Copy of Certificate of Discharge

[Victoria Weipers]

I was wondering if you could help me with an application for the Arctic Emblem in relation to my grandfather Alexander Milne-Lee Weipers, a master mariner between 1939 and up to his death in 1946. The medal office understandably require a copy of Alexander's certificate of discharge, which we don't think we have.

Do any members know how I can go about requesting a copy? Any advice is gratefully received.

Kind regards
Vicki

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Victoria
Is not the Cert Of Discharge the actual Seamans Book!
That is what i thought it always aws,and in that case you would need to apply for his Continous Record of Service Book!
I am not 100% sure on this but anyway here is the link to his Seamans Pouch,i am sure others here will come forward with more info!
Cheers

Detecting your browser settings

His Medal listing here !

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

His CRS10 would be the better bet,but it is best if one can get to the Archives in person

I think this is the Link for that!

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...F=BT382%2F1908

Inside of the actual Book would look something like this page!

[Victoria Weipers]

Thanks very much Doc

I have ben sent info from the national archives but doesn't go beyond 1944 I agree that a visit might be more productive.

[DeepSea]

The first link to BT391 are the records for the ship or ships he was serving on involved in during the liberation of Europe 6th June 1944 to 8th May 1945.

The records you require are in BT382, at the link Vernon has given and as mentioned for these records, as they are held in block by surname would cost a fair bit for Kew to undertake the research, so you would be better off if possible visiting Kew. This file will list all the ships and dates he served on them and you would be able to narrow down, which ship took part in any convoys to Russia.

[Victoria Weipers]

Thank you DeepSea

Kew is the way forward

[Ray Buck]

Victoria

Just a little extra for your research

There was an Alexander M L Weipers Master Mariner arrived in New York 7th January 1943 as a Passenger aboard the “Axel Johnson” he was Scottish, place of birth Kilbernie he was in transit with other officers and crew to join “Fort Frobisher” Official No 169719 in Canada, The official log book and crew agreement for “Fort Frobisher” should be in the TNA Kew in BT 381/2692 for the year 1943

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...accessmethod=0


Ray

[Victoria Weipers]

I have been to the National Archives and accessed by Grandfather's service record (or at least I think this is what it is). I think this will be suffiencient for the MOD medals office to determine if he is eligible for the Arctic Star - thanks to those who have helped me so far.

I have another favour to ask of the forum. We now know that Grandfather was on Fort St Paul and engaged in a voyage on 19/10/1945 as Master. If family history is to be believed he was due to take up a post as Harbourmaster for the Clyde but agreed to a last voyage (something I believe my grandmother was against). On the 01/02/1946 he was announced missing presumed drowned in Danzig.

Again family history - not a lot gleaned as my father didn't want to upset his mother or Alexander's brothers so ddidn't ask what happened (he was only 4 at the time) - but it's believed he left the ship to meet another Captain and on his return a crew member heard (who he believed to be my grandfather) call out 'friend or foe', this was foolwed by a splash - very dramatic, who knows he might just have had too much whisky or vodka!

So to the facts - I'd like to determine what Fort St Paul was doing in Danzig (post war in this area was very dicey, post Potsdam Conference with passing of ownership) - does the forum know how to find a ships history - Convoy web is great but only goes up to beginning of October 1945 for Fort St Paul. I might be wrong but the attachment states'missing presumed drowned ex Fort St Paul' Could the ship have been renamed?


Also on the attached documents there are lots of references including columns titled F/H (what does this refer to) and character (V.G - am I being too simplistic to think this means very good???)

Any further advice the forum could provide would be greatly appreciated

Victoria

[Don Rafferty]

".....................and character (V.G - am I being too simplistic to think this means very good???)"

No, you are spot on. Anything other than VG was bad.

G - Good..............Bad!

DR - Decline to Report...............Very very bad!

VNC - Voyage not completed ............. Jumped ship!

[Victoria Weipers]

Great thanks Don

I spotted a couple of N.S - None Specified perhaps or Naughty Schoolboy?

---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 PM ----------

Whilst an aside to the above query I feel I should correct my error - Grandfather was due to take up a position as a Pilot of the Clyde.

[Hugh]

Hello Victoria,

F/H = Foreign Going or Home Trade - a description of the type of voyage the ship undertook.

I would advise the next time you go to Kew to seek out the following file BT 381/3988: Detecting your browser settings this is the ships official logbook for the year 1946. There should be a report of the incident filed there. The log is a large document that also includes the crew agreement but you need to find the narrative part of the document.

Regards
Hugh