Danish War Sailors - Newcastle upon Tyne

[Hugh]

Hi again! I have some news about Rasmus Skovgaard Bertelsen. He served on ship no. 167474 registred in London at least in the period 11th May until 21st June 1940. So if I understand the system correct he served in the Royal Navy. Is it possible that he has a personel file somewhere in the U.K. archives? Hope some can help? Best regards Erik

Hi Erik,
The last ship I can trace him on is the American ss PAN MAINE in May 1944. He was a Danish merchant seaman so would not be Royal Navy. I think you are getting at the fact that he may have sailed on HMT THORA a fishing vessel requisitioned by the Royal Navy in June 1940 as a Balloon barrage vessel. Lost in collision with boom at Grimsby 26 April 1943 during bad weather. He doesn't appear to have any records at Kew in BT 390 so I doubt you will find him in UK archives.
Regards
Hugh

[Hugh]

Rasmus Skovgaard Bertelsen born in Holsted, Denmark 1913 died october 1944 unknown allied ship (maybe US)

Hi Erik,
Been doing some digging and this may be his death aboard the USAT 731 which was a US Army small tug - appears the vessel foundered 19 October 1944 although some sources clash on the vessels loss.
Click on the link below - a bit small though. Also this link is the full page:Merchant Mariners Killed in World War II, names start with "B"

bertelsen.jpg

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

Good find and Info Hugh
Thanks
Cheers

[Erik Vind Frost]

Hi again! I've found some interesting information in the danish National archive. And I think the information will somehow link the story to the UK in the summer of 1940. The information on the register card I've found tells the following:
"Name: Bertelsen, Rasmus Skovgaard
Born: 28.11.13
Next of kin:
Address:
Snis: i 24344

Date 4.7.40
Signed on Stm. Dr. Roletta
Position Fisherman
Date
Ex. Thora"
I know from other souces he was on a private owned ship in the period july-September 1940 in England. He left U.K. early October 1940 on the Yacht Noroit.
But can anyone here get something out of either the SNIS no. or the Roletta ship name?
Hope you can help me once again.
Best regards Erik

[Marian Gray]

Hi Erik, Headache at present so hope I'm not repeating anything you may already have.These are from Ancestry world wide if of any use to you:Second one just delete!

44028_01_00011-01444.jpg

NYT715_6772-0802.jpg

NYT715_6772-0802.jpg

NYT715_6812-0685.jpg

IMUSANY1917_082306-03790.jpg

I'm sure vernon will enlarge for you when he signs on this evening.

1st from:U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 which I think is the one Hugh mentioned in previous post.
2nd: is Rasmus arriving in New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
3rd:Is from the New York State,Crew Lists, 1917-1967, Arrival date 30 May 1944, Ship Keguma.

A few more, apologies to Hugh if I'm repeating anything:
U.S., Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945

WW2_6362382__0018_A_05-1094.jpg

[Marian Gray]

from U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-194932859_243007-00613.jpg32859_243007-00613.jpg

Name	R S Bertelsen
Ship, Station or Activity	Feland
Ship Number or Designation	APA-11
Muster Date	11 Oct 1945?????

Sorry for the repeat! There are also a few ships listed between 1940-44, would you want those Erik?

[Erik Vind Frost]

Hi again

Thanks for your information.
I know from R. S. Bertelsens official personal file (OPF) from US that he died 19th Oct. 1944. I have almost complete information of his movements fra 41 to 44.

My question is about the ship STM. DR. Roletta. in 1940 in England.
And the SNIS no I24344
What is that no used for?

Kind Regards
Erik

[Hugh]

"Name: Bertelsen, Rasmus Skovgaard
Born: 28.11.13
Next of kin:
Address:
Snis: i 24344

Date 4.7.40
Signed on Stm. Dr. Roletta
Position Fisherman
Date
Ex. Thora"

This suggests he signed on a steam drifter called ROLETTA which I cannot find. However it also states ex-THORA. See my #21 at the top of the page - Is it possible they may be one and the same vessel i.e. HMT THORA official number 167474 which you also mentioned previously?

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

May be way ff track here Hugh but just came across this one ??
Any good !?
Cheers

EARL OF WARWICK (ex-THORA), hired trawler 2652 Admiralty Number

[Erik Vind Frost]

Thanks one again. I've got the logbook of Thora 167474 from 1940 and know for sure Rasmus was on board until midsummer in June and not after that. So I think the Roletta is another boat and the idea about a Steamer Drifter Roletta seems possible, but is the ship posssible to identify somewhere? Regardss Erik.