How can I get hold of my father's medals?

[Tracey]

Hello

I'm new to the site so I hope I am doing this correctly!

My father's name is Patrick Pinkney and he served on his first ship (S.S Port Wellington) at the start of the war in 1939. He subsequently served on the S.S. Port Brisbane, S.S. Port Auckland and finally on the M.V. Port Victor which was torpedoed on 28 April 1943. (A German U-Boat put a torpedo into the portside and my father and 11 others managed to get themselves into a life boat. However, as they were trying to get away from the sinking ship, the U-Boat put another torpedo into the ship right under their life boat and only my father and the second mate managed to survive this second torpedo).

I am looking for any informtion and pictures on any of the vessels that my father served on (especially the Port Victor) and also how can I get his medals that he is entitled to and didn't claim when he should have at the end of the war?

Any information that anyone can give me would be most appreciated!

Thankyou
Tracey

[Ronnie Grant]

Hi Tracey from Auckland NZ. I have a copy of the book. The Tyler legacy, a history of the port line. Lots of pictures just give me a chance to look. Author, Ian Farquhar, ISBN 0 9597834 1 5. Don't know where you are or if it's available there. Regards and welcome Ronnie

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Tracey (2) (As there is another here)

The following site Link has Pics of the Port Ships,dont know if they will be the ones you are after,but have a look and see!
Just scroll down kistng!
Cheers

http://www.photoship.co.uk/Gallery%20Links/P.htm

The following site may help you in the Medals part!

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/d...ens-medals.asp

Could you give us your dads full name date and place of birth then we can look if he still has a Seamans Pouch!
If he has a Seamans pouch then he should have a form CRS10 which should tell you which ships he sailed on(you allraedy have the Ships) and which you will need to apply for medals.

[Hugh]

Tracy, welcome aboard.

If there is no medal entitlement at the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS) then it will be up to you to prove that entitlement and for that you need to supply them with official documents.
The minimum that is required will be his form CRS 10 and once you have this it will list all of his ships from Jan, 1941. Ships prior to 1941 may be in a CR2 card in any surviving Seaman's Pouch. After this you will need the movement cards of all of his ships - this is to prove the theatres of the war that he operated in.

I suggest you first post his full name and date and place of birth so we can check for any available online records for him.

When dealing with Cardiff RSS you WILL need the documents I have listed above - trust me on this.

For Vernon,
The information from Wikipedia you posted was for the First World War.

Hope that is a starter for ten.

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks Hugh
I have deleted that post as its not relevant!
Cheers

[Ray Buck]

Hello Tracey
Sorry I can’t add a lot
There was a Patrick Pinkney signed on the Port Auckland on the 12th September 1940 in London as a Saloon Boy aged 16 with 1 ½ years sea service, the ship arrived in New York on the having sailed from the port of London on the 15th September 1940 he was 5 ‘ – 8” in height and weight was 140 lbs
Ray

[Tracey]

You can tell that I am new to this game..... I was waiting for an email to come into my in box to let me know that I had received some replies!! Please excuse my tardiness in not replying to you wonderful people sooner!!

My father is still alive and his full name is Patrick William Pinkney. He was born on 1 December 1923 in Ightham, Kent. The only documentation that he has is his discharege book which was issued to him when he was torpedoed on the Port Victor. All his other documents went down with the ship. The number on his discharge book is R191765.

Ray..... this sounds like it could be my father who signed onto the Port Auckland - I will certainly check with him when I can next speak with him.

Hugh.... I have written to the RSS and received a reply from then telling me that they have no medal entitlement on their books for my Dad and requesting the information that you have said I would need. It is so difficult trying to do this from Australia because I believe that you have to go in person to the archives at Kew Gardens in order to conduct research! A bit difficult for me!!

Castleman...will certainly have a look at those links, thankyou.

and Ronnie... I will try to get that book for my Dad - I'm sure it must be available in Australia.

Thank you for all your help with this and I will certainly remember in future to regularly check the site!

Have a wonderful Christmas and here's hoping that 2011 brings lots of new information!

Kind regards
Tracey

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Tracey (2)
I know you have your Dads R Number,but here is a Link to his Seamans Pouch if this may be of any help!

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...D=-3292884&j=1

I have put a Search in for him but seems there is nothing listed! (see attachment)
So dont know if there are any Medals available for him??
You no doubt will get more replies from others on this !

And if i am correct this will be the Link to his CRS10 (If this Link is incorect i am sure Hugh will advise)
Also as Hugh has mentioned in the past the Link to the CRS10 Files is rather fruitless if one cannot get to Kew in Person,as all one now gets back is a complete runaround! So dont know what you can do,but ask for someones assistace in the UK,if you perhaps know someone there!
Sometimes there may be one who will be kind enough and do this for you!
Hope that someone comes along for you!
All the best

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...F=BT382%2F1427

[Ray Buck]

Tracey
I have sent a PM should you like a copy of the ships manifest of crew
Ray

[Hugh]

Hello Tracey,

I suggest you fill in this form and ask for a quotation to obtain his form CRS 10 and seaman's pouch.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/c...?id=1&action=1

Ask for the CRS 10 for R191765 PINKNEY P W 01/12/1923 IGHTHAM KENT held in BT 382/1427
and the Seaman's Pouch for the same man held in BT 372/193/66.

They should give you an estimate and then you can decide if you wish to proceed. The best and cheapest option is as has been mentioned a visit to Kew and if unable then get someone to visit on your behalf.
Keep us posted.
Regards
Hugh