Martin Blanchfield BEM

[Deasy]

Hi there, am new to forum and need help checking out if my great uncle was involved in the Arctic convoys. The family version from my grandmother was that he was on the Murmansk run but I haven't been able to verify this.

We have tracked down the rest of his merchant navy records and have his medal cards from ww1 and ww2. He was badly wounded at the Somme with the RIR but made it back to Cork with a bullet lodged next to his heart. He survived and served as a boatswain in the merchant navy, much of the time on tankers carrying benzene (no danger money back then). He was made BEM at the end of the war.

I've done the regular archive checks but can't seem to access arctic convoy crew lists. If anyone can help with this I'd really appreciate it.

His merchant navy service number is 1043709. Date of birth is 29/11/1899.

Thanks

[Captain Kong]

Hi Deasy, welcome , Keep looking in as it is New Year and it is a bit quiet at the moment,
But I am sure some of our experts could help you. Do you have the name of any of the ships he was on.?
Cheers
Brian.

[Frederick Lacey]

Hi Deasy ..Welcome...

Birth date 2 days out, but is this him.

Death..Martin Blanchfield Born 27th November, 1899. Died December 1983. age at death. 84 years. District. Cambourne Redruth. Cornwall. Vol.21. Page.0060.


F.

[Hugh]

We have tracked down the rest of his merchant navy records and have his medal cards from ww1 and ww2. He was made BEM at the end of the war.

Hello and welcome

When you say you have tracked down the rest of his MN records may I ask what you have please? The reason I ask is that if you had his Dis. A book you would know what ships he served in through the war and if you don't have that then his CRS 10 would tell you that information. So I suspect you may not have all his records.

You will know that he was awarded the BEM in the Birthday Honours List 1944 - mv BRITISH STATESMAN.

There is no easy way to find out about the Arctic convoys without knowing the name of the ship(s) he served in. Know a ship and I can point you to the crew agreements.

Regards
Hugh

[Ivan Cloherty]

His merchant navy service number is 1043709. Date of birth is 29/11/1899.

Thanks

Deasy

1043709 too many digits for a MN number of that era, I would say that is MN No is 475374 as depicted in the photo, around 1922 the pure digit number was discontinued and the Dis A number (MN Number) became 5 digits preceded by the letter 'R' as in my fathers R96096 (issued 1927) The correct number will help when tracing records

[Deasy]

Hi Frederick, yes that's him. Any help figuring out what ships he was on during ww2 would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Deasy]

Hi Hugh, you've put your finger on the problem. I don't have the names of the ships he was on, bar the British Statesman and one he sailed on in 1920 (which isn't much help). I don't have his Dis A book. When I said records, I meant his medal cards for both wars, that's pretty much it.

When you say crew agreements, is there a database I could search?

Thanks

- - - Updated - - -

Hi Ivan, yes you're absolutely right, that was his discharge no., not his MN number. Thanks

[Hugh]

Deasy

1043709 too many digits for a MN number of that era, I would say that is MN No is 475374 as depicted in the photo, around 1922 the pure digit number was discontinued and the Dis A number (MN Number) became 5 digits preceded by the letter 'R' as in my fathers R96096 (issued 1927) The correct number will help when tracing records

Hello Ivan,

No, that Dis. A number is correct - the 7 digit number would be one of the later ones before the 'R' series began in the early/mid 20s. The other number you mention is his RS2 number or ID certificate.

Regards
Hugh

[Hugh]

Hi Deasy,

It would appear then that you have missed some of his earlier service pre WW2 - original cards held by Southampton City Archives with copies at The National Archives Kew and available on Find My Past paysite.
I have transcribed some of his service:

BRITISH TRANSPORT - 27.4.1923
STRATHLORNE - 22.9.1923
STRATHLORNE - Still serving December 1924
BRITISH LORD - 3.7.1931
BRITISH OFFICER - 13.10.1931
BRITISH VISCOUNT - 4.12.1931
BRITISH MERCHANT - 29.7.1933
BRITISH ENGINEER - 13.12.1933
BRITISH MARINER - 1.9.1935
BRITISH PROGRESS - 17.12.1936
BRITISH PRIDE - 20.5.1937
BRITISH GUNNER - 24.11.1937
BRITISH ARDOUR - 2.4.1938
BRITISH MERCHANT - 30.10.1939

He has a another CR1 card from 1952 with a later photo on it. I will give you some pointers later....

Regards
Hugh

[Deasy]

Wow Hugh that's interesting, completely new information. Perhaps more important though was your reference linking his BEM to mv British Statesman. I thought this was the ship's name we already had. Actually, this is new info as well, and having done a quick search it seems the Mv British Statesman was in at least one convoy (HX 115), I think.

The question is how do I figure out if he definitely was on the British Statesman during that convoy and whether those other ships you listed were also involved in convoys?

Thanks