Merchant Navy Service 1939 to 1949

[BrianxBell]

My late Father Stanley Vernon Bell, served in the Merchant Navy from 1939 to 1949. I have his Seaman's Discharge Book that identifies signing on and discharge dates, and the ships on which he served. How can I add more detail to this information such as voyage information, and ports of call? I do know he spent some time in the post war 1940's at Malta on the N.S.I.S. Fort Wayne.

On completion of this research I then plan to look into the history and loss of the R.M.S Empress of Britain and how it relates to my three Uncles- surname Triggs, who survived the sinking, and a fourth Uncle serving on one of the RN Trawlers who rescued survivors.

Any thoughts, ideas, and help initially in respect of my late Father and how to investigate his service would be much appreciated.
Thanks in anticipation.
Kind Regards
Brian Bell

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Brian
Thank you for the Thread and the questions you ask!
Firstly as you have the Ships in his Discharge Book that is great!
Now you will need to apply to the Guildhall Library for the Voyage Record Cards for each ship, these Cards give Ports visited and dates. When ordering ask for the Ships in Question and the Year that you are interested in. It may be a long process depending on the Number of Ships you want, and the cost could be steep??

As for the next step in your plight, we will need First and Surnames , dates of Birth and any other info you may have on your Uncles! This may help us to track down information on them and that ship R.M.S Empress of Britain

Hope this helps and good Hunting!
Cheers

Maritime collections - City of London


Lloyd's list. (sirsidynix.net.uk) Click on the Email link ( Dropdown list in Select Action) and send all info to them.

Dont know if this may help with the other Ship and Names ! (Uncles)

Search results: BT 400/3760/7B | The National Archives

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Brian.
Why don't you list your Dads ships on site, there people on site who had fathers and brothers, uncles etc who may have sailed on the same ships.
Des

[BrianxBell]

Doc Vernon
Thank you for replying…. Iit has saved some serious head scratching…. In respect of my Father I will contact the Guildhall Library and follow that up. In respect of the loss of the Empress of Britain, I have newspaper cuttings about and photos relating to her loss.

Will let you know how I get on with the Guildhall Library.

Thank You again for your reply.
Kind Regards
Brian

[Doc Vernon]

Wish you the best on your searches Brian, just keep on and you will get all you want in the end! Can at times be a long process!

If there is anything else you may want just Holler! and we will try and assist!

What other info do you want as regards the Empress of Britian??
Cheers

PS I have three pages for that Ship in 1940 Movements if you would like them, not sure if it would help!
Cheers

[Hugh]

Welcome Brian,
There are some other [cheaper] ways to perhaps get hold of some of the information that you require. You can obtain each ship's Movement Card from Kew [free download if you sign in] they are quite messy but will give the same information about ports as the Voyage Record Cards. Also use Convoyweb and you will probably find the ships mentioned there too. As always cross refer one method with another is the best approach.

National Archives - https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...rds-1939-1945/

convoyweb - Arnold Hague Ports database

Regards
Hugh

[BrianxBell]

Firstly, THANK YOU to everyone for your input, thoughts, ideas and suggestions.... One thing that did not come across in my original post was my Father served in the MN with some of my Uncles- who would become his future Brothers-in-Law.

So I will firstly investigate the Guildhall Library in respect of my Father. For information, my father Stanley Vernon Bell was born 07 Jan 1921, died 27 Jan 1994.

In respect of my Uncles, details below, I want to investigate their MN service in respect of ships served on- I have very little information, and look at where their paths crossed with my Father. Uncle information is as follows:
The three Triggs Brothers served in the MN, survivors from the RMS Empress of Britain;
Julian Triggs, born 11 Dec 1913, lost at sea 15 Jul 1943 in the sinking of the Empire Lake. He was Bosun on the RMS Empress of Britain, and the Empire Lake.
Harold "Danny" Triggs, born 7 Nov 1914, died 13 Apr 1985. Cox of Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat.
Herbert Victor Triggs, born 20 Mar 1917, drowned 4 May 1942 while serving on the SS Algonquin with my Father. Buried in Sydney, Australia.

The three Triggs Brothers who served in the Royal Navy;
Sidney Triggs, born 11 Nov 1918, died 9 Jan 2004. in March 1943 while serving on HMS Borage was awarded the BEM for bravery in rescuing merchant seamen survivors following the sinking of their ship.
Christopher Triggs, born 11 May 1920, died 31 Aug 2010. Served on the RN Trawler that rescued survivors from the RMS Empress of Britain. While on active service spent a number of months in hospital in the US of A (reason unknown?).
William Henry Triggs, born 20 Jul 1924, died 11 Sept 2000. Served in the RN on HMS Janus that was sunk off Anzio. One of the first ships to be lost to an "air launched missile".

The 7th Brother, Roger Triggs- the youngest, born 14 Jun 1926, died 9 Jul 2016. Who after MUCH pleading from their Mother who had already lost two sons at sea, on receiving his call-up papers he went into the Army. Much to his chagrin did not see active service.

My Mother Edna Triggs, born 5 May 1922, died 19 Feb 2009. She went into "war service" working in the Canteen at an establishment local to home for recovering wounded and burnt airmen.... This gave her the ability to help look after their Mother who was a semi-invalid.

Any other thoughts/ideas/ suggestions will be gratefully appreciated. Sadly I do not have RN service numbers for Christopher and William Triggs.

Kind Regards
Brian

[Doc Vernon]

Welcome Brian,
There are some other [cheaper] ways to perhaps get hold of some of the information that you require. You can obtain each ship's Movement Card from Kew [free download if you sign in] they are quite messy but will give the same information about ports as the Voyage Record Cards. Also use Convoyweb and you will probably find the ships mentioned there too. As always cross refer one method with another is the best approach.

National Archives - https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/...rds-1939-1945/

convoyweb - Arnold Hague Ports database

Regards
Hugh

Good advice as well Hugh, and i would have posted the same on the Ships Movements at the NA, however as the dates in question go over the 1945 mark, the Guildhall Library would have the balance wanted!
The Arnold Haugh database is also a very good one !
Cheers

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Brian
I will have a look at all those naes etc later on Toady, as at present quite tied up.
Hopefully may be able to add some more info.
Hugh as well i am sure will look into this !
Cheers

[Doc Vernon]

R200901 TRIGGS H 07/11/1914 HOYLAKE | The National Archives

Below is just a Link listing the name Triggs at the NA. Dont know if it will help.
The only one i can find is the first one Posted above .
Will keep looking.
There should be other info on those that dies at Sea . ??
Cheers
Following Records at Find My Past Deaths at Sea. Paid Site.

Julian

Triggs

1943

Empire Lake

At Sea

BT 334

Deaths At Sea 1891 – 1972

H V

Triggs

1942

Algonquin

Great Britain

BT 334

Deaths At Sea 1891 – 1972

Dont know if this one relates to the W H Triggs

W

Triggs

1943

Goolistan

Great Britain

BT 334

Deaths At Sea 1891 – 1972