I need help

[daniel hood]

I have been trying like so many people to piece together my late father's Merchant Navy past. I have found a little bit of info from Kew National Archives, but came away with more questions then answers.

As my dad was a bit of a colourful character, it makes things a little hard to piece together. I know a few ships my dad was on, but there are many gaps in his service due to uncompleted voyages (jumping ship, sometimes abroad) As my dad talked very little about his past, I'm stuck, help! He served in the war as a young boy (galley boy).
His name was Alexander Ian Hood, dis. no. R307494
Please ask if there's anymore info I can provide if anyone can help and thank you in advance. Dan.

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Daniel
Welcome to the site,i am sure that with time we can assist!
First of all there is no info at all in your post as to his Full Name ,Discharge Number?
Also if you have his DOB,and place will help!
You must have forgotten to Enter his name etc@
What exactly did you get from Kew!
If it was only his Seamans Pouch,then that would not give you much,you will need to get his CRS10.

Will await more from you
Thanks
Cheers

I see that the post has been Edited now and more info added!
Thanks

[Hugh]

Hello Daniel and welcome,

What files did you get from Kew? I can see these. Only the medal file can be downloaded for £3.30 - the others will require a visit to Kew or a researcher to obtain for you.

Medal listing: BT 395/1/45020

Seaman's pouch: BT 372/716/131

COMNO pouch: BT 391/49/122

CRS 10: BT 382/808

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

Oooops!
Sorry did not see that Hugh!
Too early for me haha!
Cheers

[DeepSea]

Hello Dan,

Just to break down Hugh's posting a bit for you. The medal file is self explanatory, but you may need the following information to understand the content.

The medals awarded are indicated by:

1939: 1939-1945 Star
AT: Atlantic Star
AF: Africa Star
PA: Pacific Star
BU: Burma Star
FR: France and Germany Star
WM: War Medal
IT: Italy Star
CL: Clasp
OLE: Oak Leaf

A cross (×) drawn through a symbol indicates the issue of that medal; a circle (O) drawn through a symbol indicates that only the ribbon for that medal has been issued. If a cross and a circle have been used then both a medal and a ribbon have been issued. An R sometimes appears and signifies that an application for that medal was reviewed and refused.

Seaman's Pouch as mentioned by Doc, hold little relevant information on the individual, but usually hold a photo from the persons ID Card.

COMNO Pouch indicates your dad volunteered to take part in the D-Day Operations at some point.

CRS 10 is his service file listing all the ships he served on. These records are held in The Fifth Register of Seaman’s Service covering 1941 to 1972. Records of individual Merchant Seamen's sea service details are held in alphabetical surname order. These details include the following information: Name of seaman, Date and place of birth, Discharge (Seaman’s) book number, Rank, Details of the ships on which he served. These include: Name of ship and official number, date of engagement (Joining ship), Date of discharge (Leaving ship), whether ship was a foreign going of home trade vessel, and records in some cases National Insurance contributions. Details shown in these records are similar to those contained in an individual seaman's discharge book.

As Hugh mentions, the actual files are held in block by surname and would require a visit to Kew unless you are willing to pay extortionate prices for a researcher.

[Ron B Manderson]

welcome to the site Dan
enjoy
Ron the bat cave

[daniel hood]

Thank you everyone for all your help. I can tell you what little I know after my visit to Kew, my dad served on empire resistance, knowlton,victoria,cid,. He was also on empire chief which went to new York. whilst in new York he got in a bit of scuffle and ended up in hospital with a appendicitis. He saw VJ in Times Square. He also went on the artic convoys where he also jumped ship. This I Found out from my aunt who has also sadly passed away but she recalled as a young girl these three official men asking her mum questions apparently he jumped ship in Russia, went through Finland and ended up in Norway. According to my aunt my grandmother received a postcard some time later from a place called Hell which seemed to stick in her memory. Can you find any information on these stories? Are ships listed on his service list even though they are uncompleted voyages. as my Dad had me late in life (age 46) and he wasn't one for keeping keepsakes of the past and what little I had got lost, it would be great to have something cool to remember him by. After the war in 1947 he joined the army and served in the middle east, came out of the army late 52,tried civvie street for a few years and rejoined the merchant navy. Came out in 1962 when my mum tamed him!!. So glad I joined this site, it's been a great help even after only one day.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Daniel
here are two photos of his ships,
SS CID and SS EMPIRE CHIEF
Hope they are OK for you, I coudnt find the others.
Cheers
Brian. click on thumb nails and then you can copy and print them

[Ivan Cloherty]

[QUOTE=daniel hood;174912] it would be great to have something cool to remember him by.

Daniel, you already have something 'cool' to remember him by, he was your father, not only was he your father he served his country ashore and afloat, it doesn't get any 'cooler'. You had the pleasure of knowing him, a lot never got the chance of knowing their fathers. There are very few 'James Bonds' out there, remember him for his service to his family, his love for his family and his service to his country, that's enough cool for anyone.

[daniel hood]

Been offline for a while due to laptop issues, however I managed to get to Kew this week and have got my father's CRS10, trying to decipher the writing but have discovered some new info. One thing I can't seem to make out is on the character columns though, on the ability it has vg ( Very good I guessed) but on the general conduct it has DR which I don't know what that is an abbreviation of. Can anyone shed some light??
Just a great big thanks again for all the info and help I've received so far from you guys! Dan