WW1 Convoy ID Card - where will I find these?

[Mark Thomas]

Hi,

I would be grateful if anyone can tell me where I can find WW1 Convoy ID cards.

The annoying thing is that 8 or 9 years ago I found the ID Card for my grandfather but have now lost it and cannot remember how I found it in the first place!

The card had a photo of him along with his basic bio information.

In case anyone has direct access to the archive his name was William Stanley Thomas, born Haverford West, 1896.

I did find, thanks to the Crew Lists 2015 project, that in 1914/1915 he was an apprentice seaman on the Glensloy.

By the 1920s he was a master mariner, for Goulds of Cardiff, Captain of the Greleden.

[Keith at Tregenna]

William Stanley Thomas
United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941

Name:
William Stanley Thomas
Event Type:
Military Service
Event Year Range:
1918-1921
Event Place:
United Kingdom
Birthplace:
Pembrokeshire
Birth Year:
1896

[Brenda Shackleton]

Hello Mark
My Dad (Capt William Joseph Hartley D.S.C.) was 3rd Mate on the Greleden (185248) from May 1928 - May 1930. River Plate; India and the Far East. Looks like the Master was Wm. G. Jones. Also have a note to say,' Derwen Shipping Co. out of Newport, Monmouthshire, South Wales. Did they take over from Goulds ?

I have a telegram from Cape D'Auguilar Radio (4/12/29) warning all ships to beware of Pirates. "Pirates thought to be at sea with arms concealed in cargo said to be baskets of shell fish. Extra vigilance is recommended. "

Joined Grelbank (142460) August 1930-May 1931.Master T. Smithson. Then unemployed for 3 years and 4 months. Tough times.

Job interview in South Wales in September 1934. " I was standing in a line of 5 men after the interview and the Superintendent came down the line and asked each of us where we had served . This meant which Shipping Company we had been with as Cadets. I was last in line and I thought.' Crumbs, I've had it.' When I was asked I had to answer that I had not served with a Company but had been ,' Before the mast'. The Superintendent said,' So, Hartley, you came up the hard way. You've got the job.' I started with the Clyde Shipping Company on S.S.Rockabill travelling between mainland Britain and Waterford, transporting cattle and other livestock and a few passengers.(including the lady whom he later married. My Mum. )

In 1941 the small ships from the Clyde Shipping Company were converted to Rescue Ships. The rest, as they say, is history !!
Brenda

[Keith at Tregenna]

Very interesting Brenda.

Regards Keith.

[wightspirit]

It may be the case that the copy you had was his merchant seaman's card, known as a CR10 Identity Certificate, obtainable via Southampton City Archives. This usually has a photograph of the man as well as the official numbers of some of the ships he served on. Do you have copies of his Mate's and Master's certificates? If not you'll find 12 documents on Ancestry.co.uk.

Dave W

[Mark Thomas]

Hi Brenda

Unless I am mistaken I think we 'met' here a few years ago. I remember looking up your father.

Yes, Goulds were previous owners, as in the attached PDF history that I put together. Goulds were wound up in 1926 so it fits. The Grel.... part was a Gould naming convention, the letters being the owner's daughters' names.

The Greleden was laid up in Newport, my grandfather stayed on board with his family. I have attached a photo of my father on what I believe to be the Greleden.

If I am right the Greleden story ends with a torpedo from the USS Icefice in the Philippines Sea.

Regards

Mark

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks Dave, that CR10 must be what I had found before.

I do not have the certificates.

Mark

[DeepSea]

CR10 file shows he served on the Grelfryda 139616 and the Yendis 132265.

CR10.jpg

[Mark Thomas]

Thank you DeepSea, that was the item that I had but had lost.

Mark

[Keith at Tregenna]

DeepSea has come up trumps again.

K.

[Jeanie Gale]

It may be the case that the copy you had was his merchant seaman's card, known as a CR10 Identity Certificate, obtainable via Southampton City Archives. This usually has a photograph of the man as well as the official numbers of some of the ships he served on. Do you have copies of his Mate's and Master's certificates? If not you'll find 12 documents on Ancestry.co.uk.

Dave W

Can any-one get copies of the CR10 Identity Certificate. I am trying to find out when my Grandfather William Kettle first signed on in the Merchant Service. I have some information from the National Archives, which details some ships. The years were about 1900's