Seaman's death in Australia

[Lilian Pain]

Good Evening Folks

I am new and may be on the wrong forum. My Grandfather William Edward Garland died in an Australian hospital in January 1947. He was a greaser on the White Star Line "Australia Star" on the 9th December 1946 when he was taken ill. I have his Oz death certificate and he details from the 4th and 5th register and am now trying to claim his medals but so far seem to have run into a brick wall with the General Register Record Office of Shipping & Seaman who require Ships Movement Cards for each ship he sailed on between 1939 to 1946. Having supplied these I was surprised to be told that two ships a page missing. Question is where would I find these. The National Archives believe they have given me all that they have.
Sorry if I have droned on but I do not know who else to ask.
Any help you can offer will be very gratefully received.
Regards Lilian

[Keith at Tregenna]

Tired massively tonight. Will reply better in our morning.

Certain many will attempt to help more.

K.

[Hugh]

Welcome Lilian,
Can you post the ship's names that you don't have the movement cards for please?
Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Lilian
I think that if you you go to the Guildhall Library London they have the VRC's (Voyage Record Cards) for most Ships!
I know i got mine from them a while back!
Hope this may assist!
Cheers
And Welcome to this site!

Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section

[Lilian Pain]

Hi Hugh

Thank you so much for your reply. I have the ships movoement cards for all the ships that Grandfather sailed on during WW2. Cardiff replied that they couldn't consider the issue of his medals as there was pages missing from the "ORARI" - "RIMUTAKA" and "EMPIRE PAKEHA". I have found 2 pages for the "EMPIRE PAKEHA" (this was because the name was changed from "PAKEHA" to "EMPIRE PAKEHA")
As for the other two ships reading them I cannot find where the pages are missing as the dates all run concurrently. I should explain that each "card" is between 10 and 14 pages and only give the information for repairs not what seaman sailed in them.
I should explain I am researching my family history and came across the fact that his medals had not been issued due to death in 1947 when I contacted the General Register & Record Office of Shipping & Seaman to find his discharge number. They referred me to Kew National Archives and at that time told me they had his medals. I have his CR10's etc. Australian death certificate, birth certificate and marriage certificate. (I am the elder daughter of his eldest daughter).
Grandfather joined the Merchant Navy in 1912 and sailed through both World Wars until his death. I have a copy of the receipt for his WW1 medals issued 6th June 1920.
I am at a loss as to where to go from here.
Any advice or help will be gratefully received.
Lilian

[Lilian Pain]

Hi Castleman
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. If it will help others the ships movement cards are available from the National Archives at Kew, London. Most are now on line through their "Ducoments on Line" catalogue.
As I explained in my post to Hugh I discovered that Grandfathers medals were unclaimed while researching my family history and would dearly love to have his medals to go with the information I have found on what I believe was a very brave man.
I would also add that my Father served in the M.N. from 1929 to 1949.
Thank you once again.
Lilian

[DeepSea]

Castleman,

Your information is misleading. For all Movement Cards from 1st January 1939 to 31st December 1946 are held at The National Archives at Kew and can be searched on line from the link below.

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Refine Browse Criteria

[DeepSea]

Lilian,

With the information you have already supplied to Cardiff, should be enough to have his War Medal and 1939-1945 Star awarded at least. It is merely the other Campaign Stars that need verification. Have you phoned Sandie Atherton direct and asked her what they regard is actually missing from the documents you have.

Sandie Atherton
Medal Officer
Tel: 029 20 44 88 00
Fax: 029 20 44 88 20

Attached is the original entry recording his death.

[Hugh]

Lilian,
I am at a loss as to why, without seeing the cards, Cardiff are holding back on this.
The movement card for ORARI, for example, should have information that is near or near enough in agreement with the following: Arnold Hague Ports database You should be able to search the other ships as well. Unfortunately the information on the Hague database cannot be given to the RSS, Cardiff as proof of voyages as the requirement is for movement cards and CRS 10 to prove entitlement.

Gibraltar, Aug 15, 1942
not reported

Clyde, Oct 16, 1942

ON.139 (Liverpool - NYC)
New York, Nov 1, 1942

New York, Feb 18, 1943

HX.227 (NYC - Liverpool)

Belfast Lough, Mar 5, 1943

BB.267 (Belfast Lough - M Haven)

HX.227 (NYC - Liverpool)

Liverpool, Mar 6, 1943

BB.267 (Belfast Lough - M Haven)

Cardiff, Mar 7, 1943

Milford Haven, Mar 31, 1943

ON.176 (Liverpool - NYC)

New York, Apr 20, 1943

New York, May 6, 1943

NK.539 (NYC - Key West)

Key West, May 11, 1943

Cristobal, Aug 22, 1943

ZG.41 (Cristobal - Guantanamo)

Guantanamo, Aug 26, 1943

Curacao, Aug 26, 1943

CU.4 (Curacao - Liverpool)

Avonmouth, Sep 10, 1943

Liverpool, Oct 11, 1943

ON.206 (Liverpool - NYC)

Liverpool, Oct 16, 1943

KMF.25 (Liverpool - Alexandria)

ON.206 (Liverpool - NYC)

New York, Oct 27, 1943

KMF.25 (Liverpool - Alexandria)
Alexandria, Oct 30, 1943

New York, Feb 5, 1944

HX.278 (NYC - Liverpool)

Liverpool, Feb 20, 1944

Liverpool, Mar 12, 1944

UC.15 (Liverpool - NYC)

Independent
Buenos Aires, Apr 2, 1944

Gibraltar, May 10, 1944

MKS.48G (Gibraltar - r/v WITH SL 157)

SL.157MK (r/v SL 157/MKS 48 - Liverpool)

Belfast, May 22, 1944

Avonmouth, Jun 14, 1944

Independent

MKS.73G (Gibraltar - Liverpool)

Avonmouth, Jan 3, 1945

Liverpool, Jan 23, 1945

ON.280 (Southend - NYC)

New York, Feb 9, 1945

Regards
Hugh

[Ray Buck]

I don’t know if this is of any use , William Garland in listed in ships manifests as follows ( these are not the official crew agreements or ships movement detail but )

William Garland aged 58 (DoB circa 1887) with 30 years service signed on the “Orari” on the 20th January 1945 in Avonmouth as Ref: Greaser he was 5’ – 1 ˝” weight 128 lbs with a ship on his Right Arm, the ship arrived in New York on the 9th February 1945 having sailed from Avonmouth on the 21st January 1945 she sailed again “overseas” on the 5th March 1945

William Garland aged 57 (DoB circa 1887) with 30 years service signed on the “Rimutaka” on the 28th October 1943 in Avonmouth as Ref: Greaser, the ship arrived in New York on the 31st March 1944 having sailed from Auckland New Zealand via Panama Canal on the 28th February 1944

William Garland aged 57 signed on the “Empire Pakeka” as Ref Greaser in Swansea on the 1st August 1942 the ship arrived in New York on 18th January 1943 having sailed from Melbourne Aust: via Cristobel and panama, she sailed again on the 22nd January for England

Ray