'R'

[John Albert Evans]

Hello,
Since joining this site last month I have enjoyed reading all the contributions made by current and ex merchant seaman.
One thing came to my mind last night and that is we were all issued with a Discharge Book and number, the number begins with the prefix letter 'R'.
What does the 'R' stand for.
Cheers

John Albert Evans R668413.

[Mike Newell]

The R is the prefix introduced in the mid 1920's which indicate the owner is of British origin. There are various letters for other nationalities

[DeepSea]

The UK prefix came in to play about 1973.

[Gordon Turnbull]

1st January '73 I seem to recall.

[DeepSea]

1st January '73 I seem to recall.

Not sure about the month as I have seen both R & UK prefix for 1973

[Mike Hall]

whilst collecting names for the flags,i have come across the following.
there are earlier numbers without the "R"
then there is the " R"
followed by the "UK"
then the irish one "E"
I have a couple of indian ones,they start with" IND"
and finally" BAR",for barbadus.
anymore known,please let us know.
mike

[Gordon Turnbull]

I say 1st January '73 as I left the Bridgepool on 2nd Jan '73 in Avonmouth. As soon as I reported to the Pool a couple of weeks later, I was told I had to get a new Discharge book as R's were oot the windae.

[Gulliver]

I say 1st January '73 as I left the Bridgepool on 2nd Jan '73 in Avonmouth. As soon as I reported to the Pool a couple of weeks later, I was told I had to get a new Discharge book as R's were oot the windae.

A slight misunderstanding there I think,Gordon.
It was only the TITLE of the Discharge Book that changed,not the’ R’ No.That is why they were replaced.
For example my first Discharge Book (R 878267) -issued Cornhill,Liverpool on 20/2/70 was entitled
“Seaman’s Record Book and Certificates of Discharge “ and had two spaces for report of your character regarding Ability ,and General Conduct..(e.g. VG or DR etc.)
They were replaced in 72/73 by a new book entitled “Seaman’s Discharge Book”. They no longer had the Character Report spaces.
For example mine was issued at Glasgow(standing by a ship) on 13/12/72.
One still kept your original ‘R ‘ No. when the new style book was issued.

R’ ‘No’s themselves prefixed R8 ------ and R9------ were coming to the end of the series anyway and were succeeded in 1973 by the new UK------ series.
Regards
Gulliver

[Gordon Turnbull]

A slight misunderstanding there I think,Gordon.
It was only the TITLE of the Discharge Book that changed,not the’ R’ No.That is why they were replaced.
For example my first Discharge Book (R 878267) -issued Cornhill,Liverpool on 20/2/70 was entitled
“Seaman’s Record Book and Certificates of Discharge “ and had two spaces for report of your character regarding Ability ,and General Conduct..(e.g. VG or DR etc.)
They were replaced in 72/73 by a new book entitled “Seaman’s Discharge Book”. They no longer had the Character Report spaces.
For example mine was issued at Glasgow(standing by a ship) on 13/12/72.
One still kept your original ‘R ‘ No. when the new style book was issued.

R’ ‘No’s themselves prefixed R8 ------ and R9------ were coming to the end of the series anyway and were succeeded in 1973 by the new UK------ series.
Regards
Gulliver

That is what I was basically saying Gulliver. I didn't mention the old conduct and ability though. So you had the new style book in December '72? Intersting. As I said I only thought it was Jan 73 as that is when I changed mine. Wonder who got R999999????

[Brenda Shackleton]

My Dad's first ship as a Deck Boy was the LLanstephen Castle in March 1922. His Cert. of Discharge number was 1071065. No letter prefix.

There is another number for ' Master' 108050

William Joseph Hartley - Master of Rescue Ships, ' Copeland' and ' Goodwin'

I have found 2 more Discharge Papers.
1. ' For a seaman not discharged before a Superindentent of a Mercantile Marine Office'
Issued when he was 2nd mate on SS Rockabill on 21;12;34 in Waterford, Eire

2.' For a seaman discharged before a Superintendent or a Consular Officer'
Issued when he was 1st Mate on RS Beachy on 11 ;01; 41 in Glasgow ( date the Beachy was sunk ) Obviously the Discharge book survived along with him !
So, why did he need these extra papers?

Regards
Bren Shackleton