Leaving and rejoining the MN

[Pat Fowles]

Hi everyone...Has anyone ever left the Merchant Navy and then re joined later. If so, do you have to apply for a new Seaman's number? If not a new number, how do you re join?

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Pat.
Back in the 50s I went ashore but only for about four months when I went back used to same discharge book, I may be wrong but I think you keep the number given when you started. It has all your details of service on it.
Cheers Des

[Doc Vernon]

I would say that is the case,your Discharge Book is like your passport and stays with you.
Its only if you loose it then you will have to apply for a replacement!
You will however of course have to have a firm Job offer of sorts to get back on!
Depending also how long since you last were at sea!
Cheers and Good Luck!

[Pat Fowles]

Thankyou Des & Doc Vernon...that's what I thought. As I said in another post...my Dad was 'at sea' in WW11. He has the 1939/Star & Atlantic Star. No records anywhere for the MN during WW11...but an Application for Seamen's Card & Discharge Book in 1960.

[j.sabourn]

I was away from British ships for 4 to 5 years. On coming back into British ships I went and found my own job and then reported to the Federation to get clearance. An engineer in front of me in the queue was getting hell from wee Sandy a well known little Hitler ( Newcastle Pool) on where he had been he stood there like a little boy and said nothing. When I went up to the desk I said I haven't come here to take any crap from you just sign the paper, anything else is none of your business, he never said a word, just signed and I was out of there. However I wasn't going to them for a job as had already found. The Federation was a tool of the Shipowner only to find crews to man his vessels. As regards discharge books I wouldn't in those days have a foreign vessel put in, but took paper discharges instead for proof of seatime. Today is totally different as one is lucky if get a British Discharge. Cheers JS

[Jim Brady]

You would have to have firm job offers to get back on.It was common practice up here for guys to be on and off the pool like no ones business.Decide to go ashore and end up as a bus conducter or working in a factory,had enough of that so back to sea,had enough of the sea back ashore,then back to sea.My brother-in-law now lives in Adelaide went ashore and back a couple of times,there were never any questions asked as to where you had been.
Regards.
jim.B.

[eric fisher]

Hi Pat, I'm a real Ancient Mariner! I have my original Disc. Book Looks like it stutters. Starts Oct. '42 to Oct. '45. Then left M.N. to go in the Army. '46 to '48. Took further PMG radio cert. and rejoined Marconi to next ship Apr. '49. and others until Jan. '52. Again ashore in London until Feb. '56. Had to redo the PMG Cert. before joining a ship in Falmouth. Feb.' 56 to July '56. By Oct. '56 I emigrated to Canada. Been here since. Would've loved to go back to sea but family ties kept me ashore. Retired 33 years ago. Good Luck with your search. Chaps on this site are wonderful and their posts helped me to stitch more info into my shipboard life. e.g. Convoys, ship movement cards and losta' links to get my history. From that I'm recording my bio and burning each voyage on CD's for family history of the 'Ol Man. You will have a great project assembling your Dads' life in the M.N. So keep pestering these self acclaimed researchers, they do a wonderful job. Cheers, Eric

Should be July '52

[Ivan Cloherty]

My father left the MN to join the Army and later rejoined the MN, his discharge Book number remained the same throughout, he also took some short term shore jobs during mothers illnesses, but his number never changed, I have his Discharge Books

[John Albert Evans]

I got a job ashore in 1963 It lasted about 6 weeks driving a bread delivery lorry (Coop) One day just got fed up drove the lorry back into the yard told the foreman to find a new driver. Went to the Pool the next day and joined a ship that day, no questions asked.

John

[Doc Vernon]

Vernon .My brother-in-law now lives in Adelaide went ashore and back a couple of times,there were never any questions asked as to where you had been.
Regards.
jim.B.

Jim
We are talking about Todays scene,i fully am aware of what happened in the old days .
Cheers



PART B: DECLARATION FOR DISCHARGE BOOK
I wish to apply for a Discharge Book. I certify that the answers given on page one are true and I am aware that I may be required to supply evidence to support them.
.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...........

I declare that:-
a. I am employed/have been employed/have been offered employment on a United Kingdom registered vessel,
or
b. I am a United Kingdom Seafarer with the right of abode in the United Kingdom and am employed/have been offered employment on a non-United Kingdom registered vessel and am unable to obtain a discharge book from, or acceptable to, the Flag State of the vessel for the following reason (s): (please provide full details)