Please Note: The following entries have been cut and pasted from the old forum. All the details about the date and time of each posting has been lost in the transfer, so please remember that some of the links may no longer work as they are up to 10 years old. The dates and times are still available by going to the old thread.
This is a collection of links to posts that our forum members have kindly suggested.
From Daggers
The National Archives Documents Online now include downloadable medal index cards for WW1 Mercantile Marine [i.e. Merchant Navy] personnel. They are likely to have earned the MM Medal [not Military Medal!] and British War Medal.
The one I have looked at shows the ribbons were issued on July 1921 and the medals, by post, in March 1922. The address the medal was posted to is handwritten.
Details on the card: Surname, Christian names, place and year of birth, dates of issue for ribbons and medals, 'Certif. or Dis.A' , 'RS2 No.'
No ship details are given.
The cost is £3.50 [by card].
The NA Catalogue reference is BT 351/1.
with replies from Katie and Germaine.
DIS A stand for Discharge Number. A must when looking in other series of the BT series
And some tips from
Tony Hennessey
Available on Ancestry, maybe other sites also. Either use the drop down "County" box or scroll down to the list of counties at the bottom of the page and you will be able to choose "Royal Navy" for the years 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 or "Misc Ships at Sea or Abroad" for 1861.
Daggers
Also, for those with the LDS discs of the 1881 census there is a section in the Scotland Region (Lowlands) for 'Royal Navy (Scotland)', though I have never had cause to look at it.
and sjn
Additionally, click on the county as normal, e.g. Lancashire, then choose "Vessels" as the district
Naval-History.Net has researched and published original data for 14 years, including Admiralty War Diaries and Action Reports of World War 2.
War Diaries from August 1939 to March 1942 are combined into a day-by-day account. April 1942 into 1946 is covered by a growing number of War Diaries ranging from the Home and Mediterranean Fleets to the British Pacific Fleet. All can be found at http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-3900Intro.htm
These include all Dominion, United States and Allied Navy ships operating with the Royal Navy.
The Diaries make fascinating reading in their own right. They also provide detailed movements of hundreds of ships and the men who sailed in them.
To research ships and men, you can also use the search box in the top lefthand side of http://www.naval-history.net
and also from the National Archives
If you need help getting started, our navy personnel research signposts ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... L-0/c.aspx ) should help point you in the right direction. They explain which records are available, and how to search.
We also hold files that record the movements of British and Allied merchant ships ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... P-0/c.aspx ) during the Second World War. If you know which ship your ancestor sailed on, you'll be able to learn where it was on a given date, along with its cargo and expected destination.
Our partners Findmypast.co.uk have digitised over 1 million of our Merchant Navy seamen records ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... Q-0/c.aspx ) (1835-1857 and 1918-1941). These records give biographical information about individuals, and in some cases include photographs.
Early Merchant Navy record 'cards' had columns for entering multiple voyages in a single year. The destination of a vessel could be given in a code form and the place of departure may be also indicated in a code. An example of the codes and other abbreviations
These numbers are not vessel ID numbers. That system that didn't start until about 1855. The port code system meant there wouldn't be a problem deciphering a clerk's cramped writing of the port and country into that small space, just a number.
Many thanks to Shelagh, one of our Society members, who has previously given a talk to the Southport Group about how she was able to trace one of her ancestors through the intricacies of the resources of Royal Museum Greenwich and other places, she has given us some links to information leaflets etc. that might be of help.
Also useful is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/ On this site there is also an Information Leaflet/Historical Records, which is a guide to the library of seamen and ships records held at the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS) in Cardiff and also identifies records transferred to other places and how to apply for them. This appears to be a downloadable document only and I can't give a link to it, but in the search box enter 5323 and it will give you a link to it.
Shelagh will soon send some more details about research of the Merchant Navy, but obviously if your ancestors were in the 1800's this information won't be applicable to them.
Update from the National Archives
Search and download these naval service records for the first time. These records (ADM 362 and 363) will allow you to complete research into the career of any any Royal Navy Rating who enlisted before 1923 and served after 1924.
We are always wanting to search maritime history. This has many archives for P & O, including searches for ships and some downloadable Family History research guides. http://www.poheritage.com/
The National Archives have announced they Royal Marine Service Records are now available for you to view online. These records are the service registers of around 110,000 men who joined the Royal Marines between 1842 and 1925.
Held in series ADM 159, they were originally created in 1884 but include records created retrospectively for anyone who had joined earlier and was still serving in 1884.
A copy of the service record can be downloaded for £3.45. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help ... l+Archives
https://www.worldnavalships.com/sailship.htm This site is a good one for following what ships left the London builders yards. sort of fills in some blanks as to why they moved areas so much,although its not such a big area.
Suggestion from William Bramhill
Anyone looking for a particular ship that an ancestor sailed on should be able to find details here.
The search seems rather clunky and takes about 90s even on my fast connection, but don't give up hope.
The best way to look is to find the register for the year closest to the one you want, then search the registers for that year and those immediately preceding it.
Note that the coloured column headers give the range of years far better than the list below them. That list dynamically changes when a coloured range of years is chosen. https://hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/archive ... IOwE48WHLw
The ships number is particularly useful if you want to get hold of the ships movements cards for WW2 as many people want to know where their WW2 Merchant Navy ancestors went. (available for download on the national archives site)
Here is the link to the
Here is the link to the collection on the old website, many more websites there too
https://www.lswlfhs.org.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=12890
Please Note: The following
Please Note: The following entries have been cut and pasted from the old forum. All the details about the date and time of each posting has been lost in the transfer, so please remember that some of the links may no longer work as they are up to 10 years old. The dates and times are still available by going to the old thread.
Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
More service records are now available from the Royal Navy, detailing the service history of seamen who joined the Navy from 1853 to 1923.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... ervice.asp
Seamen, Ships and other related items
Post by MaryA »
This is a collection of links to posts that our forum members have kindly suggested.
From Daggers
The National Archives Documents Online now include downloadable medal index cards for WW1 Mercantile Marine [i.e. Merchant Navy] personnel. They are likely to have earned the MM Medal [not Military Medal!] and British War Medal.
The one I have looked at shows the ribbons were issued on July 1921 and the medals, by post, in March 1922. The address the medal was posted to is handwritten.
Details on the card: Surname, Christian names, place and year of birth, dates of issue for ribbons and medals, 'Certif. or Dis.A' , 'RS2 No.'
No ship details are given.
The cost is £3.50 [by card].
The NA Catalogue reference is BT 351/1.
with replies from Katie and Germaine.
DIS A stand for Discharge Number. A must when looking in other series of the BT series
BT 349
BT 350
BT 351
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... 3_1972.pdf
One from Dickiesam
http://brew.clients.ch/Seafarers.htm
More service records are now available from the Royal Navy, detailing the service history of seamen who joined the Navy from 1853 to 1923.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... ervice.asp
The Battle of Trafalgar and other battles
http://www.britishbattles.com/waterloo/ ... falgar.htm
From Tina a link about the CLIP Project (Pay per View on FMP)
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/home.jsp
And some tips from
Tony Hennessey
Available on Ancestry, maybe other sites also. Either use the drop down "County" box or scroll down to the list of counties at the bottom of the page and you will be able to choose "Royal Navy" for the years 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 or "Misc Ships at Sea or Abroad" for 1861.
Daggers
Also, for those with the LDS discs of the 1881 census there is a section in the Scotland Region (Lowlands) for 'Royal Navy (Scotland)', though I have never had cause to look at it.
and sjn
Additionally, click on the county as normal, e.g. Lancashire, then choose "Vessels" as the district
Post by Blue70 »
Merchant Navy Seamen Cards 1918-1941
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/merchant-navy-seamen
Merchant Navy Seamen Medal Cards WW1
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... ueryType=1
Merchant Navy Seamen Medal Cards WW2
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... ueryType=1
Naval and Family History Research
Post by MaryA »
Naval-History.Net has researched and published original data for 14 years, including Admiralty War Diaries and Action Reports of World War 2.
War Diaries from August 1939 to March 1942 are combined into a day-by-day account. April 1942 into 1946 is covered by a growing number of War Diaries ranging from the Home and Mediterranean Fleets to the British Pacific Fleet. All can be found at http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-3900Intro.htm
These include all Dominion, United States and Allied Navy ships operating with the Royal Navy.
The Diaries make fascinating reading in their own right. They also provide detailed movements of hundreds of ships and the men who sailed in them.
To research ships and men, you can also use the search box in the top lefthand side of http://www.naval-history.net
and also from the National Archives
If you need help getting started, our navy personnel research signposts ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... L-0/c.aspx ) should help point you in the right direction. They explain which records are available, and how to search.
When you're ready to search, you can explore the records that we've digitised and put online. Our Royal Navy records ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... K-0/c.aspx ) include ratings' service records ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... M-0/c.aspx ) (1853-1923), officers' service records ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... N-0/c.aspx ) (1840-1920), and Women's Royal Naval service records ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... O-0/c.aspx ) (1917-1919). These all help to fill gaps in a naval ancestor's story that may have been lost over time, such as hair and eye colour.
We also hold files that record the movements of British and Allied merchant ships ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... P-0/c.aspx ) during the Second World War. If you know which ship your ancestor sailed on, you'll be able to learn where it was on a given date, along with its cargo and expected destination.
Our partners Findmypast.co.uk have digitised over 1 million of our Merchant Navy seamen records ( http://enews.nationalarchives.gov.uk/MA ... Q-0/c.aspx ) (1835-1857 and 1918-1941). These records give biographical information about individuals, and in some cases include photographs.
Code numbers for ports/voyages on early MN men's records
Post by dickiesam »
Early Merchant Navy record 'cards' had columns for entering multiple voyages in a single year. The destination of a vessel could be given in a code form and the place of departure may be also indicated in a code. An example of the codes and other abbreviations
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help ... s-records/
These numbers are not vessel ID numbers. That system that didn't start until about 1855. The port code system meant there wouldn't be a problem deciphering a clerk's cramped writing of the port and country into that small space, just a number.
There is a 'code book' in PDF available from the National Archives:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... CF8be0YdBQ
Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Many thanks to Shelagh, one of our Society members, who has previously given a talk to the Southport Group about how she was able to trace one of her ancestors through the intricacies of the resources of Royal Museum Greenwich and other places, she has given us some links to information leaflets etc. that might be of help.
http://www.rmg.co.uk/researchers/librar ... hant-navy/
On this page is also a link to the Maritime History Archive and the National Archives
Also useful is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/ On this site there is also an Information Leaflet/Historical Records, which is a guide to the library of seamen and ships records held at the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS) in Cardiff and also identifies records transferred to other places and how to apply for them. This appears to be a downloadable document only and I can't give a link to it, but in the search box enter 5323 and it will give you a link to it.
Shelagh will soon send some more details about research of the Merchant Navy, but obviously if your ancestors were in the 1800's this information won't be applicable to them.
Irish Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
http://www.irishmariners.ie/
Re: Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Just came across this site with extremely useful information about ships and what line they belong to.
http://www.norwayheritage.com/
Re: Royal Naval Service Records on the National Archives sit
Post by MaryA »
Update from the National Archives
Search and download these naval service records for the first time. These records (ADM 362 and 363) will allow you to complete research into the career of any any Royal Navy Rating who enlisted before 1923 and served after 1924.
Newly digitised records complete story of naval careers
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/abou ... D326%26363
Military and Maritime Research Guides
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help ... d-maritime
Re: Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Another useful site.
http://www.maritimequest.com/liners/tit ... page_1.htm
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
http://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/#home
P & O History
Post by MaryA »
We are always wanting to search maritime history. This has many archives for P & O, including searches for ships and some downloadable Family History research guides. http://www.poheritage.com/
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Irish Merchant Seamen 1918 - 1921
http://www.irishmariners.ie/searchdatab ... mit=Search
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Naval Social History - Circa 1793 - 1920+
http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
The National Archives have announced they Royal Marine Service Records are now available for you to view online. These records are the service registers of around 110,000 men who joined the Royal Marines between 1842 and 1925.
Held in series ADM 159, they were originally created in 1884 but include records created retrospectively for anyone who had joined earlier and was still serving in 1884.
A copy of the service record can be downloaded for £3.45.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help ... l+Archives
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Lloyds Register of Ships online.
http://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/public_e ... ps-online/
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Lloyds Register of Ships online.
http://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/public_e ... ps-online/
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collection ... 31513.html
http://www.maritimemuseums.net/uk.html
and don't forget the old faithful familysearch
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Br ... ant_Marine
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Thanks to Alex69 for recommending this site https://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=home
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Another from a Facebook Group member
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/arts-her ... ZhsWRsn8u0
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Thanks VicMar1 for these links.
https://threedecks.org/index.php the world of sailing navies. Warships in the age of sail.
https://www.worldnavalships.com/sailship.htm This site is a good one for following what ships left the London builders yards. sort of fills in some blanks as to why they moved areas so much,although its not such a big area.
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Another useful website
http://www.navylistresearch.co.uk/
Re: Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen
Post by MaryA »
Suggestion from William Bramhill
Anyone looking for a particular ship that an ancestor sailed on should be able to find details here.
The search seems rather clunky and takes about 90s even on my fast connection, but don't give up hope.
The best way to look is to find the register for the year closest to the one you want, then search the registers for that year and those immediately preceding it.
Note that the coloured column headers give the range of years far better than the list below them. That list dynamically changes when a coloured range of years is chosen.
https://hec.lrfoundation.org.uk/archive ... IOwE48WHLw
A really good site, that I
A really good site, that I have found invaluable whilst scrabbling round searching for ships names and numbers is
https://www.crewlist.org.uk/ which is free to search at the moment.
The ships number is particularly useful if you want to get hold of the ships movements cards for WW2 as many people want to know where their WW2 Merchant Navy ancestors went. (available for download on the national archives site)
The National Archives https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-gu… gives other useful online sites too, though some are subscription sites