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Thread: Thomas Michael Smith

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    Default Thomas Michael Smith

    SHIPS NAME AND SERVICE RECORD

    Full Name
    Thomas Michael Smith
    Discharge Book Number
    R 187180
    Department
    Engine room
    Your Rank/Rating
    Stoker (coal and oil)
    Which Ships were you on and When
    1939 RMS Asturias (scullion)
    1940 SS Nalon (coal trimmer)
    1940 Mecklenburg (f+t)
    1944 Luling (greaser)
    1945 SS Watson Ferris
    1947 RMS Asturias
    Notes:
    Born 21st June 1916 (Sunderland)
    RMS Queen Mary? No known evidence
    MY Shemara? Pre-war south of France (Lord and Lady Docker)
    Russian convoy (unknown ship)
    Possible RN service during WW2 (unknown ship/submarine)
    Post war shore jobs – St. Mary’s Hospital, Queensway ice rink, the London Clinic, Tregony school
    Death 2001 (Truro, Cornwall), buried Tregony, Cornwall
    Known as Mike/Michael
    Half-brother Les Grimshaw was a Chief Petty Officer who survived the sinking of an unknown ship during WW2.


    He was my maternal grandfather. Unfortunately when he died my mother did not take possession of his service records or medals and very little is recalled of his service. I would love to be able to find out more on his service if possible.
    Last edited by Brian Probetts (Site Admin); 18th November 2019 at 09:21 PM.

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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    Hello Michael
    Thank you for posting the details which you have on your Family Member.
    As you dont have his Place of Birth i would at a guess say that the Link i give here is him.
    This is his Seamans Pouch which will strat you off,if you apply for it online,just follow the prompts
    I will look for his CRS10 Records Link as well,as they will have his full Merchant Navy Service Record.
    Cheers

    R187180 SMITH T M 21/06/1916 SUNDERLAND


    CRS10 Here i think this is correct ??

    https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C10989900

    https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/C8160756
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 8th November 2019 at 10:42 PM.
    Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website

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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    Many thanks for the quick reply. I'll definitely investigate the indicated pouch further, very handy as we are not far from the records office at Kew. I checked with mum about a possible birth location for grandad and she seemed to think that his family came from Reading in the county of Berkshire. She wasn't aware of any relationship to Sunderland but couldn't be sure as he was always vague about his early life and family.

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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    Hello Michael
    It would be very unlikely that this is not him,with what info you have posted.
    All names are correct as are the date of Birth.

    Cheers
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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    Eventually made it down to Kew to take a look at the pouch that was identified. As you experts predicted this was indeed the one belonging to my grandad, many thanks for the help. The pouch, dated 11/4/60, contained a number of miscellaneous items including his photo, which I instantly recognized. There was a single CR1 record for the Asturias dated 19/7/39, and four CR2 records naming Asturias and Mecklenberg, the third a ship number which I believe to be Nalon. The last one I can't figure out, it looks like Luling and has two ships numbers, one crossed out. I've attempted to attach a photo to this thread and hopefully this mystery ship will be clearer to others. He seems to have signed on the Asturias again after the war, along with the SS Watson Ferris.

    Interesting to note his rise from Scullion to Coal Trimmer to F+T (fireman and trimmer?) to Greaser.

    My mother has a photo of him from 1944 which appears to show him in RN uniform, so that's another mystery.

    No indication of service on the Queen Mary, which could of been his half brother Les Grimshaw. No indication of serving on The MY Shemara prior to the war either.
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    169820 5397032 1943 LULING 1141


    1137478 1915 NALON
    1915 Built
    Dont know the Number you have but there Nalon is here
    5338488 5338488 1944 NALON
    1944 Built

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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    Yes quite possible he was also in the RN or RNR ,i wonder if you could hazard a guess of time in one of the above Services by the Uniform?? Do you have that Pic? If so can you upload it please!
    So a bit more to look for now ! LOL
    cHEERS

    PS You can try and look next time at Kew in this Series for CRS10 Documents covering the War Years to 1946 which if there is something there will hold a lot more info,and would have i presume if he was in the RN Service after ??
    https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C10989900

    Reference: BT 382/1675
    Description: Smith Thomas to Smith Tom Percival
    Date: 1941 Jan 01 - 1946 Dec 31
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 17th November 2019 at 07:56 PM.
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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    This is his wedding photo from 1944 when he married my widowed maternal grandmother.

    - - - Updated - - -

    The SS Nalon that I came across was sunk in 1940 by a German bomber.
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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    That looks RN alright ,so we can take it he was in the RN or RNR for a period of time .


    All i get on info on that Ship is

    Disposal Data:

    ac/b 53.57N/15.03W 6.11.40 [Beira-Clyde, copper & general]

    Click on Google Below Pic of her there as well

    Google
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 17th November 2019 at 08:34 PM.
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    Default Re: Thomas Michael Smith

    You can apply for his RN Service Records here ,may take some time though
    Cheers

    https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records


    There is one T Smith entry on Forces Records (I cannot access full details) but is fot 1944 (Could be just after his MN Service ?? Listed as 1st Class Stoker RN HMS Isis
    P/KX 157811 Service Number

    This may be him ???? But not sure
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 17th November 2019 at 09:02 PM.
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