how do I find

[Albert Etherington]

since I was on here last i have come across my dad's discharge book, and a lot of the ships in it do not have a destination, how do I find that information? they have FGN and I assume that means foreign? while others say HT and again I assume that means around the UK?, I thought that i had posted this the other day, but could not find it, if i did I am sorry, also where would the answer be posted if there is/was one?? getting very forgetful in my old age, thanks
Albert Etherington

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Albert
You will have to get the Voyage Record Cards for the Ships you have.
These will tell you where etc they went dates too!


Apply to Guildhall Library UK

Once you have all then a list of vessel names and the dates served, they can contact Guildhall Library for the relevant Lloyd’s Voyage Record Cards (VRCs).

You need to ask for these Sections in the Group

M6. Voyage Record Cards 1927-c1975

M7. Voyage Record Cards: abbreviations used

Contact them beforehand to ask to have the list ready for you!
Contact them at contact us by e-mail at
Manuscripts.Guildhall@ms.corpoflondon.gov.uk

[j.sabourn]

#1...Albert in case you think there should be a destination in the Discharge Book no seaman then and now has such in their discharge book, only the port of signing the Articles of Agreement and the port of Discharge. There could be 20 or 30 ports in between. Cheers JS

[John F Collier]

Thanks Doc I'll do that for myself, that should bring back a few memories. Cheers John F

[Jim Brady]

Albert if you name the ships members on here will have a general idea on where that they sailed to.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Albert Etherington]

Ok Will try for that when I am in England in September, thanks

- - - Updated - - -

Hi, no I figured that would be the case but my grandchildren just wanted to know where its final destination was and where there great grandfather went,again thanks

[Albert Etherington]

Ok I have the list here it is some names an Numbers not clear so with ? it is a best guess . hope you can help & I have transcribed it OK
Signed on Discharged Ship & No rating Destination ?
13.3.35 M'chester 12.8.35 Cardiff Leeds City 148831 deck boy River Plate & B.C.
24.9.35 L'pool 27.12.35 London Farndale 149482 O.S. West coast of Africa
20.2.36 L'pool 13.4.36. L'pool Vacilte 160618 ? O.S R.A.?
21.5.36 B'head 5.7.36 S.Shields Rudby 13934 ? O.S Montreal
28.8.36 L.pool 12.11.36 Glasgow Marconi 137532 O.S Fgn
18.1.37 L'pool 25.7.37 L'pool Meriones 145974? O.S Fgn
18.9.37 B'head 12.1.38 B'Head Anchiises 131320 O.S Australia
24.12.38 L'pool 15.2.39 London Princesa 140585 Sailor River plate
13.9.39 B'Head 26.12.39 B'Head Anchilles 148640 Sailor FGN
16.2.40.B'Head 24.8.40 L'pool Dolius 147247 Sailor FGN
25.9.41 L'pool 17.3.42 L'pool ? Margot 149754 A.B. FGN
4.4.42 L'Pool 18.4.42 L'pool Monksville? 145345? A.B. H.T.
17.4.42 M'Chester 15.6.43? Barry Foamville 139289 A.B. H.T.
20.6.42 Barry 6.8.42 B'Head Foamville 139289 A.B. H.T.
14.8.42 L'pool 29.9.42 Dock ?? Procris 147935? A.B. R.A.?
7.10.42 L'pool 5.12.42 L'Pool Dorothy Rose 161129 A.B H.T.
6.1.43 Ellesmere Port 27.3.43 Caernarvon Nor-Est 11 165174 A.B? & Lamps H.T.
27.3.43 Caernarvon 29.5.43 Ellesmere Port Nor-est 11 165174 A.B.& lamps H.T.
30.6.43 L'pool ? 10.10 43 New York Ocean Vigour 168826 A.B FGN **extracted from ship,put in hospital in New York, sailed home on the Queen Mary at end of month,have him on Q.M. list next ships start in 1960
15.2.60 B'head 28.2.60 B'Head Seaway Star 301079 A.B. H.T
31.8.60 B'Head 4.9.60 Antwerp Thacheray 187727 A.B. FGN
18.12.64 L'Pool 7.3.65 L'Pool Esso Chelsea 187494 A.B. H.T.
22.12.65 B'head 24.3.66 Albany Carlton 305421 A.B. FGN
10.2.72 ? ? 13.3.72 ?? Kinder 180755 A.B. H.T. ?? no Place name listed in book?
13.3.72 ?? 30.30.72 ?? Mablestan 3397290 A.B H.T. '' '' ''
1.4.72 ?? 7.9.72 ?? Dunheron 169164 A.B. H.T. '' " "

[j.sabourn]

Your ships with H.T. on ( Home Trade) used to be between the Elbe and Brest, Today go up to 62 degrees North , Any Today with M.T. ( middle Trade) on in general include the Meditteranean on. FG ( Foreign going includes anywhere with the exception of certain far North latitudes. Which the owners could get excemptions on as were supposed to be ice strengthened but in general a lot of Nelsonian attitudes were taken " I see no ships". For Navigation as regards the certificate structure has changed over the years mostly latterly to enable most foreign flags libertys which they never had in the past as regards British navigational law. The difference being on a par with first and third class on the old British Rail. If have any discharges in book VNC is voyage not completed. DR is Decline to Report. ENR is Endorsement not required, VG Very Good. G is Good. Today a discharge book does not have any place in a British Discharge Book for such. But in 1972 did. Your discharge book could also keep a record of your vaccination certificates which the year you are talking about were compulsory for smallpox, cholera, and yellow fever.
Cholera only lasted 6 months, so was frequently getting done, smallpox was every 2 years, and Yellow fever every 15 years. Today there will be more depending on the ships trade, and no doubt as the world gets more disease prone. I see already TB and some of the ones which were eradicated in most parts of the world have started to rear their ugly head again. JS

[Brian Charles Williams]

After missing my ship in Lisbon ,when my book was returned to me back at Dock ST. London the part in the book under the `discharge` column was and still is blank, which the G.S.N.Co. superintendent when I applied at their Tower Bridge Offices for a ship. he queried , but before I could explain the absent of a `discharge stamp` he had offered me job. None ever asked me again ``why the blank space``. regards all Brian W.

[j.sabourn]

Probably forgot to put in. You should have just put in VG yourself unless you would have preferred VNC. I was on a Foreign flag vessel and the Master tried to put a G in for conduct so I just put a V in front. Wouldn't make any difference the ships papers were not returned to the MMO"s he was too simple to understand that. Or maybe he thought I was. Brian see you were with John I Jacobs, I went with them immediately after the debacle with the discharge book and explained to them the situation of the previous vessel had been on, they just laughed and said that will teach you for going on peculiar ships. JIJ was one of the few British Companys I had anytime for. This was in 1972/73. The old J.I.J. had been in the British army in the Poland area and held in captivity for a long time. The Germans never found out he was a jew, otherwise there would have been no J.I.Jacobs, see you were in the same outfit at one time. I was on the Beechwood, Cherrywood, Laurelwood, Hollywood. Cheers JS