Discharge Number

[Jacyn Wade]

Hello lads,

Wondering if I can appeal for a wee bit of assistance. I just found a record of my grandfather, Otto Charles Wade, born 1903 in FindMyPast and it looks like he served from 1921 to 1941. There was also a Discharge number in the record of 1073891. He was a cook, mainly in the P&O Line I believe. My question is, is this Discharge no. 1073891 a Merchant Navy discharge number? With 7 digits, it seems different from other numbers I've seen so far so I'm not sure.

Thanks much,
Jacyn

[Lou Barron]

Hi Jacyn that Discharge book number would be well be before the war but some of the guys will no doubt tell you more than i can my D/S was R227743but that was in 1940

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Jaycin.
I think that would be a MN discharge book number, the R was added later, someone gave the reason in an earlier post, which escapes me at the moment. no doubt youll get an answer soon
Cheers Des

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Jacyn
Yes that was indeed his DB Number,as said the R was added later on!
Cheers

First name(s)	Year of birth	Discharge no	Place of birth	County of birth	Transcript
Otto Charles WADE	1903	1073891	London Stepney	United Kingdom		VIEW

They added the R i think as it represents of course the Reference Number!

What would there be showing in the VIEW Jacyn? Only cost 20cents! Is there nothing else inthere that is of interest to you!? Or have you allready looked at it?
Cheers

Merchant Seamen (Series IV) -1919 to 1941
The Fourth Series of seamen's records was set to cover 1913 to 1941, but those from 1913 to 1918 have been destroyed. NA Class Lists BT 348 to BT 350 are for service from 1919 to 1941. The records include details of all categories of persons who went to sea - not just ordinary seamen, but mates, engineers, trimmers, cooks, stewards etc. BT 348 is arranged by discharge number. BT 349 is arranged alphabetically and includes:-
Name
Place and date of birth
Discharge number
Rank or rating
Brief description

BT 350 which ended in 1921 carries the same information as BT 349 but in addition has a passport type photograph of the seaman

[Ivan Cloherty]

Hi Jacyn, not all had seven digits my fathers was R96096 issued 1927, I believe some Irish ones stared with E instead of R Rgds Ivan

[Richard Quartermaine]

Jacyn, My father, same name as me, was born in London, Forest Gate in 1896. He sailed on P & O Branch Line ships 'Beltana' and 'Benalla' before and after the WW1. Just a long shot but you never know.

Her he is - bottom right in the picture. He was a storeman, probably catering stores.

Richard Q

[Jacyn Wade]

Thanks so much, everyone, for your help, and especially the photo, Richard. I never met my grandfather but I'll show the picture to my mother and she'll know if any of these gents are my grandfather. I don't know much at all about my grandfather and only just found out it was P&O Line he was with but now that I know this is indeed is DB number, I can find out more. My primary objective is still locating my father, of course, but information about his father is definitely of interest. I shall soldier on.

I remain ever grateful for your kind assistance,

Jacyn

[Gulliver]

.. and a reminder just for anyone wishing to know the prefixes .

Numbers (without a letter prefix) = Various nationalities (mainly British)
A = India and Pakistan
BAR = Barbados
BG = British Guyana
B/HT = British - born in India
C/O = Bangladesh citizens
C or CAN = Canadian
E = Eire
F = Falkland Islands
G = Ghana
HK or Hong Kong = Hong Kong
I, Ind or India = Indian nationality
J or Jam = Jamaica
K = Tanganyika
K/O = India or Pakistan
M or Malta = Malta
Mau = Mauritius
Nig = Nigeria
R = British
S = Various (mainly British)
SA = South Africa
SE = Western Isles and Northern Ireland
SEY = Seychelles
SI = Singapore
SL = Sierra Leone
St L = St. Lucia
T & T = Trinidad and Tobago
Z or Zan = Zanzibar