Russian Convoys ?

[Chasing Caseys]

My great uncle is said to have been in the Russian Convoys. Ive put this in Google and many come up. What would this have made him Merchant Navy ?

[Geoffers]

My great uncle is said to have been in the Russian Convoys. Ive put this in Google and many come up. What would this have made him Merchant Navy ?
Not necessarily. The Merchant Navy carried the goods to and fro, but it was protected in convoys by the Royal Navy. My father, his brother and my grandfather (Engineer Commander HMS Edinburgh) all served in the Royal Navy on the Russian Convoys.

I seem to remember you mentioning that you're not too far from London - in that case spend a couple of hours wandering around HMS Belfast which was at the Battle of the North Cape. It gives a good idea of the clasutrophibic conditions on even a larger warship.

Geoffers

[Chasing Caseys]

Hi Geoffers

All i seem to remember from conversations about him is that he didnt come back the same person after being on or part of Russian Convoys.I have a feeling it was Merchant Navy as in a photo i have his uniform doesnt look posh like Royal (although he is sitting so cant see much) and his cap has a badge with an Anchor on also a shiny brim. I did, a few months ago go on to The Cutty Sark to see what conditions were like on there as a ship my gt grandfather was on The Windsor Park from what i have read were very similar ships. I am only 5ft 2 and even i had problems ! and i cant imagine what it must have been like back then with full crew on board. H.M.S Belfast is is only a few mins walk from Fenchurch st so i will go take a look.

Once again, thank you

Tracey

[Geoffers]

If he was Merchant Navy and was at sea before WW2, you might be able to locate him on TNA's catalogue. Enter his name in the first field and in the department or series code, enter BT372 (this is the same index as found a possible match for your W H Donaldson)

Geoffers

[Chasing Caseys]

I am not sure if he was before WW2 but i know he was in New York, March 1844 from a postcard which cheekily says " will write again when i am sure of my new address " which i assume because of the nature of the job. The only problem i am going to have is that he went under two different names and i dont know yet if he changed it officially. But will search NA...............

Just trying to gather more stuff as i am going to be looking in the same area when i do go !

[Geoffers]

One other thought which should have occurred to me earlier, is that WW2 Seamen's medals in BT395 can be searched and downloaded at Documents Online:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=12&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1

Note that a specific medal was not awarded for the Russian Convoys
The list only includes those who received medals, it doesn't include those were entitled to medals but did not receive them. However, if he was in the Merchant Navy, there's good chance he should appear.

Geoffers

[AnnB]

Hello Tracey

HMS Belfast have a very good web site at http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/server/outputRegister/html

It really is well worth a visit. I am even shorter than you, and it made me feel claustrophobic, so I really do admire the men who served in such conditions.

Best wishes
Ann

[Chasing Caseys]

Hi Ann

Thanks for the link. Looking at entry prices i may try my luck and tell them im under 16 ;)

Tracey

[Geoffers]

You have me curious Tracey, just in case I find a link mentioning him, what's the name of your gt-uncle?

Geoffers

[Chasing Caseys]

Hi Geoffers

His birth name was Henry Joel Richards he also went by the name of Harry or Henry J Renfield. I do remember looking for him and i think i did find a Richards H J but cant find my notes at the moment as to why i didnt think it was him -may have been to do with age or the years of service. He was Scottish by birth (1907) but didnt spend much time there after late 1920,s

Thank you

[Geoffers]

His birth name was Henry Joel Richards he also went by the name of Harry or Henry J Renfield.
Do you mean Harry J RENFIELD - R263625, bn 15th Mar 1907, whose medal award for service in the Merchant Navy in WW2 can be found and downloaded for the sum of £3.50 at:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=12&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1
:)
Geoffers

[Chasing Caseys]

YES .............Your spooking me now !!!
So this is his medal card , will i also find his service records or is this also mentioned on here ? i am downloading it right now :D

[Chasing Caseys]

This is him :D now im trying to find the page that explains the abbreviations ! Ive seen it before somewhere :confused:

[Chasing Caseys]

Ok sorry to be a pain in asking but .............The R263625 is this his id ? only one other name on the page has this. The circled abb are 1939 is this the year he would have got his medals ? the others are AT the closest i have seen to that is A- Apprentice PA - purser WMan - winchman. and im not quite sure what the 131032 no is at the end of the card or come to that what all this is telling me :confused:

[Geoffers]

Your spooking me now !!!
Sorry:o - should I avoid trying to answer your posts? - I'd hate to be the cause of haunting.

So this is his medal card , will i also find his service records or is this also mentioned on here ? i am downloading it right now :DSorry, it's just the medal card - owt interesting on it?

Geoffers

[Geoffers]

Ok sorry to be a pain in asking but .............The R263625 is this his id ? only one other name on the page has this. The circled abb are 1939 is this the year he would have got his medals ? the others are AT
Have a browse through the following guide which should explain most things:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/seamens-medals.asp

The circled bits are the medals awarded. 1939 is for the 1939-1945 star AT is for Atlantic Star. The R263625 number is his discharge number; the number on the right of the slip is a reference to his entitlement for the medals.

Geoffers

[Chasing Caseys]

So the Atlantic Star confirms he was part of the Russian Convoys. Just have to find what the others mean now !

This site is very lucky to have you Geoffers and i really appreciate your time helping me. Thank you very much.

[Chasing Caseys]

Just to prove i can do something for myself (but not without your help first)
PA Pacific Star
WM War medal :D

[Geoffers]

Just to prove i can do something for myself
PA Pacific Star
WM War medal :D
There you go, what appeared daunting at first is in fact quite simple. It's looking at new and different records that often causes confusion, you just need the confidence to have a go and the knowledge of where to look.

Now that you're an expert in these matters, you can help others so that they too can understand what records exist and how to interpret them.

Best wishes
Geoffers

[Chasing Caseys]

Good morning

Yes your right and like any new site takes a while to get used to.
I did finally find the ? card for a few William H Donaldson that i downloaded in April this year ( but couldnt find my way back to that bit of the site !) but they tell me zilch.

And........... i have already forwarded on your advice to a lady on another site :eek: which i did admit wasnt my own but was givien to me by a very helpful man ! and she also was very greatful ............. :D

[chloed]

medals were awarded by the russian government to royal navy seamen
on the convoys.
despicabley though" blairs " government did'nt thnk it necessary to get involved in the presentation of these,but you can get them even posthumously from the russian government.

[Geoffers]

medals were awarded by the russian government to royal navy seamen on the convoys
Good point, I have my grandfather's - it's in the form of a red star.

Geoffers

[annev]

Does anyone know about the sinking of the SS Empire Gilbert on 2 November 1942? My uncle was serving on her and went down with the ship. He was 19.

[throckenholt]

sorry for crashing this thread - but I would like to Contact Tracey Donaldson about her Clover family information. I have triad sending a personal message but your inbox is full ! :)

Please get in touch if you see this.

thanks,

Julie