Campaign medals

[DeepSea]

All you have ordered from BT372 is the following

1913 to 1940 Merchant Seaman’s Pouches

BT 372 Central Register of Seaman’s Records (“Pouches”). These are held in numerical order of the individual seaman’s discharge book (Seaman’s) number.

These pouches were a central repository for seaman’s documents; these would comprise of the many documents that the sailor would have had to submit to the Registry of Shipping over the whole of his career and copies of those documents issued to him. These would comprise of Applications for Discharge Books (including photographs of the seaman), Sea Service records, records of certificates issued etc. The Pouches can sometimes include records cards extracted from the Forth Register of Seaman’s Service.

There will be no details in BT372 for medals or his CRS-10 service file as these are held in BT382, which you need to claim medals along with the ship Movement Cards for each ships if you do not have his BT395 Medal Card.

[Hugh]

Welcome, Oliver.

From post #2
"Your form CRS 10, if it has survived, will be held at Kew in piece BT 382/1924. This file will cost you £10 to get online under the Freedom of Information Act but you would have to give them proof of identity."

If unable to visit Kew to obtain this file [Best Option] then he can get it for a tenner if he can provide proof of identity. May have to jump through a few hoops though as Kew are not the easiest to deal with online.
As Billy has mentioned, once you have the form CRS 10. you will then need the movement cards to apply for his medals.

Regards
Hugh

[semiotically]

ok I received estimate for the BT 372/352/86
I re-applied for the BT 382/1924...

Now will wait for this one. I also received contact details for the MNA recommending calling so will do this in meantime,

so far so good

[semiotically]

Hi brief update,

spoke with National Secretary at the MNA for the Veteran's badge seems this is nice & straightforwards...

He commented on the WW2 medals saying it is stricter process (as we well know) & he confimed:

Alfred

Apply to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Llanishen, Cardiff showing proof of your voyages

Ian

Is this Voyage History (Ports) also in the BT 382/1924 (sorry am mot so familiar with the form terms)? I ask again as he also spoke of saying the Guildhall may have these records...

Oliver

[DeepSea]

BT382 will list the ships and dates he joined and left each vessel. Ship Movement Cards are held alphabetically by ship name in BT389.

[semiotically]

BT382 will list the ships and dates he joined and left each vessel. Ship Movement Cards are held alphabetically by ship name in BT389.

ok will try with BT382 first will hopefully suffice,
thanks

[Hugh]

Oliver,
There is no point in contacting any other organisations such as the MNA. You have to deal direct with the Registry of Shipping and Seamen medals section - they are the only body who can give your father his medals.

Step 1: Contact the Registry of Shipping and Seamen medals section in Cardiff and get them to send you an application form for your dad's medals.

Step 2: Contact Kew and obtain his form CRS 10 - should be held in piece reference BT 382/1924.
Step 3: Obtain the movement cards for all ships he served on - shown on the CRS 10.
Step 4: Fill in the application form from Cardiff and send the CRS 10 and movement card information back to them.
Step 5: Receive medals in the post.

The RSS will insist on proof of service and for that you will need to obtain your father's form CRS 10 which is held at the National Archives in Kew in piece BT 382/1924. Like I said you can get this online but you will have to wait at least 40 days for them to process the request [because the Data Protection Act applies] and you have to send them proof that your father is still with us. The cost if you fulfil these conditions would be £10 otherwise they will send you a redacted copy but cost you between £38 and £45.

Once you have the form CRS 10, it will show which ships he served on, then you can get the movment cards either from Kew or by download [cost = £3.50 per ship] You can also get voyage record cards at the Guildhall Library in London but this is expensive unless you visit personally.

If you are unable to visit Kew to view/obtain the files you can use various research options: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/r...ch-service.htm

And details for the medal officer at Cardiff:

Sandie Atherton (Mrs)
Births,Deaths,Medals
&Seafarers Officer
Registry Of Shipping and Seamen
PO Box 420
Cardiff
CF24 5JR
02920448825(Tel)DDI
02920448820 (Fax)

Regards
Hugh

[semiotically]

thanks for putting everthing in order & especially the contact details

[DeepSea]

As Hugh states one step at a time. We both have many years of experience in these matters. Once you have his CRS-10 file we will point you in the right direction on how to obtain the Movement Cards online, as The National Archives online database can be a bit of a minefield to navigate.

Having dealt with Sandie at Cardiff on numerous occasions over the years whilst helping veterans obtain their medals, they are extremely strict when dealing with these applications, so patients is the word as well as acquiring all relevant documents beforehand.

I know Tim Brant from the MNA, who will sort out the veterans badge if you send the relevant application form from the link below.

http://www.mna.org.uk/Images/Veteran...ion%20form.pdf

[semiotically]

Hi received this:

Ken,
Thanks for the application. The badge [Veteran's Badge] will be posted today.
Regards,

Tim [MNA]

Thought you guys might like reading this description like I did:

Joined the Empire Leopard at Hull Feb 1941 did two trips to the States one two Baltimore for a cargo of steel & a trip to Freeport Texas i think it was for a cargo of sulpher. Then joined the City of Khios at Immingham in Dec., 1941 for a passage to Bombay via Durban & back to the U.K. via Freetown. Then joined the S.S.Norfalk for two more trips to the States for general cargo. Joined the tanker Empire Dickens early 1943 for New York for a cargo of petrol for Liverpool. Then joined the tanker M.V. Clausina for a cargo of petrol for Avonmouth. Then back to Galverston Texas for petrol for North Africa. Then on to Aden via the Suez Canal, & then Abadan for petrol for Bombay. Back to Abadan for petrol for the U.K.,not so lucky trasfered to the M.V. Crista at Haifa from Suez 1944.Spent the rest of hostilities in theMed delivering petrol & general cargo to numerous ports in the Med., coming home to Glasgow on the Monach of Bermuda as a passenger