Help with Terminology Please

[Jacyn Wade]

Hello,

In a search for my father, Ron Wade, I have managed to obtain his records but I'm having difficulty understanding some of the notations and terminology. Can anyone tell me what the following mean: Dis. A. No.; B.S.I.C.; BSC; Vic Dks (I'm assuming Victoria Docks but want to be sure).

Under Rank or Rating: A.B.; do; mech.

Also, would a ship have one bosun or more than one? And what would "Ineffective 12 months Rule" mean?

And last question: Are all merchant seamen eligible to receive a pension upon reaching a certain age?

My father sailed with the Blue Star Line, on many ships from 1952 to 1972, off and on. Thank you for any assistance.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Jacyn
Welcome to the site,hope you will stay and have some ggod reads on all the Ldas experiences,and a few laughs too!

The meaning for AB Able Bodied Seaman

Disc A No That referres to ones Discharge Book Number in our days most were starting with the letter R Later it Changed to UK

Vic Dks You are more than correct on that one!

BSc (Hons) Marine Studies (Merchant Shipping)?? or could just be

BSC British Seamans Card ??

BSIC British Seamans Identity Card

"Ineffective 12 months Rule" I would presume this applied to those who either were on Injury leave or just had a 12 Month Shore period for some reason!
See attachment Below!


As far as i am aware of Ships only had one Bosun!

And the following site may answer you last question!

http://www.mnopf.co.uk/

http://www.veterans-uk.info/pensions/eligble_wid.html

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disabled...rt/DG_10016204

Possibly of some interest as well??

http://www.mnwb.org/index.php/faqs.html

http://www.mna.org.uk/Veterans%20Badge.htm

I am sure any of the above will be rectified if incorrect!

EG of a Seaman who had the above on his record!

Cheers

[Jacyn Wade]

Hi Castleman,

Thank you very much for your in-depth reply. Most helpful and I will certainly check the websites you provided. Can I ask about the rank or rating of "Do" and "mech"? I'm assuming "mech" is mechanic but I can't figure out "Do" for the life of me!

Cheers

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Jacyn
Yes the Mec is Mechanic ,but like you i to am stumped by the do.
All i can think of is that its the same as the normal short meaning IE "The Same"
Cheers

Hope someone else can solve this!

Added~

Just thought that being in Mechanical the term shown there could well be for

Donkey-Man!

A donkey-engine operator. A donkey engine is a small steam engine, used for subsidiary operations on board ship.

[Hugh]

Jacyn,

DO = Ditto.

Regards
Hugh

[Jacyn Wade]

Thanks Castleman. Upon reviewing the records more closely, it turns out, I am now sure, that "do" does mean "ditto", or the same as. I feel a bit dumb not figuring this out sooner. Thanks for the rest of the info.

May I ask you something else? The records I have, I am told, stop at 1972. Do you know where one would find records after 1972?

Cheers!

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Jacyn
The following is from a site on the Net,so not too sure as to the correctness at this time!
But it sounds correct!
This is for Crew Lists though!

As far as actual Seamans records there were as far as i know,no records kept after 1972!
However somewhere in the back of my mind i recall something about records after 1990 ??But will have to look that up!
Hope this helps! Ditto haha! so simple but it could well have been something else !
Cheers

The Registry of Shipping and Seamen holds all Crew lists from 1939-1950, and

those from 1990 to the present day.

From 1972 to 1989 all apart from those held at the PRO and those for

1975 and 1985 at the NMM, have been destroyed.

Almost all other records are held at the Maritime History Archive at the

Memorial University of Newfoundland for the period 1863-1972.

The following site may help!

http://www.mun.ca/mha/research/principalrecords.php

Just added!

1941-72
Held at TNA. (PRO Kew)
1973-1993
No records available because after 1973 Register General not obliged to keep
records
1994-onwardsNew file begun and held at Register of Shipping and Seamen, Cardiff.

[Jacyn Wade]

And thank you again for the info. Should I be calling you Castleman or Vernon? I just noticed your name at the bottom of you message.

How sad so many records were destroyed. I am now trying to reach someone at the National Insurance to see if my father is collecting a pension. If so, I should be able to find out where he is, if he's still alive that is. I have managed to find one member, Colin Knight, who was on the Imperial Star at exactly the same time as my father (bosun at the time), albeit for a short 3-day voyage 41 years ago. I'm hoping he may remember but have not heard back yet.

By the way, on the first page of his records, there is a note under Certificates: Held EDH 28497. I don't supposed you'd have any idea what type of certificate this refers to? In any event, you've been most helpful and I greatly appreciate it.

Cheers!
Jacyn

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Jacyn
The EDH is referring to Effecient Deck Hand and the Number of that Certificate!
Cheers

Vernon or Castleman,makes no diffs!

[Jacyn Wade]

Thanks again, Vernon! You are indeed a wealth of knowledge.

Cheers Mate!
Jacyn