Hopefully i will get my hands on it over the next few days and come back to edit it. Nok details are used solely to establish their eligibility as next of kin in order of priority to make an application based on intestacy law. 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. A separate section was set aside for a report of character,was in two parts in regard to ability and general conduct, and perhaps sobriety. A history of the british merchant navy series by richard. Declaration for a british seamans card i wish to apply for a british seamans card. Advising seaman that crs 8 will be issued by registrar general shipping under certain conditions and enclosure crs 49.
Where to find merchant navy records imperial war museums. Captain richard woodman is an elder brother of trinity house. The recent announcement that the britain, merchant seamen, 19181941 record collection is available on findmypast was welcomed by a number of people including myself. The merchant marine consisted of individuals who served as crew members aboard merchant ships. Family history library book 942 m23cs, films 909026027. There are 998,838 records available to search between these dates. The national archives holds indexes to the registers covering the period 191956 the registers themselves, for 19151958, are held at the national maritime museum. I confirm the personal details provided in part a are correct.
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. My number, r576086 was issued at the vindicatrix, 6 june 1952 i had three full discharge books all with the same number to 1994 discharge book numbering from ww 2 to 1972 for british seamen page 4 help. The british merchant navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. Combined office merchant navy operations, seamens pouches. Nov 04, 2017 why did 300 chinese fathers vanish from liverpool in 1946 after wartime service in british merchant navy. For much of its history, the merchant navy was the largest merchant fleet in the world, but with the decline of the british empire in the mid20th century it slipped down the rankings.
The merchant navy is the maritime register of the united kingdom, and comprises the seagoing commercial interests of ukregistered ships and their crews. They were replaced in 7273 by a new book entitled seamans discharge book. 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. In 1917, the germans began a campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare on merchant navy ships in an attempt to cut british supply lines. British seaman authorised to serve in a nonbritish ship. Registration of cooks in the merchant navy began on 30 june 1908. You can get your seamans book within the day or the. The board of trade issued these cards and they fall into three types.
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. Renewing your seamans book is easy and with less hassles now than before. Surname, christian name, birth year and place of birth, discharge a number, rating, rv2 number, certificate grade and number if owned, pr. What special privileges does a traveller with a seaman. If your british, then no you wont need a british seamans card and discharge book. Application for a discharge book andor a british seamans card under the merchant shipping.
Get a seamans discharge book or british seamans card. Seafarers discharge books, official log books, gmdss log books. The seaman retains this number throughout his or her service even when the discharge a book is lost or destroyed. If you have previously held a uk discharge book, please enter the number here.
This is a guide to locating records of merchant seamen in service since the end of. All modifications related to central registry of seafarers documentation, as a result of the csa 2001, can be found in the ship safety bulletin at the following site. There are no copies of actual discharge books, but records known as crs10 service files detail the same information found within a discharge book. 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. 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. The seamans book certifies that the seafarer holding it is a seaman as per the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping stcw. Jun 05, 2018 forgotten seafarers of the first world war during the first world war the merchant navy the mercantile marine was thrust into the conflict, becoming the supply service of the royal navy. Merchant navy discharge number records armed forces. 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. My ancestor was a merchant seaman by christopher and. Confirming telephone message regarding discharge of seaman, giving reasons. Forgotten seafarers of the first world war heritage calling.
These regulations revoke the merchant shipping seamens documents regulations 1972, as amended, and reenact them with further amendments. He has written 30 novels, and awardwinning fivevolume history of the british merchant navy, and is coauthor of the lighthouses of trinity house. The british merchant navy was the biggest in the world and required more crew than great britain had merchant seamen, as a result large numbers of indian, chinese and west african seamen were engaged to crew ships which regularly traded from great britain to ports in those areas. Merchant navy vessels fly the red ensign and are regulated by the maritime and coastguard agency mca. Merchant navy establishment licensed agencies mnea contracts while the continuation page of the crs10 docket book shows. Discharge book numbering from ww 2 to 1972 for british seamen ive done some research on discharge books and discharge a numbers from ww2 to 1972 to try and get an idea of the turnover of british seamen over the period. Right of seamen to appeal against discharge from reserve pool. A list of ships and their official numbers with date and place of engagement rank or rating f or h for foreign or home trade voyage date and place of discharge from the ship character grade. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Records of merchant shipping and seamen by kelvin smith, christopher t and michael j watts richmond, surrey. The cr10 archive holds 300,000 cards covering the multinational workforce of the british merchant marine from early september 1918 and the closing two months of the great war until december 1921. Merchant navy seamen and officers 191972 the national.
Application for a discharge book, british seamans card msf. To ensure that seamen would always be available for service, the government paid them to remain in the reserve pool when they were ashore. 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. Merchant navy during british empire, and first steel and steam ships. Merchant navy awards 19391945 this collection details over 9,000 awards made to those who served in the merchant navy from 193945. British seamans carddischarge book cruisemates cruise. Catalogue description registry of shipping and seamen. Merchant seamen serving since 1918 the national archives. It is a requirement that seafarers working on uk flagged ships or large yachts have a uk discharge book or one that is issued by one of the governments listed in msf 4509 a british seamans card bsc is an internationally accepted document which allows a british seafarer to land at foreign ports.
By registering with our site you will have full instant access to. In 1939, the merchant navy was the largest in the world with 33% of total tonnage. United kingdom application for an mca discharge book msf 4509 can be found at gov. Many officers are included in published biographies, such as. Each card typically gives the following information. Membership is open to all that are interested in the british merchant navy both past and present. Since many seamen also served in the merchant marines during their careers, search the records described in british merchant marine. Why did 300 chinese fathers vanish from liverpool in 1946. Certificate of discharge from merchant navy service. See the royal navy ratings paid search guide for records of medals issued to royal. The merchant shipping seamens documents regulations 1987.
Application for a discharge book, british seamans card. In 2001 he won the desmond wettern maritime media award for his promotion of the merchant navy, particularly as a. Commissioned sea officers of the royal navy, 16601815. To apply in person you must have an appointment with a marine office. Application for a discharge book andor a british seamans. A discharge a book and the related registered discharge a number are issued to a seaman on joining the service.
The merchant navy fund is a collaborative initiative by the merchant navy welfare board and the charity seafarers uk. While in the merchant navy during world war two he survived the sinking of san alberto on 9 december 1939 and then served aboard british integrity, lucerna, british genius and voco between 1940 and 1942. 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. The merchant navy is the united kingdom maritime register and describes the seagoing commercial interests of ukregistered ships and their crews merchant navy vessels fly the red ensign and are regulated by the maritime and coastguard agency mca. Find relatives and loved ones via our database of over 39,000 crew lists. Sep 01, 2018 a seamans discharge book, sometimes known as a seamans service book ssb, is a full record of a seafarers career experience and certification. Forgotten seafarers of the first world war during the first world war the merchant navy the mercantile marine was thrust into the conflict, becoming the supply service of the royal navy. Application for a discharge book and or british seamans card. The trustee of the c3 billion merchant navy officers pension fund mnopf has secured c1. But when asked what the merchant navy was, 54% of the british population couldnt answer correctly, even though almost 90% have heard of them. British seamens cards no longer require endorsement after 5 years.
The british merchant navy comprises the british merchant ships that transport cargo and people during times of peace and war. Jul 02, 2014 msf 4509 application for a discharge book and or british seamans card rev 0819. 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. 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. B, discharge book number, awards issued and medals issue number are the only details on the medal roll. One million merchant navy seamen records published online. For the first time ever, the crew lists of the british merchant navy from the year 1915 have been digitised and made available to search for free. Crew lists, agreements and official logs crew agreements for britishregistered merchant ships, crew lists or musterrolls and official ships logs are of particular interest to genealogists and people tracing family history, and to anyone researching specific ships or seafaring generally. The merchant navy is a private organisation of commercial and trading ships.
I tried to find the fal convention to better answer the question authoritatively, but cant find it currently. For more information read crew lists, agreements and log books of merchant. In 1941 the essential work merchant navy order created a merchant navy reserve pool. Of the big lines only cunard have a cruise ship registered in the uk. For filipino nationals, an online appointment would be best since you can choose your desired schedule for appearance. A discharge book is a continuous record of a seafarers service and is not a proof of identity. Merchant navy seamen records are split into two very distinct sections timeframes because in 1857 the board. 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. During their service seamen carried their discharge books from ship to ship as proof of their. Video of my time in the merchant navy includes some of the ships i served on and general interest. Ships articles, crew lists and discharge books can also provide supporting evidence. British seamans card notes religion, medical or legal practitioner, established 5. The british seamans card and discharge book is normally only needed if you are working in the merchant navy or a british registered ship. Discharge books, identity certificates and central indexes 1900 to 1939 and beyond.
Abbreviations in merchant seamens records the national. Seafarers discharge book, official log books, list of crew and gmdss log. Crew members of merchant vessels signed contracts, called articles of agreement, with the master of the vessel. Msf 4509 application for a discharge book or british seamans card. You can also apply through the 24hour premium service. Video of my time in the merchant navy includes some of the ships i served on. Spices and slaves 15001807 a history of the british merchant navy, britannias realm. The central index register of merchant seamen is a collection of over a million and a quarter merchant navy service record cards.
Msf 4509 application for a discharge book and or british seamans card rev 0819. British military records genealogy familysearch wiki. Seafarers registry, contributions and marine emergency. The sections which apply to british seamans cards are in the merchant shipping seamans documents regulations 1987. Aug 20, 2018 renewing your seamans book is easy and with less hassles now than before. Numbers no prefix various nationalities mainly british a india and pakistan bar barbados.
The register consists of docket books and seamens pouches. Both organisations recognise that many people with a merchant navy background want to see their donations, gifts in memory and legacies used specifically in support of british merchant navy seafarers and their families. A seamans discharge book, sometimes known as a seamans service book ssb, is a full record of a seafarers career experience and certification. Get a seamans discharge book or british seamans card gov. Discharge book numbers as there are a few threads about merchant navy discharge a. Crew members of merchant vessels signed contracts, called articles of. In common parlance the book is referred to as the discharge book or papers. British seamens cards are no longer obligatory for british seafarers. It has details of people serving on board british registered ships between 1918 and 1941.
It was not regulated by the government until the nineteenth century. Msf 4509 application for a discharge book or british seamans. Merchant navy during the first and second world wars. He first went to sea in cargo liners at the age of 16. It carried troops, shipped raw materials, delivered armaments and supplies to the armed forces. Merchant navy seamen records are split into two very distinct sections timeframes because in 1857 the board of trade abandoned the seamens register, deeming. Frederick george deal british crew lists of ships hit by.
King george v bestowed the title of merchant navy on the british merchant shipping fleets following their service in the first world war. The docket books normally include the following information. The royal naval historical archive holds online records, and the merchant navy association and the federation of merchant mariners also keep an expanding database of those qualifying personnel who have been awarded the merchant navy veterans badge. 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. Application to return to employment in merchant navy. What special privileges does a traveller with a seaman book. Frederick george deal served as able seaman in the royal navy during world war one, mainly aboard the battleship hms lord nelson. To find out more about the british merchant navy why not have a look at. A list of ships and their official numbers with date and place of engagement rank or rating f or h for foreign or home trade voyage. Search the shipping and seamen first and second world war rolls of. Msf 4509 application for a discharge book or british. The register tells us the name, date and place of birth of a seafarer. For example mine was issued at glasgowstanding by a ship on 1272. Unfollow british merchant navy to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
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