my grandad

[liz whittaker]

My grandad was called John Eric Cosgrove and I was always told he was a cook and a merchant seaman he was born in 1906 He died shortly after I was born in 1961. Apart from the fact he liked a few drinks I do not know much more other than his family were brought up in or around Liverpool. Can anyone point me in any direction at all? I would be very grateful

[cappy]

My grandad was called John Eric Cosgrove-- I would be very grateful

hold tight ...i am sure someone will guide and help you....regards cappy

[Mike Hall]

Hello,
I put your details into the National Archive,and the nearest date i could find is as follows.
JOHN COSGROVE, Date of birth. 14/02/1907.
Registration Number R 60905.

I am sure there will be someone else who can supply you with more information,
Who will be able to point you in the right direction.

Regards
Mike

[Doc Vernon]

There is also this listing on the Medal Section but it does not give DOB just Years covered so don't know if this could be him??
Cheers

Medal listing of Cosgrove, Joseph Discharge number: R61755 | The National Archives

[Hugh]

I would say he is John Eric Cosgrove born in Liverpool in 1906 - R16686.

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

As usual Hugh! Now where on Earth did you get that one from! LOL
Cheers

All I get from my search on that is ???????
Weird!!

The National Archives | Search results:R16686

[Frederick Lacey]

Details for purchase of Birth Cert if required.

John Eric Cosgrove. born Apr-May-June 1906. District Toxteth Park. Lancashire. Vol.8b. Page.171.

John Eric Cosgrove. Born 1906. aged 5 on 1911 census
street address 173 Northumberland Street. Liverpool South. District Toxteth Park.

Father. John Thomas Cosgrove. 34
Mother. Mary Cosgrove.............40
Mary Elizabeth Cosgrove...........11
George Albert Cosgrove.............9
Edward Cosgrove.......................7
John Eric Cosgrove.....................5
Ivy Alexander Cosgrove...............10/12




F.

[gray_marian]

#1, Hello Liz, below taken from 1911 Census: Ancestry.com

Name:John Eric Cosgrove
Age in 1911: 5
Estimated birth year: abt 1906
Relation to Head: Son
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Toxteth Park
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England
Street address: 173 Northumberland Street Liverpool S
Registration district: Toxteth Park

Household Members:
Name Age
John Thomas Cosgrove, 34 Lift Attendant. Born Dover, Kent.
Mary Cosgrove 40, Midwife, certified. Liverpool
Mary Elizabeth Cosgrove 11 born, all children born in L/pool
George Albert Cosgrove 9
Edward Cosgrove 7
John Eric Cosgrove 5
Ivy Alexandra Cosgrove 10/12
Elizabeth Maquire 70, Widowed Mother in law. born Lisnaskea, Fermanagh, Ireland

From Find My Past:
Britain, merchant seamen, 1918-1941 Transcription
First name(s) John Eric 5ft 7", fair hair
Last name Cosgrove
Event year 1921 Assistant cook,
Birth year 1906
Birth place Liverpool
Birth county/country Lancashire
Birth date ? ? 1906
Discharge number R 16686
Card type CR1
Archive The National Archives
Series BT349
Date range 1921-1941
Record set Britain, merchant seamen, 1918-1941
C.R. 1 stamped 11/4/27 no photo

Also Liz, same address: 173, Northumberland St, L/pool.
Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records, 1919-1934 Transcription
First name(s) John Eric
Last name Cosgrove
Age 15
Birth year 1906
Service number 7873816
Regiment Royal Tank Corps
Attestation year 1921

Enlistment date 8 Sep 1921
Discharged 19/1/23 Serial No. 5395


John Eric (E) Cosgrove on the 1939 Register
50, Jolliffe Street , Liverpool C.B., Lancashire, England

John Eric (E) Cosgrove 26 Mar 1906 Male Assistant Ships Cook Married 52 1
Ivy M Cosgrove 01 Apr 1908 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 52 2

No ship details available during WW2 none either for other years will keep looking

[liz whittaker]

Gosh that is amazing!! I feel quite emotional. Thank you all so much for all your help

[Hugh]

I can trace him from January 1927 - he appears to have served as follows:

13.1.1927 - MONTROYAL
6.5.1927 - MONTCLARE.
7.10.1927 - MONTCALM.
9.5.1928 - APAPA.
27.5.1937 - NEW COLUMBIA.
12.6.1937 - FRANCONIA.
7.8.1940 - EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA.
30.9.1940 - OROPESA
27.12.1940 - DUCHESS OF BEDFORD.

If he served during the rest of the war you should find his CRS 10, service record from Jan, 1941, held at the National Archives Kew in piece BT 382/384 best to visit Kew to obtain this file or obtain via a reserarcher as it is expensive to obtain online.

For Vernon,

You need to remember that the National Archives Kew only has records of merchant seamen held in the Fifth Register of Seamen for the WW2 era. He has no pouch or medal file so always worth looking prior to 1940 which is covered by the Fourth Register of Seamen which is held at Southampton with copies at Kew (not online) and FMP.

Regards
Hugh