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16th January 2025, 04:49 PM
#1
Help re Romanby
Hello all, I’ve only just found out that my father was in the Merchant Navy in 1936 think he was a Galley Boy. I’ve got the record from Find my past but there are a few things I’d like help with please. I think the record states that his last ship was Romanby but I can’t be certain. Is it acceptable for me to post up the record for some help please ? Also is there any way I can find out my father’s complete service record ? Many thanks Graham
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16th January 2025, 08:12 PM
#2
Re: Help re Romanby
Hello Graham
Thanks for the questions .
Please give your Dads Full name , DOB and Place of Birth.
This way we may be able to help you futher.
You say you have his Records, yes you can post them here if you wish, but you will need his CRS10 for his full Service Records
Cheers
Will await your reply.
Motor Vessel ROMANBY built by Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd. in 1957 for Ropner Shipping Co. Ltd., West Hartlepool, Cargo
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 16th January 2025 at 08:13 PM.
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
R697530
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16th January 2025, 10:43 PM
#3
Re: Help re Romanby
There were four Romanbys built 1882, 1908, 1927 and 1957. If he was a galley boy in 1936 the most likely candidate was 'Romanby' built by William Gray and Co. West Hartlepool in1927, she was a war casualty in 1940.
It of course quite feasible that he was on the 1957 built Romanby as being a galley boy in 1936 at 16/17 years old he would still only be 36/37 years old, but definitely not a galley boy
Just thinking aloud
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17th January 2025, 12:18 AM
#4
Re: Help re Romanby
Hi Graham
According to my book the Romany was Sunk or seized at Narvik on the 22 April 1940
Cheers Des
R510868
Lest We Forget
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17th January 2025, 04:24 AM
#5
Re: Help re Romanby

Originally Posted by
Ivan Cloherty
There were four Romanbys built 1882, 1908, 1927 and 1957. If he was a galley boy in 1936 the most likely candidate was 'Romanby' built by William Gray and Co. West Hartlepool in1927, she was a war casualty in 1940.
It of course quite feasible that he was on the 1957 built Romanby as being a galley boy in 1936 at 16/17 years old he would still only be 36/37 years old, but definitely not a galley boy
Just thinking aloud
Indeed so Ivan, i should have looked closer!
Cheers
Here is what now looks like the correct one .
Cheers
Screw Steamer ROMANBY built by William Gray & Co. Ltd. in 1927 for Ropner Shipping Co. Ltd., West Hartlepool, Cargo
To Poster
Apologies for incorrect details at first on Ship!
Cheers
PS Was your Dad perhaps Born in Glamorganshire around 1915/16 ??? Sidney Yeates ??? Or 1920 also Glamorganshire William Yeates ??
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 17th January 2025 at 05:04 AM.
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17th January 2025, 07:23 AM
#6
Re: Help re Romanby
Thank you so much for your replies.
My father was Sidney John Yeates. He was born on April 15th 1915 in Swansea, South Wales.
I have him on the 1939 Electoral register living back in Swansea so I assume he had left the Merchant Navy by then. The only record I have is the one attached. I’m looking for ANY information at all that I can find about the ship he served on and his service record.
Many thanks for any help
Regards
Graham
QUOTE=Doc Vernon;438177]Indeed so Ivan, i should have looked closer!
Cheers
Here is what now looks like the correct one .
Cheers
Screw Steamer ROMANBY built by William Gray & Co. Ltd. in 1927 for Ropner Shipping Co. Ltd., West Hartlepool, Cargo
To Poster
Apologies for incorrect details at first on Ship!
Cheers
PS Was your Dad perhaps Born in Glamorganshire around 1915/16 ??? Sidney Yeates ??? Or 1920 also Glamorganshire William Yeates ??[/QUOTE]
Last edited by Graham Yeates; 17th January 2025 at 07:25 AM.
Reason: Error
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17th January 2025, 08:02 AM
#7
Re: Help re Romanby
Thank you so much Doc. My father was Sidney John Yeates born in 1915. His younger brother William Charles Henry Yeates born in 1920 was his younger brother. I think at some point they served together.
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17th January 2025, 08:07 PM
#8
Re: Help re Romanby
Hi again Graham
Thanks for the info you have posted. I have looked and thus far not come up with anything on the two mentioned, however i think that there may well be Records of both either at the Southampton Maritime Archives (They hold Originals ) , its worth an Email to them asking if there are any records there besides what you have at hand!
Our collections
Futher to this , as i have mentioned there should be records for both in either their CR10 or CRS10 Cards, this i will have to go through and find out . I will post my findings here later if i come up with anything else!
Stay tuned!
Cheers
Added Graham you have his CR1 Card there which is as you see just his Joining Card. Now you will need to get his CR2 Card as well, it is also at FMP Site . this will hold his Ships etc.
Above is an Example of CR2 Card .
Now you can start a search for each Ship in Question.
Then there is the Voyage Record Cards which are available at the Guildhall Library at a cost of course, these have to be ordered , can be done Online. They need some time though prior to being able to find them all and send to you via Email.
Maritime collections - City of London
The exact same procedure is needed for his Brother WC Yeates Graham.
Cheers
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 18th January 2025 at 06:47 AM.
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19th January 2025, 08:29 AM
#9
Re: Help re Romanby
Thank you so much for your help Doc. I’ll take a look and what I can find. Much appreciated.
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19th January 2025, 10:18 AM
#10
Re: Help re Romanby
Hi again, so I now have my father’s CR1 and CR 2
What will this not allow me to find please ?
Many thanks

Originally Posted by
Graham Yeates
Thank you so much for your help Doc. I’ll take a look and what I can find. Much appreciated.
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