Discharge Book numbering from WW 2 to 1972 for British seamen

[Gary Worton]

My Discharge Book number was R668985. Issued on completing TS Vindicatrix training (D) in March 1957.

[james flaherty]

Mine was 639411 issued in August 1955.

[Chris Bell]

Mine was R904322 issued in South Shields on 9th January 1973

[j.sabourn]

#256.. Chris see by your CV you spent some time with the RMAS was going to ask you of. One incident which I was well aware of but looking at your Cv see you joined later. However how did you find them as compared to MN wages etc. I often wondered as working for Naval Party 1007 our paths sometimes crossed. The incident which was before your time, but you may have heard of it unless there was an M. Notice stuck on it , was the loss of a stingray torpedo lost in Loch Fynne. It was fired from a RMAS vessel. We never did recover it but heard various stories one of which was a Russian sub recovered it. The incident was about 1980. My discharge book was issued 20 years prior to yours on the other side of the river and must of been one of the last before they closed shop, it was too handy for the Jungle. Cheers JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

#256.. The incident which was before your time, but you may have heard of it unless there was an M. Notice stuck on it , was the loss of a stingray torpedo lost in Loch Fynne. It was fired from a RMAS vessel. We never did recover it but heard various stories one of which was a Russian sub recovered it. The incident was about 1980. Cheers JS

Did they make a habit of losing them John, I had a visit from a Naval Party from Loch Fyne who wanted me to design and supply a non-penetrating hydraulic cactus grab for torpedo recovery, I got the contract as could deliver within four weeks of agreed design (others were quoting 3-6 months), the RN (and their wives) got a few jollies out of it, had more visits from that particular client than from commercial clients. Still have the paperwork somewhere, the thing had to be painted bright yellow, our standard colour was royal blue. This was late 1980's

[j.sabourn]

When looking for our vagrant Ivan we had a big yellow Jim suit , a yellow beetles submarine , divers in saturation and knew for a week exactly. Where it was,as had a pinger on it, it even a 6 foot probe would not reach it through the mud and silt . When the pinger expired after a week we went home for breakfast. The target the torpedo was supposed to home in on a world war2 submarine sank of its own accord causing a lot of consternation to the local fishermen . We didn’t get paid much but we did see life. A couple of years ago I applied for a free MN badge, a badge came back enscribed to a veteran of HM armed forces. I hope they didn’t blame me for it , and still keeping tabs on me, the Ministry of Defence that is. Cheers JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

. I hope they didn’t blame me for it , and still keeping tabs on me, the Ministry of Defence that is. Cheers JS

Once we've signed that Act, they will always keep tabs on you, even after the so-called expiry date.

[j.sabourn]

Well I always report in when I move house but they haven’t offered to pay the removal costs yet. JS

[Mike Howard]

Mine was 790393 issued Liverpool 30/8/63

[Chris Bell]

Happy New Year to you.
There was a big difference in wages but the overtime with the RMAS more than made up for it. Was posted to the Clyde in 87 and had heard of the incident and I still have contacts who may have been involved. I'll ask around. Didn't stay in Scotland for long and moved to HQ in Bath 1990 and there I stayed until early retirement in 2008 when the RMAS was disbanded.
The Jungle was still there when I did my Eng Cadetship in South Shields but was in decline and only ever visited on a couple of occasions.