A very long shot

flipside · Post by **flipside** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:29 pm

Hi Everyone

i am trying to find out what ship my grandfather served in during ww2, i have no information other than he was Merchant Seaman possiable Naval Reserve, he was a stoker

anybody got any pointers

Many Thanks

Flip

Post by **Tracey** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 8:04 pm

Hi Flip

Have you tried searching for his name on here - WW2 Seamen's Medals ?
http://tinyurl.com/suheb - wont tell you the ships but its a start.

These links will give you some pointers -all The National Archives but the url's far too long
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cata ... ndex.asp#m
http://tinyurl.com/y4llsp

Try these for now or till someone can simplify it !

flipside · Post by **flipside** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 10:03 pm

Thanks Tracey

no joy i am afraid, but a start is always good

take care

Flip

Hugh MacLean · Post by **Hugh MacLean** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:36 am

Hello Flip,

The minimum I think we would need to point you in the right direction would be his name and date of birth. Depending what year he joined the MN would determine where we pointed you for his files, if indeed they survived.

flipside · Post by **flipside** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:54 pm

Hi Everyone

I hope you are well, My grandafther is Joseph Hunter Liddell, Even though he is dead now his birthday falls within the 100 year rule. Safe to say i guess that he was born between 1920 and before 1926 at Armadale

I can pm exact dates

Hope this helps

Billy

Hugh MacLean · Post by **Hugh MacLean** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:50 pm

Billy,

Is this your grandfather: R303643 LIDDELL J H 23/12/1922 ARNDALE

If so his seaman's pouch will be in the National Archives at Kew held in file BT 372/696/102.
This is a good place to start. His seaman's pouch can be a bit hit and miss but may also hold a lot of info including sometimes a mug shot.

To access this file online you can hit this link: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cata ... tails=True

You need to click "Request this" and follow the guides. You need to be specific and put as much information as possible, but basically you are asking for the seamans pouch belonging to R303643 LIDDELL J H 23/12/1922 ARNDALE. The cost is £8.50 for up to 10 pages that are emailed to your computer within 24 hours. If there is no information held in the file then the TNA wont charge you the £8.50 fee.

If you have any problems post back and will try and help you further.

flipside · Post by **flipside** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:57 pm

Hugh

i am absolutely stunned you have hit it bang on the nail, i have requested copies of this pouch

many many thanks

Billy

Hugh MacLean · Post by **Hugh MacLean** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:10 pm

Hello Billy,

I hope you get a result with your request from the TNA.

Should you wish to your next call maybe to find his CRS10 forms that will list all the ships he served in. Again this depends on when he joined the MN.

If you need that info post back whenever and I will try pointing you there.

flipside · Post by **flipside** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:17 pm

Hi Hugh

That a dram i owe you, or more. How do i go about CRS10 Forms?

Billy

Hugh MacLean · Post by **Hugh MacLean** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:29 pm

Hi Billy,

If his service was between 1941 to 1972 his CRS10 file should still be in the Fifth Register of Merchant Seaman's Service. These records are held at The National Archives at Kew in classification BT 382.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cata ... 382%2F1013

If his service continued after the war then his file could be here:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cata ... 382%2F1013

Again you have to hit the "Request this" button and follow the guides. However, again, make sure you ask for specific information regarding your relative as these files contain many entries. Name Dob DIS A Number R303643 LIDDELL J H 23/12/1922 ARNDALE the more you give the less chance of a mistake being made. That said they wont charge you if there is no information.

Same as before the charge is £8.50 for up to ten pages.

For his service prior to 1941

His records may be in the fourth register of British seamen. Unfortunatly these records are on microfiche in the British National Archive and are not available online.

The archive do have a research dept.

https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ ... _research2

Let us know how you get on.