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4th February 2025, 08:51 AM
#1
Hello
Hi, I am from a family with sea faring links within the Merchant Navy and trying to find out a bit more with regards to this. My dad had started to tell me some of his stories but he passed away recently so now using the power of the Internet.. gulp! I am starting with my Grandad who I believe was on the Bolton castle when it was sunk in ww2 he and other's were picked up by a Russian crew, however he was presumed as to have died as no word was communicated back to our lot to say they had been rescued! So imagine my Gran's surprise when he eventually turned up. Just wondering if anyone has any more info regarding this. My grandad was Frederick Bullen.
Last edited by Justine Palmer; 4th February 2025 at 10:18 AM.
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4th February 2025, 11:40 AM
#2
Re: Hello
Good chance someone on site may be able to assist.
Any info such as maybe numbers or papers would be of great assistance in trying to find out about him.


Happy daze John in Oz.
Life is too short to blend in.
John Strange R737787
World Traveller

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4th February 2025, 11:51 AM
#3
Re: Hello
What John is saying Justine is , all seamen have what is called discharge books and this has a number and is the first traceable document to supply the searcher with relevant information , if you have absolutely no further information then it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Your grandfather would have had one ,also all course certificates , birth certificates , even a NHI number if was in force during his lifetime. Place and date of birth would also be essential,to enable a match to be found . Best of luck in your endeavours. JS
R575129
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4th February 2025, 08:05 PM
#4
Re: Hello
Hello Justine
Thanks for posting, and yes as as said we need some more info, to help us help you on this.
Please if you can supply Full names of both, DOB and Places of Birth.
If you may have any other info include this as well.
Thank You
Will await your reply!
Cheers
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
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5th February 2025, 12:28 AM
#5
Re: Hello
Hi Justine
The Bolton Castle of 3,500tons was sunk by enemy aircraft on the 5th of July 1942.
Did your father get a medal from the Russian Govt for participating in the Artic Convoys?
Des
R510868
Lest We Forget
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5th February 2025, 12:09 PM
#6
Re: Hello
Hello Des,
The Russian Government only awarded .' The Great Patriotic War' (AKA WW2) medal 40 years later so 1985 and subsequently another for 50th anniversary. Both had to be applied for.
My Dad rescued the Master and Crew of the Russian STALINGRAD on 13th September 1942. Medal? Niet.
Justine's father should be entitled to the ARCTIC STAR. Need Birth Certificate, Death Cert and proof of being on BOLTON CASTLE. A copy of the Crew list would be OK. Probably get that from Kew (National Archives) for a fee. Office at Cardiff are a great help. Somewhere on this site there are details of how to go about it. Someone will be able to find it , I'm sure !
Brenda
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5th February 2025, 08:21 PM
#7
Re: Hello
This Thread may help ?
Cheers
SS River Afton - some help and direction sought
To apply for Arctic Convoy Medal:Contacts. | Navy Net - Royal Navy Community
Arctic-Star-Application.pdf
Crew List 1942 may help
166271; 166273; 166274; 166276; 166281; 166285 | The National Archives (166285)
Bolton Castle O.N. 166285) was a 5,203 grt cargo ship built 12/39 for the Lancashire Shipping Co,Ltd,Liverpool.
From ConvoyWeb:
9/5/1942 on BB172 Belfast Lough -Milford Haven.
then on PW 159 Portsmouth-Milford Haven.
She then joined PQ17 in 6/42 from Glasgow to Murmansk.
The convoy was dispersed off Rijkjavik,Iceland on 4/7.
Next day on 5/7 she was aircraft bombed by Heinkel HE111 of the Staffen Kampfgeshwehr 30,Luftwaffe,in the Barents Sea in position 76-40N,36-30E.
All 58 survivors of Bolton Castle were rescued and survived.
Of the 35 merchant vessels in PQ17,only 11 made it to Murmansk/Archangelsk.
Last edited by Doc Vernon; 5th February 2025 at 09:13 PM.
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5th February 2025, 09:28 PM
#8
Re: Hello
Hi Justine
Was F Bullen from Walmer at all?? Born about 1890 ?
Thanks
Cheers
Senior Site Moderator-Member and Friend of this Website
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6th February 2025, 04:12 PM
#9
Re: Hello
Hi, my Grandfather was
Frederick George Bullen, born in
Kent in 1909 .
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To be honest I have no idea. My Grandparents HD 14 kids so need to quiz those
Still alive and do some sleuthing
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6th February 2025, 04:20 PM
#10
Re: Hello
Hi for my Grandad I have full name: Frederick George Bullen, born 27/12/1909 in Chatham, Kent.
I know he and fellow crew were picked up by Russians, but have very little info apart from that.
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