy seamen records will be of great interest to family historians worldwide, as so many of us have generations of. A discharge book is a continuous record of a seafarers service. A seamans discharge book, sometimes known as a seamans service book ssb, is a full record of a seafarers career experience and certification. Each card typically gives the following information. It was not regulated by the government until the nineteenth century. Ancestry library edition can be used free of charge from glasgow. You need a seamans discharge book if youre a british seafarer, or are working on a ukregistered ship or yacht. The secretary of state for transport, after consulting with the organisations referred to in section 992 of the merchant shipping act 1970 hereinafter called the act, in exercise of powers conferred by sections 70 and 71 of the act and now vested in him, and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following regulations. This guide gives details of crew agreements for britishregistered merchant ships.
American jewish historical society wwii jewish servicemen cards, 19421947. Nov 25, 2015 i can find no other mention of him in any merchant navy records service record etc. I reckon discharge book number 803568 was issued in 191415 period. We are experiencing fax related problems at this time. British world war ii merchant navy campaign medals.
Merchant ships were attacked not only in distant waters but also within sight of the australian coastline while traversing much. If you or a family member were a member of the ensign retirement plan for the mnopf please note that this plan was closed with effect from 31 march 2018 and. Oct 15, 2011 the merchant seamen records covering the period 19181941 are held in four separate groups. Local governments, for example, merit a researchers attention, as veterans may have filed their military discharge documents e. Records of those men who served on merchant vessels requisitioned for war services part 8. For records that are not digitized, see our access the records page for available options. These records are available at the national archive and are held on microfiche in the.
Ireland merchant navy crew lists 18631921 discover your seafaring ancestor with the national archives of irelands merchant navy crew lists. Crs 11 registrar general shipping forwarding cards, ed350 to merchant navy reserve pool. As well as british seafarers, the register also has service details of foreign merchant seamen serving on board british registered ships. We will always carry out a search of our records to a high standard based on our. Obtaining and researching military service records and ship. If a merchant seaman was shipped back to the uk after the end of the war on a conveyance order would it be unusual for his crs10 not to have a discharge number. Two groups are indexed alphabetically by surname and two by discharge number. Merchant seamen who were discharged from the navy between 1940 and 1972 had their records filed in what became known as seamens pouches. Records of merchant seafarers who served in the canadian merchant navy between 1939 and 1947, and between 1950 and 1953 continue to be maintained by veterans affairs canada. Discharge books, identity certificates and central indexes 1900 to 1939 and beyond. The amount of information listed varies, but the merchant navy records usually include the following information. My ancestor was a merchant seaman by christopher and michael watts 2nd ed london. Merchant navy seamen records are split into two very distinct sections timeframes because in 1857 the board of trade abandoned the seamens register, deeming.
In doing this, they sustained a considerably greater casualty rate than almost every other branch of the armed services and. For best results, please fax after business hours, 6. Surname, christian name, birth year and place of birth, discharge a number, rating, rv2 number, certificate grade and number if owned, pr. It gives their rating, discharge number and details of any certificates they hold for example, master or mates. The records include seamen from england, northern ireland, scotland, and republic of ireland, as well as such farflung places as malta, canada, and denmark, to name a few. Personnel records available to the public are now held by the national archives tna, formerly known as the public record office, the website has helpful research guides. Discharge number as well as providing information about your ancestors career, it should be noted that the merchant navy seamen records can also reveal what he or she looked like. My ancestor was a merchant seaman by christopher and. They give the seamans name, discharge a number, rank or rating and qualifications together with details of the ships on which they served.
Sep 01, 2018 there are hidden benefits by having a seamans book, which is also a common name for a discharge book. These indexed records hold the names of thousands of men and women from galway, belfast, dublin, and lands farther away such as philadelphia, norway and many more. Merchant navy seamen and officers 191972 the national. Coast guard, merchant marine personnel and licensing records, contain a wealth of information. Some of the seamen discharged during this period had been in service as far back as 19 and the records reflect this. Records changed over time, and those that still exist have. Merchant navy seamans sea service records 1999 2002 sea service records the mca at cardiff is able to provide details of a merchant seamans service for the above years. Application for a discharge book, british seamans card. The register tells us the name, date and place of birth of a seafarer. Records of the merchant marine used to be maintained by the central registry of seafarers at transport canada. A seamans discharge book is a full record of a seamans career experience and certification. So if searching for someone in the records it is possible to find two numbers. Records of those men who served on merchant vessels requisitioned for war services.
Anglicised spelling of patronyms and forenames is used. Get a seamans discharge book or british seamans card. Records of british seamen and ships registry of shipping and seamen rss has issued dated june 1997 a revised information sheet on historical records of seamen. The merchant navy seamen 19181941 records include index cards that the registrar general of shipping and seaman used between the two world wars to produce a centralised index to merchant seamen serving on british merchant navy vessels. These are records of seamen serving on british registered vessels but the seamen themselves need not. The originals are held by southampton archives with microfiche copies held by the national archives at kew. It has details of people serving on board british registered ships between 1918 and 1941. Many of the records include a photograph or a physical description, bringing you face to face with your ancestor.
The navy personnel command can only issue the honorable discharge dd form 256n certificate. Include name, date of birth, copy of death certificate if deceased, social security number, address, and z or service number. They are saying that they are filed by discharge no. The merchant shipping seamens documents regulations 1987. Including the names of 270,000 merchant seamen of all ranks who worked on the high seas between 1860 and 19, the lists are estimated to. After 1973 the registrar general was not required by legislation to keep these records. Merchant navy records including merchant navy apprentices. It holds pre1941 merchant seamens service records, the information in which is. Records of deaths of merchant seamen recorded for pension purposes for the ministry of pensions, from 1944 to 1951 the front page of the crs10 docket book provides the following information. New merchant seamen records online and free at the.
All sections of a ships crew are included deck crew, engine crew and victualing crew. Discharge book records is there any way of viewing discharge book records of merchant navy officers, discharge book and seamans books nos etc after 1972 available now, or proof that you were signed on on ships articles easily availablle. Merchant seamen who were discharged from the navy between 1940 and. Where to find merchant navy records imperial war museums. In the merchant navy during the war years would a seafarer have a single unique discharge number, that stayed with them regardless of what ships they served on. These cr2 cards should show a list of the ships on which the seaman served, customarily by its official number. If you use assistive technology such as a screen reader and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please.
In addition to records of sea time, the seamans book also allows yacht crew to travel on marine fare tickets refundable and changeable which are often at a discounted price and come with an increased luggage allowance. World war ii electronic army serial number merged file this database contains records of aboout 9 million men and women who enlisted in the united states army, including the womens army auxiliary corps waac, later wac. Merchant navy awards 19391945 this collection details over 9,000 awards made to those who served in the merchant navy from 193945. The memorial holds australian naval force engagement and service records, 19031911 awm266. Merchant navy seamans sea service records sea service records.
Merchant navy establishment licensed agencies mnea contracts. The merchant navy seamen 18351857 records represent individual seamen that the central government created to monitor a potential reserve of sailors for the royal navy. This is contributing to call congestion and callers experiencing frequent busy signals. These records detail the sea service record of merchant seamen engaged in the liberation of europe 6 june 1944 to 8 may 1945. A seaman will usually have only one discharge book number and retain that number throughout his time in the mn. It is possible though for a seaman to have more than one number for various reasons but usually the old number would be cancelled.
Crew lists, agreements, certificates of discharge and some related documents are available for 11 ships that landed at glasgows ports, 18631901, as well as master and mate certificates issued to merchant seamen by the british board of trade, 18501927 on the ancestry website. One million 20 th century merchant navy seamen records are going online for family historians for the first time ever, as britain approaches merchant navy day on saturday 3 rd september. These documents may include application forms most with a photograph of the seaman, certificates, identity cards, cessation documents and notifications of death. During the second world war merchant navy ships carrying valuable cargoes were at just as much risk as royal australian navy ran warships. If you dont have your ancestors discharge book, you can try visiting or contacting the national archives.
It contains the records of 340,000 apprentices including ports travelled to. The central index register of merchant seamen is a collection of over a million and a quarter merchant navy service record cards. What information can i expect to find on a complete crs10. Name of seaman, date and place of birth, discharge seamans book number, rank, details of the ships on which he served. I can find no other mention of him in any merchant navy records service record etc. Information about access to service records of members of the of royal navy, womens royal naval service, and the royal marines the most frequently asked questions which we receive are in relation to accessing service records, this page is aimed at providing a summary of the facilities, procedures and regulations concerning access to them. War department, established by act of august 7, 1789 1 stat. 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 nonmilitary sailors. Has any anyone used british merchant navy records to help with family history research.
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