Help needed.

[Alison Elkins]

Hi everyone, I have joined this forum in the hope of finding out more information about my grandfather Albert Edward Cant who was a diver on one of the Elder Dempster ships in February1945. Unfortunately whilst at Freetown Sierra Leone he died from asphyxiation whilst diving. I'm not sure if he was serving with the Merchant Navy or was working on the ship in a private capacity. I have no idea what ship he was serving on. Previous to this he was working for Royal Mail Shipping Lines. If anybody could help or point me in the right direction I would really appear it. Thank you.

[Doc Vernon]

Was he Born in Liverpool 1926 ??
Cheers

[Alison Elkins]

Apologies I should have said that he was born in 1906 in the Bromley area.

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Alison
I have checked the NA Records at Kew , but at this stage find no such Entry.
There may be a CRS10 for him , but that woud be something you would have to go in Person and look into.

Then there is also the possibility of the Southampton Archives, depending on his Years of Service !

An Email to then asking the question on him, with as much detail as you have may be worth the trouble!

city.archives@southampton.gov.uk

[Hugh]

Hello Alison and welcome,

I don't think you will find him in any MN records.

Albert Edward Cant, b. 1905 at Kent was in the Royal Navy from 1921 until 1928. I have attached his service record. You will see that he is invalided out in 1928.
He was a Dockyard Rigger Driver in 1939 and appears to have been working in Sierra Leone in 1944 as he travelled from Freetown to Liverpool in April of that year aboard the Royal Mail ship MV GASCONY official number, 147339 where he is noted as a Leading Admiralty Salvage diver. So, at this time, he was neither in the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy but was working for the Admiralty in a civilian capacity.

I could not find him in the Overseas Deaths Register which is strange but it also suggests he was not attached to any ship but probably did die diving on one.

Thanks to Marian who has found some more information including some attachments.

Regards
Hugh

[Keith Tindell]

Brilliant research, we are lucky to have our small gang that carry out this work, best regards to Marion as well Hugh.

[Alison Elkins]

Hello Alison and welcome,

I don't think you will find him in any MN records.

Albert Edward Cant, b. 1905 at Kent was in the Royal Navy from 1921 until 1928. I have attached his service record. You will see that he is invalided out in 1928.
He was a Dockyard Rigger Driver in 1939 and appears to have been working in Sierra Leone in 1944 as he travelled from Freetown to Liverpool in April of that year aboard the Royal Mail ship MV GASCONY official number, 147339 where he is noted as a Leading Admiralty Salvage diver. So, at this time, he was neither in the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy but was working for the Admiralty in a civilian capacity.

I could not find him in the Overseas Deaths Register which is strange but it also suggests he was not attached to any ship but probably did die diving on one.

Thanks to Marian who has found some more information including some attachments.

Regards
Hugh

Thank you so very much for looking into this for me, I am very grateful to yourself and Marion for your time and effort. I do have the death certificate and know that there is a memorial in Freetown dedicated to him. I have managed to find small snippets of information about him but these further details will enable me to complete the picture. Thank you once again.

[Alison Elkins]

Thank you for taking the time to look into this for me, I am most grateful.

[Alison Elkins]

Hello Alison
I have checked the NA Records at Kew , but at this stage find no such Entry.
There may be a CRS10 for him , but that woud be something you would have to go in Person and look into.

Then there is also the possibility of the Southampton Archives, depending on his Years of Service !

An Email to then asking the question on him, with as much detail as you have may be worth the trouble!

city.archives@southampton.gov.uk

Thank you for your help, it's much appreciated.

[Hugh]

Brilliant research, we are lucky to have our small gang that carry out this work, best regards to Marion as well Hugh.

Thank you Keith - I will make sure she is aware of how much she is missed by many of you.

Images a bit on the small side - here is the RN record again.

Regards
Hugh