Tracing family members Merchant Navy details

[Elizabeth Jones]

Hi!

I'm tracing my family tree and am trying to find out about my late grandfather as well as solving a mystery. I know very little about him (name, rank and DOB only) and was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction.

As far as I know my grandfather was a Chief Engineer with the British Tankers. I've been told that he died during WW2 (but was NOT in active service as he was born in 1896) either in India (Pune) or Burma (Manderlay) but have no way of checking which one it is. I tried the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (who weren't much help) and spent a day at the National Archives in Kew to try and find out more (to no avail).

I seem to remember someone on the programme Who Do You Think You Are? a few years ago who spent some time at the Imperial War Museum in London for info about the Merchant Navy and wondered if this is the way to go forward. I have no idea of his service number or when he died (apart from it being during WW2) or which ships he sailed on etc as there is now no family members left alive to help me out.

I would dearly like to find out when and where he died and would be grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction.

Thank you

[cappy]

his name and date of birth may help ......any other info you have ..there are people on the site who may help but must have info...regards cappy

[Ivan Cloherty]

Welcome Elizabeth, there are many on here who will help, first of all his full name would be helpful and any other information you have about him, although you may not think it relevant, his wife's name, his children's names, where he lived in the UK etc all help our volunteers.

You say he was not on active service, but if he died at sea during WWII he was on the front line, he would have only been 43/44 at the beginning of world war, all seamen who served in war zones are classed as H.M Armed Forces Veterans and in many cases faced more danger than those serving in the 3 regular Armed Forces

[Elizabeth Jones]

Hi

Okay here goes with the information requested. Name was Rhys Thomas Jones born June 1896 in Newcastle upon Tyne. His father/grandfather hailed from Llanelli in Wales. His wife's name was Phillis Jones (nee Dowson) and they had three children Dorothy (my late mother) who was born in 1926, Rhys who was born in 1927 and Roy born 1933 (I think).

From what I was told by my late mother, he was on a voyage to the Far East when he took ill (a fever we think) over the Middle East and the ship went on and docked in Bombay. He was taken off the ship and up to Pune (something to do with the clean air) where he unfortunately died. At Rhys's funeral five years ago however it was stated that he died in Manderlay, Burma and it's this mystery that I would like to solve, as well as trying to find out a bit more about his time in the Merchant Navy.

Thank you

[Keith at Tregenna]

Only found the marriage date so far: 1925

Will try further later.

Keith.

https://familysearch.org/search/reco...r%3A1896-1898~

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hi!

I'm tracing my family tree and am trying to find out about my late grandfather as well as solving a mystery. I know very little about him (name, rank and DOB only) and was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction.

There is an MN mention at familysearch.org

Hope the link works.

K.

https://familysearch.org/search/reco...ion_id=1762440

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hi

RE: he died in Manderlay, Burma and it's this mystery that I would like to solve, as well as trying to find out a bit more about his time in the Merchant Navy.

Thank you

I maybe wrong, sounds as if he was a POW at the time ?

K.

[Doc Vernon]

Record set	Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1918-1941
Series	BT364
First name(s)	Rhys
Last name	Jones
Event year	1918-41
Birth year	1895
Discharge number	1103839
Birth place	Newcastle on Tyne
Birth county/country	-
Birth date	1895/6
Card type	CR1
Archive	The National Archives
Date range	1918-1941
Category	Education & work
Subcategory	Merchant navy & maritime
Collections from	Great Britain, UK None

[Doc Vernon]

GBOR_BT364_224_837.jpg

[j.sabourn]

I know Jones is a very common name but I sailed with a Captain Jones in 1969. I relieved his chief officer another Welshman believe it or not called Smith. Both Smith and Jones hated each other I relieved Smith in one of the steel ports in Japan (Chiba)after flying out from the uk. He later turned up at my house wanting me to go mate with him in World Wide Shipping where he was then master. I know another Jones here in Perth an ex electrician out of Port Line I believe, his first name is David ( he is no relation to the big store owners David Jones out here ) but being called Davie gets the usual greetings from me such as " How are things in the old locker today". He I would imagine is well into his eighties.. I know is a One in a million any help to you, but Jones is a very common name to pin down. Regards JWS.