Merchant Navy Information

[Gary Patrick]

I am researching my wife's family history and her father was Tommy McDonald was born in Partick, Glasgow in 1909. As far as she knows he was a stoker on merchant ships that plied from Scotland to Ireland during WW2. We have found a C.R 1 document that shows his Dis. A. Number R77840 and his Rating as a Trimmer. It also states Refuge Assurance Co. Ltd health insurance No: 3667638 and his National Insce No as Kinning Park 8674. The second part of the document is headed "Declaration to be made if occasion arises". This states "Discharged ex Beaverburn" and that "I am not now in possession of an unfilled Continuous Certificate of Discharge (Board of Trade, Irish Free State, or canadian) for the following reason - "previously on coasting agreement" . It has his signature and a rubber stamp "M.M.Office, Glasgow dated 5 March 1930.

Any help with interpreting and/or explaining the document and it's meanings would be greatly appreciated.

[DeepSea]

It basically mean he had signed off the Beaveburn and reported to the local shipping office at Glasgow. A continuous certificate of discharge is what the individuals service was recorded in. The coasting agreement means he had been employed on a ship around the UK coast in the home trade as to foreign going, which meant sailing out of home waters.