Landlubber requires help

[Mike Povey]

Hi all, I am an a keen family history explorer and I confess my seafaring is limited to coming from Gravesend home of the "peanuts", and the odd trip on the Royal Daffodil or a cross channel ferry.
I have a distant relative, (don't know if I am able to put his name on here ), born in 1900 and served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of WW1. I know he received medals as a result, Mercantile Marine Ribbon and British Medal Ribbon both issued in 1919. Can anybody tell me at what age he would have been allowed to join up ?.
I have his discharge certificate copy with the relevant numbers on it and a photograph, from Find My Past.
I have read on here about sailors "purses" and have been in touch with Kew but they say they do not have them for the period I am interested in 1917 to about 1930.
I have no record of him other than the bove and the 1911 census.
I am trying to trace him during and after his Mercantile career and trying to establish where he settled down, if he did, and with who.
Any pointers would be very welcome.

[Hugh]

Welcome Mike,

Please do give his name, date and place of birth. Very difficult to progress anything without that basic information.

Your information about seaman's pouches is correct - there won't be one for him.

On the cards you have received from FMP, I suspect the one with the photo on it will be a C.R.10, can you tell us if there are any numbers [6 digits] on the left side which will be the official numbers of any ships he was aboard? Finding him on Crew Agreements is the only way to go as official records for WW1 were destroyed and for that you need to know the name of a shp to start you off.

Regards
Hugh

[Mike Povey]

Hi Hugh, his name was Albert Edwin Hills, he tended to use Edwin rather than Albert, he was born 15th June 1900 in Gravesend. His ID number was 802339, dis.A number 957130, rating assistant steward, Region L&S Region Number A 11701x. That's all I know I am afraid.
Thankyou for replying to me.
Regards
Mike

[Mike Povey]

Further to above six numbers on C.R. 10 are 118387 3 19, I assume the 3 19 is March 1919.
Thanks

[Hugh]

Hello Mike,

He would have been engaged aboard the ship 'DURHAM CASTLE' official number 118387 in March 1919. You should be able to confirm this by obtaining the Crew Agreement for the ship for 1919 which is held at the Maritime History Archive, Canada.
The information relating to the individual crew members includes the person's name, year and place of birth, capacity, previous vessel served on, and date of signing on and off the vessel.

Maritime History Archive

Mailing address

Maritime History Archive
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL
A1C 5S7

Phone: 709-864-8428
Fax: 709-864-3123

E-mail: mha@mun.ca

Basic details of 'DURHAM CASTLE': http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuil...hip.asp?id=791

Regards
Hugh

[Mike Povey]

Thanks Hugh thats brilliant.

[Ray Buck]

There was an Edwin Albert Hills aged 19 signed on the “Minnekahda” as assistant Engineers Steward in London 30th October 1919, the ship arrived in New York 19th November 1919 having sailed from London

he appears to have done 4 trips on the ship
Ray

[Mike Povey]

Thankyou Ray, that is really useful.
Does the discharge certificate mean that he did not sail again after March 1919 or does it just apply to that ship.The other thing that puzzles me is he looks older than 19 in the photo I have, it might just be me though.
I am also wondering if he went to sea as a way to become involved in WW1, I know from my research that the Army and Royal Navy had tightened up on the age limit towards the end of the war and the Army in particular did not knowingly send anyone overseas aged under 18.
Thanks for your help

[Mike Povey]

sorry Ray just read your post again and you have already answered answered my question.
It does look as though he remained in the Merchant Navy beyond early 1919. Is there any way I can trace him subsequently, later records for example.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Thankyou Ray, that is really useful.
Does the discharge certificate mean that he did not sail again after March 1919 or does it just apply to that ship.The other thing that puzzles me is he looks older than 19 in the photo I have, it might just be me though.
I am also wondering if he went to sea as a way to become involved in WW1, I know from my research that the Army and Royal Navy had tightened up on the age limit towards the end of the war and the Army in particular did not knowingly send anyone overseas aged under 18.
Thanks for your help

Hi Mike

When you look at old photos especially old army war photos and also the RAF pilots, you will say where are the young men, but most of these men were in their teens but looked much older. It was the style of dress, the haircuts and everyone trying to grow moustaches and beards so they would look older. You were considered an old man when 24/25 and the others asked you for fatherly advice, by the time you were in your 30's you were considered a grandad, even if unmarried.