Abbreviation for sailor in WW2

[Thomas W]

Can anyone help please:
On a 1941 birth certificate a sailor identifies himself as :

OT/MX 87799 Leading Cook

Any ideas as to what the letters mean?

Thank you
Tony

[Hugh]

Tony,

OT is not a legit prefix for a RN official number.

The prefix is the sailor's Home Port Division the main ones being P, Portsmouth, D, Devonport, C, Chatham. During WW2, they also brought in LT, Lowestoft so it is possibly a typo for LT.
The MX was to denote (others) apart from seamen, stokers, communicators etc who joined the service after 1925. So for a Leading Cook that MX would fit his trade. If he served in the Royal Naval Patrol Service (RNPS) then definitely LT/MX if not then it is a complete typo.

Regards
Hugh

[Thomas W]

Thank you Hugh

He gives his address in Jersey, Channel Islands but this is 1941 so its occupied by German forces. I have found a form R.S.9 which shows date of discharge as 24 August 1942 Crews cook and a number R 238182. Does this mean he was in the Merchant Navy not the Royal Navy?

Thank you
Tony

[j.sabourn]

There were quite a few family’s escaped from the Channel Islands when the Germans invaded, we had a family of 3 stayed with us the remainder of the war . The father joined the British Army and the family’s name was Purvis . They were from Jersey itself and escaped by small boat . JS

[Hugh]

I have found a form R.S.9 which shows date of discharge as 24 August 1942 Crews cook and a number R 238182. Does this mean he was in the Merchant Navy not the Royal Navy?

Hi Tony, yes, he was in the Merchant Navy that number is his Dis.A. He also has a CR1 card which confirms his discharge from cableship on that date. That is not to say he wasn't in the RN prior to that if you are referring to your first post.

He also has a file at TNA Kew held in piece BT 390/174/16 He probably signed his T124T Agreement for serving on cable ships in which he would be Naval Auxiliary Personnel (NAP) keeping Merchant Navy rates of pay but being subjected to the Naval Discipline Act.

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

Just a thought Hugh, could it possibly be O/P - MX (On Passage with his Rating Letter) Just clutching at straws LOL
Cheers

[Hugh]

Just a thought Hugh, could it possibly be O/P - MX (On Passage with his Rating Letter) Just clutching at straws LOL
Cheers

I doubt it Vernon to be honest, that information wouldn't be on a birth cert.

Regards
Hugh

[Thomas W]

Thank you Hugh
Do you think there is a reasonable chance that he has a C.R.10 giving his service details or will he have a RN record (which is difficult to access)?

Regards
Tony

[Hugh]

Do you think there is a reasonable chance that he has a C.R.10 giving his service details or will he have a RN record (which is difficult to access)?

He wont have a CR 10 card as this would be for seamen in service between the years 1918 - 1921. It is possible you are meaning a CRS 10 form which is a merchant seaman's record of service beginning January 1941 until December 1972.

I would recommend in the first instance getting his form CRS 10 from TNA Kew which should be held in piece BT 382/1560
and at the same time BT 390/174/16 the CRS 10 in particular would be quite expensive to obtain without a visit to Kew.

The number on his birth certificate certainly seems to indicate a partial Royal Navy number but without further information I can't guide you on it so I would suggest getting the above two files and maybe they will mention any previous RN service.

Regards
Hugh

[Thomas W]

That is really helpful Hugh
I will follow up. I will let you know how I get on

Regards
Tony