Mercantile Marine

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:21 pm

Hi all,

I recently found someone on the 1911 census, who, was an able seaman with the Mercantile Marine, I have had a google and read quite a bit, but there is so much on the subject that I am a bit confused now

Can somebody confirm for me, a seaman in the Mercantile Marine was working in the Merchant Navy

and this was nothing to do with the Royal Navy

I want to make sure I have this right before I start looking for more.

Thanks
Ann

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 3:19 pm

It's my understanding that the Merchant Service or Merchant Marine consists of commerical sea going vessels that transport civilian cargo and passengers. During wartime, however, the same ships can be utilized as auxiliaries to the Navy. As such they can be called upon to deliver military personnel and materiels. If you're looking at 1911 then he should have been only involved with civilian shipping activities. World War 1 was fought 1914-1918. The title Merchant Navy was formally bestowed after WW1 by King George but I suspect it may have been loosely used all through history.

Best wishes
Jean

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 4:03 pm

Hi Jean,

Thank you for that information, this helps greatly, I did wonder if this was the case, and it certainly makes sense to other things I have found out about him.
I'm glad I checked first

Ann

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:32 am

Hello Ann,

For Merchant Seamen: Sea Service Records 1913-1972 see research guide http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cata ... fletID=128

Being a merchant seaman was a very dangerous game during WW1. If you don’t know anything about him post 1911 it may be worth checking the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site http://www.cwgc.org/

Alan

keewik · Post by **keewik** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:21 pm

Currie wrote:Hello Ann,

For Merchant Seamen: Sea Service Records 1913-1972 see research guide http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cata ... fletID=128

Being a merchant seaman was a very dangerous game during WW1. If you don’t know anything about him post 1911 it may be worth checking the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site http://www.cwgc.org/

Alan

Thanks for that link. My grandfather was in the Merchant Navy through both wars and I've wondered how I can find out more. It was dangerous - in WWW1, his ship was sunk in the Irish sea and they were shot at while in the water. In WW2 the ship was holed in the Mediterranean and some crew were killed; they made it into a port (?Said) and he subsequently got the BEM, but I have no details as the medal etc. went to another part of the family.

annie1 · Post by **annie1** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:48 am

Hi Alan,

Thank you for these links, I might be able to get forward some more now.
I had a look at the cwgc, but had no luck, family stories had it, that he was working on a ship that was sunk, about 1915, but have had no joy in finding his death as yet, then again, family stories can have a certain way of extending the truth

Ann

Hugh MacLean · Post by **Hugh MacLean** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:21 pm

Thanks for that link. My grandfather was in the Merchant Navy through both wars and I've wondered how I can find out more. It was dangerous - in WWW1, his ship was sunk in the Irish sea and they were shot at while in the water. In WW2 the ship was holed in the Mediterranean and some crew were killed; they made it into a port (?Said) and he subsequently got the BEM, but I have no details as the medal etc. went to another part of the family.

For the Great War there are no surviving seamen's records; the only realistic way to trace service is back tracking through the crew agreements of known ships.

For WWII and beyond it should be easier to track him through the Fifth Register of Seamen's service. If you can give a name and date and place of birth then, if his records have survived, we could point you to his files.