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[giacomin]

I've been searching for my late father's time in the Merchant Navy. I know he was still at sea up till 1940. He only ever mentioned the Manchester Regiment and that he'd done the Liverpool to Montreal run. He was a ships cook. Had more success with his father John Leonard Jackson but with Dad have had no success at all. Can anyone help. I'd be most grateful. Thanks, Audrey

[Hugh]

Hello Audrey,
Do you have a full name, date and place of birth for him please?

Regards
Hugh

[giacomin]

Hi Hugh,

His full name is Thomas Jackson, born 7 November 1906 in Belfast.

regards, Audrey

[Captain Kong]

Hi Audrey,.
Here are three photos of your Dad`s ship Manchester Regiment. [ from the Old Ships Site, with thanks. ]
There was a later one built in the 1950s
They were owned by Manchester Liners, part of the Furness Withy Group. Usually trading Manchester to Montreal and the great Lakes and the US coast.
Cheers
Brian

[Hugh]

Hello Audrey,
There is nothing online for him but that does not meant there are no records existing offline. I presume you do not know if he served beyond 1940 or not?
Normally, for those who did not serve beyond 1940, their records would be noted in the Fourth Register of Seamen and I do not see anything for him. If he served beyond 1940 then his record would be transferred into the Fifth Register of Seamen.
So what are your options? I am presuming here that he served beyond 1940 so you should try to obtain his CRS 10 from the National Archives, Kew. The file, if it has survived, should be held in BT 382/863. The file is best viewed by visit to Kew or via a researcher.

I reckon he served on MANCHESTER REGIMENT official number 146830 built in 1922 and lost to a collision with OROPESA on 4th December 1939, while in convoy. If he served in this ship in 1939 you could look at the Crew Agreement for that year and see if he was aboard but equally he could have served prior to that.

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Hugh,

His full name is Thomas Jackson, born 7 November 1906 in Belfast.

regards, Audrey

Did he have a middle name please as there are records of names like that but need exact full name !
So far there are
Thomas Henry
Thomas Frederick
Thomas Francis

All Born 1906

Relating to their Royal Artillery attestations 1883-1942
Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records, 1919-1934

Thomas
RNVR Other Ranks - Medal Rolls 1914-1920 1906

Cannot find any Merchant Navy Records though!
Cheers

[giacomin]

Thanks for the photos. I'm sure that'll be the ship he used to mention.

Regards, Audrey

[giacomin]

No he'd definitely left the sea by 1940/41. Since his sight was bad in one eye he then served as a manager of a naval camp in Culcheth (I think). Quite odd really as I think he was at sea for a number of years but can't find hide nor hair of him. Don't know if he didn't even sail with his Dad on occasion but I'm really not sure about that.

regards Audrey

- - - Updated - - -

No, there's no middle name. I've got his birth cert. and it's just Thomas.

Regards, Audrey

[Hugh]

That makes it quite difficult then Audrey. The original records of the Fourth Register of Seamen are held at Southampton City Archives and they can do a search for you for £15 - see link: Central index of Merchant Seamen however for the fullest possible search it would be better if you had his Discharge No.
I have done a name search for him but found nothing but without the Dis. A it can never be a complete look.
The only other route for you would be to obtain the Crew Agreement of an known ship and take it from there. The known ship in this case would be MANCHESTER REGIMENT but you are not sure of the year he served aboard - am I correct?

Regards
Hugh

[Frederick Lacey]

I Reckon the SS Manchester Regiment it was an unlucky ship to be on, as Hugh has said it collided and sank with the SS Orepesa
in 1939, but it also collided with and sank the Clan Mackenzie in Liverpool Bay in 1938.

Manchester Liners Old Shipmates Association War & Peace

F
.