Assistance/Advice Request

[Ed Paquette]

Hello all. I am seeking advice on how to determine ships a Master Mariner may have served on, especially during WW1. His name was William Graham FLETT. He was born 13 April 1875 at Firth, Orkney. He obtained his 2nd Mate's Cert in 1895, 1st Mate in 1898, and Master's in 1901. For his services inWW1 he was awarded the standard BWM and MMWM. He passed in Sept 1951 at Stromness.

I would like to know the names of ships he served in or commanded, especially during WW1. I also wonder if he may have served in WW2?

I would appreciate any assistance to answering my questions. Thank you all in advance.

Best Ed

[wightspirit]

Here are a few starters: https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8013302 and https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C14738387

Also, if you can access Ancestry, you'll find copies of his Master's and Mate's certificates which show some of the ships he served on, mostly in the late 1890's and early 1900's. Included are African Price, Norlands, Greylands, Rona, Ancona, Buda, Ulva, Berlin, Crown of Denmark. His registration card is almost certainly held in Southampton Archives. That should have his photo and a list of ships' official numbers, from whcih we can determine their names. Others will come along with further help.

Dave W

[Bill Morrison]

Hi Ed. P. Just a quick one. From the 1915 National Archives on line.
Stettin o/n 51068 ? Leith. Owner James Curry Leith.
W.G. Flett Age 40 Place of Birth Orkney position Mate. previous ship same.

His address at the time looks like Edinburgh but hard to read.

Bill.

[Sarah Love]

May be useful Ed
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8013302

tna_msea_bt350_08_35_083507.jpg

tna_msea_bt348_12_74_127427.jpg

30807_A000707-00228.jpg

Have printed as unreadable otherwise:
Name William Flett
Nationality Scottish
Record Type Arrival
Last Residence Scotland
Arrival Date Sep 1922
Arrival Place Seattle, Washington
Other Possible Places Vancouver, British Columbia
Ship Name Sicilian
Destination Seattle
Eye Color Blue
Hair Color Brown
Height 5 Feet 11 1/2 Inches

William G Flett
in the 1901 Scotland Census:

Name William G Flett
Age 26
Estimated Birth Year abt 1875
Relationship Nephew
Gender Male
Where born firth, Orkney
Registration Number 685/5
Registration district Newington
Civil parish Edinburgh Mayfield
County Midlothian
Address 1 Kilmaurs Road
Occupation Seaman

If you have access to Ancestry there is still info there.

[Doc Vernon]

Ships Number 143056 San Florentino Eagle Oil Tpt Co Ltd Great Britain



145103 Santa Aurora Ditto



Cheers

[j.sabourn]

I sailed with a John Flett on supply vessels in the North Sea in the 70/80s he was from Aberdeen or Lossiemouth , a seaman and at least 20 years younger than me , which would make him in his 60s now if still alive. Maybe of the same family ? May be worth a bash to write to one of the local papers , you might get a response ? JS

[Bob Montgomery]

Going by the list of ships posted by wightspirit here are a couple .......can,t vouch for them being right but fit the ERA
Rona-11.jpg
Crown of Denmark-01.jpg
Berlin-26.jpg
Ancona-01.jpg

[Ed Paquette]

I hope I thanked all those who so far answered my plea for assistance.

I probably should have mentioned I have Ancestry and searched there first and the NA as well.

One response here mentioned the Southampton Archives - are they online?

Best Ed

[Doc Vernon]

Yes they are onilne , but best if you can attend there!
Cheers

Maritime history (southampton.gov.uk)


How to use merchant navy records at Southampton Archives


Our collections (southampton.gov.uk)


The Central Index Register of Merchant Seamen

This contains about a million and a quarter record cards with details of those serving between 1918 and 1941, not only British seafarers but also foreign men and women working on board British registered vessels. It records deck crew, engine crew and victualling crew. Record cards may give the name, date and place of birth, rating and discharge number of a seafarer, as well as details of any maritime certificates. Dates of engagement or discharge on board particular vessels are given, which help build up the service history of an individual. Cards for some seafarers include a physical description (even down to their tattoos!) and the CR 10 series of the register (which covers 1918-1921) even has a passport-style photograph of the seafarer. The original Register can be viewed free of charge in the Reading Room. A copy is also available on microfiche at the National Archives, Kew, or online through the family history website FindMyPast.

[wightspirit]

What you'll get from Southampton Archives is a much clearer copy of his registration card as shown in post #4 above. Usually a laser copy.

The crew agreements for his ships, most of which survive, will show his previous ship, and from that you ought to be able to build a full picture of vessels he served on. It means quite a lot of leg work (visits to archives, etc) to obtain the information as it's mostly not online, it's possible to do.

Dave W