Ernest William Farmer

[Hugh]

Regarding crew agreements, how do i go about finding these? is there any websites online that might be quite usefull in my research?

Crew Agreements for WW2 or specifically 1939 - 1950 are held at TNA Kew and best to view on a visit. The reason being that Crew Agreements can be good for finding out a seaman's service prior to January 1941 as his CRS 10 will only begin from that date. If there was no CR2 card within his pouches [and I don't see one] then, unfortunately, Crew Agreements are the way to go to find out if he served before 1941. You can search for Crew Agreements on the TNA site but you do need to know the year he was aboard and official number of the ship.

The C.A. for EMPIRE JONQUIL in 1941 is held at TNA in piece BT 381/1689 under the ship's Official Number, 167429.
You should obtain this file and go to around about July/August and find his name on the list. In one of the columns is shown 'previous ship' you should check this and note any name there. Then, if there is a name, you need to find its Official Number and look for that C.A. and so on until you get to the beginning of his service. This method is not foolproof - one blank column can stop you in your tracks. My experience is that most of the time the previous ship column is populated, one of the exceptions being if a ship was lost as the logbook would have been lost with the ship.

Regards
Hugh

[Hugh]

I have also found out that EMPIRE JONQUIL was a part of opperation Ariel between 15-25 June 1940. Is there any information on the documents that suggest that E.W. Farmer served during this period. I see that he was discharged from EMPIRE JONQUIL which was stamped 3 July 1941 but is there any information that suggests he was on board the year before?

No, there is no indication in any of the documents you have that he did. See my previous post about looking at Crew Agreements.

Regards
Hugh

[Joshua Hughes]

Okay thanks. I have noted that down an I will look at the Crew Agreements on my visit to TNA.

regrads
Josh

[Joshua Hughes]

Hello All,

I visited TNA yesterday and managed to get a copy of his CRS10. I have posted images below for you to take a look at and find the information that I need.

On another note, is there an effective way of finding images take onboard these ships. I only have 2 photos of E.W. FARMER and theyre both photos of him holding his discharge number. I would love to potentially find some taken while he was onboard etc.

regrads,
Josh

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[Joshua Hughes]

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[Hugh]

Josh,

His CRS 10 – (First Card) - beginning 1941 -- sea service.

167429 - EMPIRE JONQUIL – 4.7.41 -- 13.12.1941 - Mate
Merchant Navy Reserve Pool (MNRP) – 13.1.1942
167429 - EMPIRE JONQUIL – 13.1.1942 -- 23.2.1942 - Mate
167429 - EMPIRE JONQUIL – 23.2.1942 -- 1.5.1942 – Mate
Merchant Navy Reserve Pool (MNRP) – 11.7.1942
144916 – WYETOWN – 28.7.1942 – 23.12.1942 -- Mate
Merchant Navy Reserve Pool (MNRP) – 23.12.1942 - 5.1.1943
163010 - JOLLY NIGHTS – 1.3.1943 – 9.4.1943 - Mate
139607 – RIVER SWIFT – 5.6.1943 – 9.10.1943 -- 2nd Mate
164652 – HIGHWEAR – 28.10.1943 – 3.3.1944 -- 2nd Mate
164652 – HIGHWEAR – 4.3.1944 – 20.4.1944 -- 2nd Mate

That’s is all I can do right now I will look in again tomorrow unless anyone else can fill in for you.
Any questions please feel free.

Regards
Hugh

[Hugh]

Hi Josh,

CRS 10 Page 2 – sea service [cont]

164652 – HIGHWEAR – ?????? – 8.8.1944
164652 – HIGHWEAR – 9.8.1944 – 8.2.1945 – 2nd Mate
164652 – HIGHWEAR – 9.2.1945 – 11.5.1945 – 2nd Mate
164652 – HIGHWEAR - 11.5.1945 – 13.2.1946 – Mate
164652 – HIGHWEAR – 14.2.1946 – 1.7.1946 – Mate
164652 – HIGHWEAR – 2.7.1946 – 1.1.1947 – Mate
164652 – HIGHWEAR – 2.1.1947 – 13.5.1947 – 2nd Mate
147573 – JULLIET DUFF – 13.6.1947 – 21.7.1947 – 2nd Mate
147573 – JULLIET DUFF – 22 -7.1947 – 23.1.1948 – 2nd Mate
147573 – JULLIET DUFF – 24.1.1948 – 23.7.1948 – 2nd Mate
147573 – JULLIET DUFF – 18.9.1948 – 14.10.1948 – 2nd Mate
147573 – JULLIET DUFF – 5.10.1948 – 12.11.1948 – 2nd Mate
147573 – JULLIET DUFF – 12.11.1948 – 24.1.1949 – 2nd Mate

Looking at all the cards, there are a few, but they are relatively straight forward and they are quite readable so probably just duplicating effort by reproducing them on the thread so I wont copy anymore unless you wish me to do it for you. Is there anything in the text that you specifically need explaining?

Regards
Hugh

[Joshua Hughes]

Thanks Hugh, I apreciate that. Ill post anything on here that i am struggling to read.

Do you kow the best way of trying to find pictures etc? id love to try and find actual pictures of him to put in the book.

regards,
Josh

[Hugh]

Hi Josh,

The only way you will find any photos of him aboard any of those ships would be if any of his shipmates took any so if there are any out there try Google the ship names - it is a long shot but who knows you may get lucky. The only official MN photos you will get are the id photo you have on the CR1 card - not all of those survive so it is good you got one at least.

Regards
Hugh

[Ivan Cloherty]

Looking at his dates of service from 1941 to 1945, it would be doubtful that you will find any pictures of life on board, as cameras were a no no on most ships because of security, in the immediate post war years new cameras were scarce and expensive. Even when ashore during the Suez Crisis (1956) we were not allowed cameras ashore, however being young and foolish at the time I did take one, the photos are lurking somewhere on here, although we did get stopped by the Military Police at various checkpoints, guess we must have looked young and innocent!