Maritime Royal Artillery/ DEMS

[Hazel Stringer]

Hi folks.

My ongoing search for Dad has taken an abrupt turn and now I need help with a whole new line of research.
It seems Dad was not born as Dominic Michael Stringer but Dominic Cunningham Casey. He married (the first time) in Dec 1940 and the certificate gives his occupation as "Gunner RA now on active service".
It appears he may well have been in the hostilities only unit "Maritime Royal Artillery" and as far as I can tell the RA does not have many records of these men, partly because they often were "signed on" to merchant ships as deck hands.

Does anyone have any idea how to try researching for these records?
Is it possible these men might have merchant semen records?

Thanks all

[Mark Keever]

By chance, do your records show what vessels he may have served on ? You are correct, Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships ( crews ) signed " Agreement and List of the Crew " as deck hands. The National Archives ( KEW ), while expensive and the research catalog is a hassle to work with, is a start. If you know a vessels name, catalog " BT 381 " has a lot of information...

[Hazel Stringer]

By chance, do your records show what vessels he may have served on ? ...... If you know a vessels name, catalog " BT 381 " has a lot of information...

thank you for the National Archives ref no that should help some. However, Dad was a bit of a so and so. I knew him by one name, he was born with a different name and it is possibly there are at least 2 other alias' out there! think this is going to be a very long slog!

[Mark Keever]

As far as that KEW catalog, you need to know the " Official Number " for the vessel as listed by Lloyds Registers. Here is that link:

https://hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/arch...f-ships-online

For example, the ARAWA in 1945 was 140148. That's how the KEW searches that BT 381 file...

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Hazel
Can you just pleae update the details for him.
ie DOB ,Place of Birth . Will see if i can come up with anything ,what Ship ewas it again plaese!
Thanks

[Doc Vernon]

Are we still looking at the Ship Ranchi ?
If so the Off Number for her was 148130

I am sooo confused! LOL

This link is Crew lists for 1946 https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11080029 cannot see any for 45 ?? There are others for 1943 and thee are others as well for other dates in the 1940's ??

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C11080029
Cheers

Do yo know his Mothers Maiden name at all,was it perhaps

Chayter ???

[Hazel Stringer]

Hello Hazel
Can you just pleae update the details for him.
ie DOB ,Place of Birth . Will see if i can come up with anything ,what Ship ewas it again plaese!
Thanks

Are we still looking at the Ship Ranchi ?
If so the Off Number for her was 148130

I am sooo confused! LOL

This link is Crew lists for 1946 https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11080029 cannot see any for 45 ?? There are others for 1943 and thee are others as well for other dates in the 1940's ??

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C11080029
Cheers

Hi Doc,

Well you did ask! I knew him as Dominic Michael Stringer (DMS) and the bulk of my enquiries mention this name. DMS date of birth was 14/4/1919 or 1922. Since we have discovered this is almost certainly NOT his birth name. His birth name was Dominic Cunningham Casey (DCC) born 14/4/1922.
Unfortunately he may have signed on under either of his brother's names - John Patrick Casey or James Burt Casey. Equally he as he was living with a cousin at the time he may have used that name/surname to sign up. This was Thomas Burt! Place of birth is much easier in all cases it is Glasgow. I know he was in Glasgow on 30/12/1940 as this is the date on which DCC married Elizabeth Smith and the marriage certificate says he is a "Gunner RA now on active service". From memory, the certificate also gives his home address as Bonhill Street Glasgow. The period during which DMS or DCC was in the RA or a DEMS gunner would be from January 1941 to February 1942, by which date Dad (under whichever name) was in Singapore.

I have no idea where the ship Ranchi came from - as far as I am aware it has nothing to do with Dad.

As you can see, although I have more information nothing is ever easy when it comes to Dad!

[Keith at Tregenna]

Possibly worth a look at:


D C Casey
United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records

Name
D C Casey
Event Type
Military Service
Event Year Range
1921-1941
Event Place
United Kingdom

?

Keith.

[Mark Keever]

You are correct if you are looking for the RANCHI. Her number IS 148130. Now, search the National Archives Discovery catalog for " BT 381 ". When that comes up, at the top you should get the master index of 4,867 records. Click that and next, enter 148130. The 1945 file is # BT 381/3396. She shares that files with three other ships. Now, the hassle. You need to request a page check ( copy ) for what you need. Those crew lists were published twice a year. Give them as much detail as possible of what you need for a time frame. CONFIRM with them in this initial search that 148130 is actually the Ranchi. Sometimes, their files DON'T match up. This will cost 8.4 Pound monies and take three weeks. When they reply, hopefully, your price is reasonable. When I did " my " ARAWA, I got the LOG BOOK, CREW REGISTER and MUCH MORE detail of 68 pages for 63.80 Pound monies. For my purposes, worth it for my website...

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Hazel
Well at this time i am now even more confused ! But will look around and see if there is anything at all
Cheers


Only

Thomas Burt I come across is Born 1892 (far too early or is it as DCC may have used his details???) and Born Falkirk Stirlingshire (Trimmer)


One D Casey born 1922 but ??

	R330361 CASEY D 11/10/1922 HULL