World War 2 ships lost

[Moya]

I am researching a family history but I don't have a lot to go on. Alexander G Campbell was a ship's steward, he was onboard a CPR liner when it was torpedoed off Ireland around 1941. Are there any crewlists anywhere. I have found that a number of CPR ships went down in about 1941 but as the family don't know which ship he was on it's difficult to trace. He always sailed out of Liverpool. Thankyou for any help Moya

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Moya
A hard start here,it would be good if we could have his DOB this way could look up if his CRS10 or Seamans Pouch is available!
From there it if he can be found we can then try and trace his Ships,thus making it a bit easier!
If we can pinpoint the Ship the the Crew List may exist at the University in Canada!
Also his place of Birth would help a lot!
Hope to hear from you soon!
Cheers

[Gulliver]

Hello Moya,
probably it was the RMS Empress of Britain (2)-built 1930 - pass/cargo liner ,Official No.162582 was bombed and sunk in North Atlantic approx 50nm west of Ireland.(the largest British merchant ship lost in WW2) 42,348 gross tons [ aircraft bombed 54.53N/10.49W on 26.10.40, then submarine torpedoed 55.16N/9.50W 28.10.40 (45 persons lost-25 crew + 20 pass. 578 survivors.

EMPRESS OF BRITAIN Link

U-BOAT LINK





Other Canadian Pacific vessels lost around the same time were Cargo Ships,so perhaps not relevant to your search. However,they were:

s.s.Beaverford (1) O.N.149983 cargo ship built 1928 sunk with all hands by German battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER while protecting convoy after JERVIS BAY had been sunk.
[10,042 grt -[gunfire 52.26N/32.34W-mid Atlantic. 5.11.40 (77 lost)]

　
　
　
s.s.Beaverburn (1) cargo ship O.N. 160187
[9,874grt -[sm/t 49.20N/10.07W 5.2.40 )[Western Approaches]
(1 lost
　
　
s.s.Beaverbrae (1) O.N. 160386 cargo ship built 1927 9,956 grt

ac/b 60.38N/8.44W 25.3.41, burnt in 60.01N/9.46W 26.3.41] north of Orkneys/SE of Iceland.





　
　
　
　
　

[Doc Vernon]

If it was here is some info that may be of interest!?
Cheers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Emp..._Britain_(1931)

[DeepSea]

Your best bet would be to start at the beginning by seeing if his CRS-10 service file for the war years is still at The National Archives at Kew. These records are known as 1941 to 1972 Fifth Register of Merchant Seaman's Service held in file BT382. His file should be in BT382/267 covering the surnames Camp A R to Campbell Angus

The easiest way to view these files is by visiting Kew as the records are held in block by surname. If it is not possible to visit the archives offer various research services at the hyperlink given.

The information held in these files contain the following information:

Name of seaman, Date and place of birth, Discharge (Seaman’s) book number, Rank, Details of the ships on which he served. These include: Name of ship and official number, date of engagement (Joining ship), Date of discharge (Leaving ship), whether ship was a foreign going of home trade vessel, and records in some cases National Insurance contributions. Details shown in these records are similar to those contained in an individual seaman's discharge book.

This way you will be able to verify the name of the ship he was on that was sunk and by using the ships Official No. you can trace a copy of her last Crew Agreements also held at Kew and not Canada

[Hugh]

Was he Alexander Graham Campbell by any chance?

Regards
Hugh

[Moya]

Thankyou for your replies. I live in Australia so a visit to Kew is not possible. Alexander (Gemmell) Campbell was born in Manchester 1901, but his family moved to Liverpool shortly after his birth. I have found several voyages that he was on. 1918 on the "Orca" as a stewards boy, Liverpool to New York, he made several trips on this ship in the same year. Then there is a big gap in the records until 1930 when he sailed on the "Cedric" as a steward. I found these records on Ancestry.com Many thanks for all your help and suggestions. Moya

[Moya]

Found a bit more on findmypast. Alexander was born 25 January 1902 in Manchester. Card type CR10, identity cert: 830890. Series BT350, date range 1918-1921. Then on the second record, Card type CR1 discharge number 976420, series BT349 date range 1921 - 1941. Would someone who died at sea be given a discharge number ? Moya

[Doc Vernon]

Discharge Numbers were given to all Seaman as far as i know Moya!
That Number i also think would be prefixed by the letter A ??
So i see that his CR10 apparently still exists,that is a good start for you,now you can apply online for his Papers etc!
Hope that you have more luck,i am sure others here will assist as well!
I cannot find his records ,dont know why!??
Only one close to that is a A990793 CAMPBELL I 17/11/1901 GLASGOW ??
Cheers

[Hugh]

Hello Moya,

The person I am thinking of is not your man I am afraid. It's important when asking a forum for information that you put in the minor detail as it makes all the difference.
If Alexander Gemmell Campbell continued to serve after 1941 then you have been given the best advice by Billly #5: obtain his CRS 10 from Kew.

@ Vernon: "That Number i also think would be prefixed by the letter A ??"

I would disagree with you there Vernon. The Dis A number 976420 looks correct and was probably issued around 1918.

Regards
Hugh