Chinese ancestry

[cazm17]

Now this may not sound strictly "British" re genealogy, but since I have found so many helpful people on these forums I'm hoping for some inspiration. Secondly, there is of course a British impact!

My grandfather was born in Shanghai and he came to England I think during the Second World War (family story). I knew he worked as a merchant seaman during that period. He then married my grandmother in 1945 and settled in London.

I do not know whether he worked for the Chinese, British or another Navy, or where he sailed from (I'm guessing it was London, but there's no proof). I have an identity card which gives no indication. I have just his name, marriage certificate and his father's name (obtained from marriage cert) who was a Merchant seaman also.

The only information I've found so far concerns seamen in Liverpool who were repatriated, which doesn't include my grandfather who lived in London! Does anyone have any ideas on where I might be able to find further information such as what ships they served on, or who I might be able to contact re Chinese history in general?

Many thanks, in anticipation.
:)

[Geoffers]

My grandfather was born in Shanghai and he came to England I think during the Second World War (family story). I knew he worked as a merchant seaman during that period. He then married my grandmother in 1945 and settled in London.
A place to start might be the Central Register (or 5th register) of Seamen held at The National Archvies (TNA) at Kew.

Go to TNA's website
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm
move your cursor over 'Research, Education & online exhibitions' and from teh drop down menu, select 'Research Guides'. From memory, you'll want the guide "Merchant Seamen, Sea Service Records' or something very similar. It should include records up to 1972. The section you want will probably be near the end of teh guide. I believe that you can search TNAs online catalogue to see if they have a card for an individual, the class ref being BT372.

If you can locate a card for your grandfather it should inlcude a photo of him and date/place of birth; which is at least a way of corroborating the information you have on him.

Geoffers