Help finding info on my grandfather.

[Teressa Bignell]

Hi. I am wondering if anyone knows who to contact for my issue. My grandfather enlisted in the merchant Marines in 1929. I do have copies of his CR1 & CR2 cards. I am trying to find his service records as well as find out if he was entitled to any medals. I have contacted Veterans affairs Awards and Honors division, however I do not know if they will be any help as the person I spoke to did not know what a CR1 or CR2 card was...and then when I sent it to them, they said his R67199 number was his service number.
Then he said Prior to the Second World War, the Merchant Navy fell under British jurisdiction. The UK and the National Archives, maintain any pre-Second World War (SWW) Merchant Navy docs. As of the SWW onwards, it fell under Canadian jurisdiction.
So having said that, any pre-SWW docs for his Merchant Navy service would be kept at the National Archives. As of SWW if he served with the Canadian Merchant Navy or the Canadian Armed Forces, we would have the docs and medal info.
If he stayed with the British during that time and not with Canada, the service docs and medals would fall under British jurisdiction.
I am figuring the numbers on his CR2 were the ships he served on, anyone have any advice on what to do next?

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Teressa
First of all we need his Full Name and place and DOB. This will give us a start to look and see where we an assist. Yes that R Number is his Service number and being Pre WW2 i think that his Full Service Records should be held in the Southampton Archives in their Original Form. That would be his CR10.
The Numbers on his Cards are as you mention the Ships he was on. If you can Upload Copies i can give you the Names.
But for now will await more info.
Canada do hold many records of British and Canadian Seaman but they are mostly all just the Crew Lists!
Cheers

[Teressa Bignell]

Hi Doc
Thanks for the response. I will do my best to attach what I have.
His name was Clifford Leslie Bignell. He was born Dec 19, 1913 in Quebec, Canada. I know in 1942 he was living in New Brunswick. The only other information is what I have from his CR1 & CR2 cards as he died in 1956.

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[Doc Vernon]

Hello Teressa Thanks for the Pics , however they are very small and i cannot get to increase the size as normal, as they just Blur when doing so!
I cannot make out much at all, and would like to get those Ship Numbers so as i can get the names! In actual fact it looks like the names may be there after the Numbers????
That looks like either part of a CR10 or CRS10 ????
Could you manage at all to increase the Size before uploading
Thanks

[Doc Vernon]

Well the First Ship after his Joining on the Baron Nairn, looks to be the Brandon owned by Canadian Pacific Railway Co. Then the Eldonpark owned by Denholm Shipping, then the Burstow which changed name to Nephrite owned by Stephenson and Clark Companies, the LLanberis owned by Llanberis SS Company. Then back to the Brandon.
Cheers

[Graham Shaw]

This may help.(from 3rd photo details in document)

140409 ss BRANDON 6,655 tons built 1917 for Canadian Pacific Rlwy/South Georgia Sg.Co Ltd,London
148983 ss BARON NAIRN 3,164 Tons Blt .1925 for Kelvin Sg.Co,Ardrossan
160324 ss ELDONPARK 5,184 Tons.Built 1928 for Denholm Line Steamers,Greenock
144917 ss NEPHRITE 927 tons Blt.1927 for William Robertson,Glasgow
144971 ss LLANBERIS 5,055 Tons.Blt.1928 for Llanberis Sg.Co.Ltd,London.



Well,just pipped to the post by Doc Vernon ! Well done Sir ! Our findings agree!