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Thread: Hi from Phil Novis

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    Default Hi from Phil Novis

    I am researching my family tree and the current topic is my father's service in WWII. He was in the Merchant Navy and I have a photo of a boat in the family box of photos (un-labelled of course!) that could be the one he sailed on. I have been communicating with various museums such as Grenwich and have got some excellent info but would love to confirm or deny the photo is of his boat. The family came from the Newhaven / Peacehaven / Brighton / Seaford area. My parents wedding certificate has my father down as a merchant seaman residing at RMT Cardy in 1942. I will be working through various lists over the next month or two and may well post questions, etc.

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    Post Re: Hi from Phil Novis

    Hello Phillip
    Thanks for posting ,please ask away and we will do our best to assist!
    What was his full name and DOB this may help us to help you.
    What was the name of the Ship, and what are you after exactly please!

    Was he by chance Raymond George???
    Thanks
    Last edited by Doc Vernon; 5th August 2020 at 09:03 PM.
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    Default Re: Hi from Phil Novis

    Quote Originally Posted by Doc Vernon View Post
    Hello Phillip
    Thanks for posting ,please ask away and we will do our best to assist!
    What was his full name and DOB this may help us to help you.
    What was the name of the Ship, and what are you after exactly please!

    Was he by chance Raymond George???
    Thanks
    Many thanks for the response.

    His full name was James Alfred Alexander Novis and his DOB was September 20th 1913. He was born in Newhaven.

    I have this one photo of a boat sailing into port that could be the one he served on so I would love to be able to link the photo to him - or confirm it's not the one he was on.

    The photo is an old one and has an id on the front of FY PT 284.

    The Royal Museums Grenwich sent me the following info:

    "This is an Admiralty Type 105 feet motor minesweeper launched between 1940 and 1944. They were numbered MMS 1 to MMS 118 and MMS 123 to MMS 313. Although I cannot read the number on the photo the FYPT 284 on the reverse is the pendant number of MMS 284. She was built by F. Curtis at Totnes, launched 25 November1942 and completed 23 March 1943. She was listed for sale in January 1946."

    I have also been pointed at the National Archives to see if there's a crew list anywhere.

    I had not been sure if he really was a sailor until I noticed his wedding certificate said an occupation of Merchant Seaman and that he was resident at HMT Cardy when he got married on June 12th, 1943 in Cardiff which was where my mother had been evacuated to.

    Any thoughts would be most welcome.

    Regards

    Phil

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    Default Re: Hi from Phil Novis

    Found the birth and marriage but nothing as yet re: RN / MN etc.

    K.

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    Default Re: Hi from Phil Novis

    Possibly served under the T.124 Agreements:

    At the outbreak of the Second World War, it was evident that the Royal Navy would not be able to man all the auxiliary vessels that would serve with it. To deal with the shortfall in manpower, a number of officers and men of the Merchant Navy agreed to serve with the Royal Navy under the terms of a T.124 agreement, which made them subject to Naval discipline while generally retaining their Merchant Navy rates of pay and other conditions. The manning port established to administer these men was at Liverpool. More than 13,000 seamen served under these conditions in various types of auxiliary vessels, at first mainly in armed merchant cruisers, but also in armed boarding vessels, cable ships, rescue tugs, and others on special service.
    "Across the seas where the great waves grow, there are no fields for the poppies to grow, but its a place where Seamen sleep, died for their country, for you and for peace" (Billy McGee 2011)

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    Default Re: Hi from Phil Novis

    #5 was the T124 agreement group a distinct group from the HO ( hostility’s only ) ? Or were the HO group just volunteers and those called up from any walk of life ? Often wondered where the dividing line if any was . Cheers JS.
    R575129

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    Default Re: Hi from Phil Novis

    #5: Thanks Deepsea, sounds most probable.

    Keith.

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