Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 30

Thread: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Location
    Birkenhead
    Posts
    2
    Thanks (Given)
    3
    Thanks (Received)
    2
    Likes (Given)
    2
    Likes (Received)
    5

    Default Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    Hi all, first time poster so apologies for any mistakes.

    I'm currently in the middle of some research into the discharge books of the Merchant Navy, I've found mentions of the character reports received going down as far as D(declining) but only seen evidence of VG (very good).

    I was hoping someone would be able to share their knowledge, either on the full list of character reports, or somewhere I could find this info.

    In particular I am interested in the lowest rating available.

    (EDIT) I should probably specify I'm looking in to WW2 merchants.

    Many thanks in advance,

    Jak
    Heritage Assistant with Big Heritage
    Last edited by Jak Collis; 12th December 2021 at 03:48 PM.

  2. Thanks Doc Vernon, Des Taff Jenkins thanked for this post
    Likes Terry Sullivan, Steve Neale liked this post
  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    NUNEATON
    Posts
    67
    Thanks (Given)
    0
    Thanks (Received)
    52
    Likes (Given)
    6
    Likes (Received)
    195

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    I would imagine that, even in the "olden days", anything other than a VG in both ability and conduct, meant you might as well not bother to try furthering your career. Which would mean that any books with anything other would have been chucked.

  4. Thanks Doc Vernon, Jak Collis thanked for this post
  5. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Blue Mountains NSW
    Posts
    24,237
    Thanks (Given)
    45047
    Thanks (Received)
    13126
    Likes (Given)
    52440
    Likes (Received)
    39395

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website

    R697530

  6. Thanks Graham Shaw, Jak Collis thanked for this post
  7. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Torquay
    Posts
    11,467
    Thanks (Given)
    3440
    Thanks (Received)
    7758
    Likes (Given)
    11953
    Likes (Received)
    34924

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    Quote Originally Posted by geoff smith View Post
    I would imagine that, even in the "olden days", anything other than a VG in both ability and conduct, meant you might as well not bother to try furthering your career. Which would mean that any books with anything other would have been chucked.
    When a man presented his book with a 'DR' in it, I judged the man plus his previous service, not all people who issued DR's were correct and sometimes it was a clash of personality and not ability and some with a DR were just glad to get off the ship and couldn't be bothered to lodge a complaint (or their side of the story) to the Shipping Master. I always made it clear unless they wanted another one they'd better behave on my trip. When I was Supt, and a seaman arrived at the office with a DR in his book, I always contacted the Master of a vessel before sending him down to the ship, I never treated a DR as a generalisation, as a junior mate I'd seen them issued for trivial reasons and there always two sides to a coin

  8. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Sunbury Victoria Australia
    Posts
    24,991
    Thanks (Given)
    8300
    Thanks (Received)
    10126
    Likes (Given)
    106523
    Likes (Received)
    45653

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    On a couple of occasion been sent to see the skipper due to a number of incorrect acts of service, that is what I was told coming back late to the ship about 6 hours late and still smelling quite sweet,
    Grog can do that to you.

    Logged and pay deducted but in my discharge book two VG.

    I never did find out what they were for, was it for the sweet smell of grog or something else?
    Happy daze John in Oz.

    Life is too short to blend in.

    John Strange R737787
    World Traveller

  9. Thanks Doc Vernon thanked for this post
  10. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Cooma NSW
    Posts
    8,967
    Thanks (Given)
    10195
    Thanks (Received)
    5220
    Likes (Given)
    44136
    Likes (Received)
    26882

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    Only once came close to a DR [Declined to Report} and that was after twelve gruelling months on the British Builder, the reason we all didn't get one was because the Super sacked the Skipper, the shipping office wouldn't issue them.
    Des
    PS lowest ranking is Double DR
    Last edited by Des Taff Jenkins; 13th December 2021 at 05:47 AM.
    R510868
    Lest We Forget

  11. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    W.A.
    Posts
    23,641
    Thanks (Given)
    12850
    Thanks (Received)
    13719
    Likes (Given)
    19100
    Likes (Received)
    76761

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    ENR looked worse Des. One more letter. Showed at least you went down fighting. JS
    R575129

  12. Thanks Des Taff Jenkins thanked for this post
  13. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    2,128
    Thanks (Given)
    8436
    Thanks (Received)
    5385
    Likes (Given)
    28206
    Likes (Received)
    32060

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    Quote Originally Posted by Des Taff Jenkins View Post
    Only once came close to a DR [Declined to Report} and that was after twelve gruelling months on the British Builder, the reason we all didn't get one was because the Super sacked the Skipper, the shipping office wouldn't issue them.
    Des
    PS lowest ranking is Double DR
    well des i got one DESERTED .......like i was in the RN......never met anyone with that before ...even the committee in shields said ......they hadnt seen it before...but he was a ist trip old man .....with a fancy accent .....bloody seamen he dropped the lifeboat when the vessel was still underway at least six knots the forrard falls came off when the boat hit the water ...the boat then spun round ...causing the seaman on the forrad falls to fall and injure his back as the clinker built boat hit the ship itself and broke some planking ......we had to drop the other lifeboat...all in search of an appprentice who went over the wall........ah happy days .......at least 6 or7 skinned out pissed off in oz.... cappy skinned out for love of a beauty on holiday sadly her father whipped her of to queensland ...from south australia.....well i know the mate was issuing orders to us on the falls but ...as ididnt like the old man i am blaming him ...ps always had his uniform on even off karg island in julyand august while we discharged long steel pipes from welsh ports and middlesboro.andwe were on water rations.....oh life on the ocean wave .....R683532 cappy

  14. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2021
    Location
    Birkenhead
    Posts
    2
    Thanks (Given)
    3
    Thanks (Received)
    2
    Likes (Given)
    2
    Likes (Received)
    5

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    Thank you everyone for your input! This has been a great help!

  15. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    W.A.
    Posts
    23,641
    Thanks (Given)
    12850
    Thanks (Received)
    13719
    Likes (Given)
    19100
    Likes (Received)
    76761

    Default Re: Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

    Did you have your glasses on when reading that Cappy or maybe the old man was drunk and meant to put up perverted . Was best in your case unless you had gone and told him you were deserting for him to leave the page blank and if had to enter a discharge would either be failed to join or missed the ship . VNC was the other alternative , stands for very nice Chappy . But in your case Cappy weather beautiful today about 28 degrees don’t know what people are moaning about . Cheers JS
    Last edited by j.sabourn; 13th December 2021 at 09:26 AM.
    R575129

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •