Certificates of discharge

[john mc dermott]

In the section for conduct and ability there is a double stamp , example VG VG with what looks like like a serial number. I have in my book for one ship four VG discharges from four different masters with a different serial number, and each ship thereafter also a different number .Question is was was the master issued with their own stamp and serial number, or is there another explanation ..

[Doc Vernon]

Hello John
I am not sure either on this as if you look at the following Pic , you can see that the same Captain Stamped the Book ( All the same Ship, see first and last Stamps)
So that would indicate that he never had the same Number on his Stamp! As shows the two Stamps numbers B25 AND B60 ??
Will have to look into this unless someone out there knows!
Cheers

Discharge Bok VG - Copy.jpg

[j.sabourn]

Answer of other John if he has any dilemma about. In 1927 I would imagine a ship would have to have a shipping master to sign on and pay off in front of. Like most on this site had to do in the early part of their sea career. So the number may be to distinguish who the Shipping master is and his authority to be there ? Today all that jazz has been done away with on what few British ships remain . Cheers JS
As regards ships stamps the master and also in most cases the mate had as well for various things. As mate I had my own signature stamp and still have for bills of lading etc. although looking at it today bears little resemblance of my signature today. Cheers JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

When I was on the NZ coast we had an occasion to hold up a ship in Sydney, the Captain said we would get a DR ,as we only got a paper discharges it meant nothing. But when we were paying off the Shipping master overruled him and it was he who stamped our discharge paper, I believe this was done in my time on UK ships, it was the Shipping Master No was put in the book.
Des

[john mc dermott]

Hello John
I am not sure either on this as if you look at the following Pic , you can see that the same Captain Stamped the Book ( All the same Ship, see first and last Stamps)
So that would indicate that he never had the same Number on his Stamp! As shows the two Stamps numbers B25 AND B60 ??
Will have to look into this unless someone out there knows!
Cheers

Discharge Bok VG - Copy.jpg

Vernon, the stamps in my book is different, it has what looks like a crown on top vg vg in the middle and serial number at the bottom on all discharges from 1965 onwards. I wonder why your stamps have no crown. I am confident that someone on here will know the answer.

[Doc Vernon]

John
The Pic i posted was just an example , not mine if you look at the dates 1927 around then. I would guess that the Stamps would have changed after time , and the Crown of course would indicate the Royal Relm!
Cheers

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Mine is the same a crown atop the two VG's .
Des

[j.sabourn]

Is your middle name Harry , perchance Des ? JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
Just to slip sideways for this one post, I see the Spare has another gripe about something, I never bother reading about him.
Des

[j.sabourn]

Wonder if he knows I met his mummy when he was knee high to a grasshopper and wasn’t particularly impressed. Once more the media controlled news should be followed with a pinch of salt. JS