Looking for information about a MN record

[Patrick Colclough]

Hi everyone,

I have been researching my father's life, (he died when I was a baby), and the internet threw up a reference to him as a UK Merchant Navy Seaman.

The only reference is a single, random 'transcription' that states his name, DOB and place of birth, then 'Card Type CR1', 'Discharge Number R148096', 'Identity Certificate Number, Series BT349, Date Range 19212-1941'.

As nobody in our family has ever heard of a Merchant Navy connection can anyone shed any light on what this reference means and where I might find further details?

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Patrick

A wee bit of info here may assist you.

CRS 1

Merchant navy personnel, seamen discharged and immediately re-engaged on articles for further service in the same ship

CR 1 cards, completed when a certificate of discharge was issued; CR 2 cards were completed for all merchant seaman when an engagement on ship service was initiated, and; a third special index (CR 10 index cards) created by order of the Defence of the Realm Act 1918.


The Discharge Number is just that, his Official Number given when joining the MN. So all Seaman had one and depending on the date of Services had certain Prefix Letters , you one being an R --------
Then there was his ID (Identification Number) also all Seaman had one , this was in the form of a Card with Photo etc, carried by each person .
The Ref BT349 refers to the CR1 Documnts held by the National Archives.
Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Register of Seamen, Central Index, Alphabetical Series (CR 1) | The National Archives

Hope this helps!
Cheers

Can we have his Full name and DOB please this will help us to assist you futher. Also his place of Birth Thank You

[Patrick Colclough]

Thank you for that.

My father's full name was Gordon Duncan Colclough,
DOB. 7th August 1921,
Place of Birth, Bolton Yorkshire.

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks for that , i see he has similar Card as a CR2 as well.
Shows Laundry Boy and First Ship Almanzora 1938

TNA_MSEA_BT349_05_15_051598.jpg

TNA_MSEA_BT348_13_80_138064.jpg

They also have a full Crew list at the Canadian University Archive

Crew List Index Search Results (mun.ca)


Almanzora | Royal Museums Greenwich (rmg.co.uk)

HMS Almanzora, armed merchant cruiser - British warships of World War 1 (naval-history.net)


Greek Shipping Miracle - Passenger Ships - OCEAN LINERS

Seems by the two Cards shown that possibly he did not have a long time in the MN, but could be incorrect so the only way to now find out is to get his Crew List for the Ship shown from the Cadadian Archives, and that should show his Previous Ship if any!??

One mpre thing is that his Record could be held in Southampton Maritime Archives ? Again not sure ! An Email to them could get you started though!
Cheers

Central index of Merchant Seamen (southampton.gov.uk)

[Hugh]

Hi Patrick and welcome,
I would suggest that he joined ALMANZORA on 17 October 1936, his first foreign voyage, and that he left her on 11 December 1936. I would suggest it was perhaps his first and only voyage.
The cards shown are copies of the originals held at Southampton.
Regards
Hugh

[Patrick Colclough]

Well thank you so much for that. Wow, I have never heard of my father as a seaman before but it perhaps explains why he joined the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1939 but within a year was part of a newly formed Commando unit, later designated the Special Boat Service. I imagine his marine experience was a help.
As Southampton is only a few miles away I will definitely make an appointment to search for further details. Thank you again.

[Hugh]

Well thank you so much for that. Wow, I have never heard of my father as a seaman before but it perhaps explains why he joined the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1939 but within a year was part of a newly formed Commando unit, later designated the Special Boat Service. I imagine his marine experience was a help.
As Southampton is only a few miles away I will definitely make an appointment to search for further details. Thank you again.

Ah I wondered if that was him. PoW in Italy and made his escape through Switzerland I believe.

gdc.jpg

Regards
Hugh

[Patrick Colclough]

Indeed it was Hugh. Captured in the desert after Operation Bigamy. That's him in the BBC 'Rogue Heroes' series shooting up the airfields. Except it isn't but it should have been. LOL