Missing information

[j.sabourn]

He could have used a false name Vernon. ? The two who I knew for use , one was his brothers name ,and the other as Johnny says a monkey book , which I would assume refers to a Cheetah just a different spelling . JS Believe cheetahs eat monkeys .

[Doc Vernon]

Yes there are other possibilities JS but so far thee has been no word or evidence that he did use another name , well not as far as known anyway.
But untill i hear back from So'ton , will just hang fire .
Cheers

[j.sabourn]

The possession of a British seaman’s Discharge book today doesn’t have the same restrictions as it used to do.
I was the official master of the Nordic Explorer a seismic vessel out here. She was under the Norwegian flag.
I had to show my face at the Norwegian Consulate to show I was who I said I was.The seismic crew were mainly Norwegian and one of them came to me at the end of the swing and asked if I would fill his British discharge book in ,it was brand new.I said no, it was a British document and he hadn’t signed on under my command , so for him to go and see his camp boss to do it. Question how did a Norwegian get a British discharge book , quite easy I should imagine just apply for it and pay your 5 Bob or whatever it was. Cheers JS

[J Gowers]

It was easy to get discharge books in my time I had UK, Vanuatu, Liberian and Panamanian discharge books I sailed on rigs and ships under all those flags so had to apply to them for their equivilant of my UK C/E ticket so also got the discharge books, my company personnel dept applied for them on my behalf. Got to admit I never bothered getting any stamps in those books and just used my UK book in order to get my years sea time in every five years to renew my ticket. One of the last drillships I was on (for almost 3 years) was US flag and I never had a problem using my UK ticket and discharge book on it in fact no one bothered about the discharge book and were not the least interested in it.

[j.sabourn]

#14 same same JG. Though never bothered with discharge books just put the seatime in my British one myself. Even though if had been a bad boy gave myself a VG. JS.

[Doc Vernon]

OK Lads thanks for all this , however can we now just get back to the Original issue at hand, and stick on that!
Always many of these Threads that ask for help go astray on various ways, and no need for thta.
Although no probs at this stage , just PLEASE post things that are directly related to the Question.
Thank You

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Helen
Well this is reply from Southampton, so looks like he possibly was either not in the Service, or as suggested possibly stayed on till after 1972 .

So on this info, i suggest you now try the MOD Offices.
Worth a try
Cheers

Hello Vernon,
Thanks for your message.
We have the Central Index Register of Seamen which includes details of people serving 1918-1941. We usually find that if someone continued serving after 1941 then their records were taken out of our register and placed in the next one, held by the National Archives. However, this isn’t always the case, so it is usually worth checking. I had a look but the only Kenneth Simon I could find in the Central Index Register was born 1906, Widnes.

I also had a look on the National Archives page, but could not find anything for Kenneth Simon in the Seamen’s Pouches, which I searched through Merchant Navy seamen in service since 1918 - The National Archives. I did wonder if he might have continued after the 1970s, in which case his records may still be with the Ministry of Defence. I am sorry not to have been able to find anything in our records but hope that this helps.

Best wishes,
Joanne Smith, Archivist
Southampton City Libraries
Southampton City Council
(External: +44 (0)23 8083 2251

NB:Helen

Have now also sent Email to the MOD Offices to ask the Question of possible Records there.
Cheers

[Helen Carter]

Hello, thank you for doing all this work, it is greatly appreciated.
I’m wondering if he could have been an apprentice. He is with his parents, age 15 and at school, on the 1939 register but could he then have become an apprentice sometime after?
As he spoke fluent French and Spanish the family are jokingly wondering if he was a spy!!

[Doc Vernon]

Helen
Sounds like another one of the old Merchant Seaman we have had in the past, he could have been or done anything, so who knows which way the Wind blows! LOL
Hope i get some better info from the MOD.

AN APPRENTICE IS QUITE POSSIBLE AS WELL.

If he did serve an Apprenticeship Helen, then this Link would have his Name . Again costs involved if interested at National Archives.
Cheers

Apprentices' Names: A - Z | The National Archives