Hi Everyone

[Maria Campbell]

Hi Everyone, hope you are all well.

My name is Maria Campbell and I live in Surrey, southeast England. I registered to this site because I'm helping my mother-in-law find some information about her dad who she last saw in 1949 (70 years ago! She was only a little girl).

I found that he registered in the British Merchant Navy (I attached the card I found). It belongs to the BT364 series, between 1918-1941.

To provide a little bit more background, he left to Australia as an infant in 1910 and at some point he returned to the UK. In my mother-in-law's birth certificate (1944) it states that his occupation was 'engineer automatic setter'.

I thought that maybe any of you could help me to understand better the information on the card. I have looked at previous questions in the forum which helped me with some of the queries I had but I still don't understand things such as rating A/S or Date of discharge ES25. Does anyone know what an engineer automatic setter does?

Thank you in advance for your time, any details would be of great help!

Best,
Maria

[Chris Allman]

Hi Maria - welcome to the site - I am sure that somebody on here will be only too pleased to help you. I am not altogether up on this kind of research but there are other members on here that are. - just to confirm the details on the Card :-

William Watson Miller - DOB 01 - 10 - 1909 - in Scotland - Discharge Book No 506075. ( His Discharge Book would list all the ships he was on - his rank on the ship and the dates he was on the ships )

The definition of a Engineer Setter is :-

Common tasks include:

Examines drawings and specifications to determine appropriate method, sequence of operations and machine setting;
selects and fixes work-holding devices and appropriate cutting, shaping, grinding and/or forming tools;
sets machine controls for rotation speeds, depth of cut and stroke, and adjusts machine table, stops and guides;
operates automatic or manual controls to feed tool to workpiece or vice versa and checks accuracy of machining;
changes tools and resets machine as necessary during production run;
instructs operators on the safe and correct method of operation of the machine.

However I would think that his knowledge of engineering would be more than just ' a setter ' and would involve the use and maintenance of Marine Engines - generators etc.

Hope this helps. Please keep calling in as I am sure you will receive help in your quest.

[Ron B Manderson]

Welcome Maria to the site
I'm sure the members here will help all they can .
Ron the batcave

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Maria
Welcome to the site and besides what you are asking I hope that you will find lots more to take your interest here!
I see that Chris has filled in in detail some of what you want to know that is great and a good start.
As for the ES25 that relates to his CR1 which means that See Below

CRS 1

Merchant navy personnel, seamen discharged and immediately re-engaged on articles for further service in the same ship

Hope this helps
Cheers So I see that the Document is dated 1949 ??? Must have rejoined then ??


PS Maria
To possibly get a full report on his Service it may be an idea if you apply to the Southampton Archives ??
However cannot be sure that his Records may still be available ??
Cheers

The Central Indexed Register of Merchant Seamen (1918-1941)

Search and download registry cards of merchant seamen employed between 1918 and 1941 (BT 348, BT 349 and BT 350) on findmypast.co.uk (£). The originals are held by Southampton Archives.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Vernon.
Wouldn't the A\S be assistant steward?
Des

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Des
That one is a bit baffling to me as normally it is put on the Card as Asst/Stwd
so just having the A/S as said is a bit baffling, could also be Able seaman I suppose but that too is normally AB ,so not too sure as to that one of now,will have to do some researching/
Cheers

[j.sabourn]

Was always A/S for assistant steward when I did my 2 fingered typing out of boat and fire stations. JS

[Doc Vernon]

That would be the most likely JS but as said in most Discharge Books you will see Asst Stwd . However perhaps in those tines as it is somewhat old they just used the A/S ??
cHEERS

Just for interest sake here is a Pic of the MM Offices in Dock Street where that CRS1 was issued 1949 and the Sailors Home

DockStreet-P2.JPG

DockStreet-P1.JPG

[cappy]

###athough i sailed as second steward quite a few times that rating was never in my discharge book ......i would be sent to join say the MV aldersgate as second steward but in my book it was always written a/s.....regards cappy

[j.sabourn]

The aldersgate was one of the ore carriers wasntit Cappy ? The manning scale as per the rest of them would have been two assistand stewards. And a second stewrard and a Chief steward,cook, and second cook and Baker. Galley boy or in lieu. Cheers. JS