Discharge Book numbering from WW 2 to 1972 for British seamen

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vernon.
That's ok mate, a few years ago I went on the archives to find a few things out. Found that my number was one of a few consecutive numbers from my class from the Vindi, apparently some had to wait until they reported to their pool to receive theirs, hence different numbers for the same join date.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Vernon, as stated in an earlier reply.
It all depends on where the book was issued.
Blocks of numbers to different places and issued at differing times.

[Ralph Knowles]

R886427 issued in October/November 1971 in Dundee Merchantile Marine Office and replaced March 1973 with same number at same office when all books were replaced.

[Hugh]

#173 – this information was directly researched by me a few years ago - interesting that Vernon decided not to quote his source here. The only place it has been posted is two other well-known shipping sites. It is annoying to see your work lifted and not sourced especially when you know the source.

#184, #185, #186.

Des and John are correct in that discharge books were issued in block to various MMO’s. The bigger cities would see a proportionally larger run on their books than a smaller MMO and hence similarly numbered blocks in different MMO’s could be issued at different times depending on demand.

Regards
Hugh

[j.sabourn]

Hugh if your still there , how did the certificate numbers come to be distributed ? When I sat the last one in 1963 they were a five figure number . I didn’t pick mine up until a couple of months later from the BSF when it was convenient. 28 years later I met someone in Australia who had 1 digit more than me, my last two digits were 91and his were 92. The chances of that happening must have been a fluke. He also lived at the other end of England as well. Is it likely he sat the same exam as me ? JS

[Hugh]

how did the certificate numbers come to be distributed?

Hi John,
not sure I follow? Are you talking about discharge book number here or as I suspect BoT certificates of competency for master, mate etc?

For BoT examinations they were held at the larger ports around the British Isles and masters and mates who passed the examination were issued with a certificate of competency. So it is possible that you both took the same exam in the same port. Meeting someone with such a close number to you in OZ shows that we really do live in a small world.

Regards
Hugh

[Rodney Mills]

Rodney David Richard Mills
R602188 Gravesend, 6 Feb. 1954

[David le lacheur]

My Dis A R 419585 was issued in Leith in January 1949. Hope it helps Bob McGahey

Stuart Henderson's point about not seeing R 4????? numbers seems to be backed up by Colin Hawken (R 510709) and Fred Lacey(R 525985)both from 1949 which were issued 2 years after R 396040. Any R 4????? numbers out there?

Mick O'Brien's number UK 018117 from 1974 tallies with Doc Vernon's thought that the change from the R prefix to the UK prefix took place in 1972.
Is there anyone with a number issued in the 1968-72 period ?

thanks again for the help
David Snook

[/QUOTE]

Mine was R862421 issued 15 May 1969

[Denis O'Shea]

mine R708736 issued Liverpool June 1959 Rgds Den

[j.sabourn]

#190 Yes Hugh the old BOT certificates . Discharge books by hearing what you say I understand the gist of now.The old BOT certificates however were very important as to their number as was the legal prove of your responsibility as the owners representative and entered on the ships Register after being sighted at the Custom House . I think I may be right in thinking that the number on such may also represent the exam sat which was usually on a monthly basis ,however there is also doubt in my mind as one could take 6 months accumulating the 3 parts required for any deck certificate. The new certificates which have I believe a total different number is ,
Totally different so have no idea how they number today The new ones issued.
To replace the old ones , I call.them cornflake packets or came out of. , I didn’t take much notice of., so have no idea to their numbers and how came about. One only thinks about these things later in life as at the time didn’t seem worth bothering about. As regards Discharges in books the only one not necessary was the master. Cheers JS

PS My inquisitiveness now could of been answered if I had asked that friend years ago whose last number was 2 if he had a composite great circle in his navigation paper as would then more than likely have proved it was the same exam. When the papers are set. I believe they are the same nationally . Thanks for the interest you take. JS