Looking for help

[dermot Mullan]

Hi all. its a very interesting site so thanks for letting me in. Firstly I want to state I wasn't in the MN -I am conducting a search for a friend. His dad was in the MN in the 60's and 70's. He recently passed away and my friend got to thinking about where he had been and what ships etc he had been on. His sisters too-who are both getting on a bit and are not in any way computer literate were talking at the funeral about how little they knew of his service. I suggested I could maybe try to help out. I have his Discharge number and was wondering if there is such a way to be able to track him down and his movements, ships, duties etc. Any help would be very gratefully received. Thanks to all that read this and I think this site is pretty cool at doing what it does.

Thanks in advance

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks for joining here and asking the question
Can we have his Full Name and his Discharge Number please I can then look at the Records and a link to same!
You will if I find it have to go to Kew to get the Records in person, There are 2 types his Seamans Pouch and his CRS10 the latter will have the Ships he served on plus other info!
Will await your reply!

[Richard Quartermaine]

That's a good thing that you are doing Dermot. There are also good people here who have the where-with-all to assist you, as well as the possibility of having sailed with your friend's dad.
All the best, Richard

[dermot Mullan]

Hi Doc,
Thanks for the speedy reply. His name was James (Seamus)- his name was Seamus but he used the English spelling and pronunciation) Ritchie.
Name: James W. Ritchie
DOB 11/12/1947
R839181

That's about all the info I have. We know he served probably mid 60's to 70's but unsure of dates. I only managed to track down his discharge number on national archives. and thought maybe someone here would recognize or know some other way to go about it. I know his sisters especially would be thrilled to know more.

Thanks again

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks Richard. just trying to help them out. James was very solitary in his later years so his family are just wanting to expand on what they know-which isn't much.

Id be interested as well as I remember James showing his son and I slides of pictures of the places he had been. When you are 5 or 6 in the 70's in a small village in Northern Ireland he may as well been showing us slides of the moon and I was fascinated.

Thanks again

[Doc Vernon]

Reference:	BT 372/2723/10
Description:	R839181 RITCHIE J 11/12/1947 PORTAFERRY
Date:	1913 - 1972
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department:	R839181

So here is the Link for his Seamans Pouch it will have limited info,this can be applied for Online!
R839181 RITCHIE J 11/12/1947 PORTAFERRY | The National Archives

I will look for his CS10 which in turn will have most of what you seek!
Possibly get it some time later!
Cheers

[dermot Mullan]

That's fantastic Doc. Thanks so much for your reply. The seamans pouch I can tell them to apply for or I will. Anything else you can provide I will be very grateful.. Thanks and keep up the excellent work. I am enjoying the site immensely looking at pics and things. Excellent job all round.

[Doc Vernon]

His crs10 should be found in this Series covering names

Reidy A C to Renney H F

Reference:	BT 382/2835
Description:	Reidy A C to Renney H F
Date:	1941 Jan 01 - 1972 Dec 31
Held by:	The National Archives, Kew
Former reference in its original department:	813
Legal status:	Public Record(s)
Closure status:	Open Document, Open Description

Reidy A C to Renney H F | The National Archives

All the best
Cheers

[Doc Vernon]

Once you have the CRS10 with Ships etc you can then also if you wish apply for his Crew Lists from Canada I can if you want give you the Link as well.
Some Ship Crew Lists however may not be still available!
Cheers

Off to Bed now talk more later!

[dermot Mullan]

Yes Please Doc. So I apply for the CRS10 from the national archive? or is it viewable there/
Anyway. Post when you can and thanks for everything so far.
Enjoy a well earned rest.

[Marian Gra]

Hello Dermot, the following is hardly worth mentioning as there is no guarantee that it's your James Ritchie but is all I have found so far from 1300 Ritchie's world wide in your time frame. Details of a flight to connecting shore for ship. From Ancestry:

Name: James Ritchie
Arrival Date: 16 May 1962
Ship Name: PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS, INC.
Port of Arrival: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Airline and Flight Number: 107/16