Merchant Navy Records WW2

[coachcaptain]

Looking for the Merchant Navy service records for WW2. Does anybody know where to find them on line, please? Thanks.

[Pam Downes]

Hi again Jeff.

I've moved your post to its own, more relevant, thread, because the one you'd posted in was about merchants as in 'traders', not naval men.

To my shame, I can never remember if the Merchant Navy is classed as part of the Royal Navy.
If it is, then the records are still held by the Ministry of Defence, and details of how to apply can be found at
https://www.british-genealogy.com/th...757#post585757

If it isn't, then hopefully someone will know where the records are held. (I very much doubt that they will be online.)
It could be the case that, as with RN sailors, Merchant Naval personnel were given their records when they left the service, and only basic information (e.g. name, date of birth, address, and ships served on) has been retained.

Pam

[coachcaptain]

Thanks for that Pam will keep on keeping on.

[shippo]

Hi,

Which country were you needing the records from? Uk or Australia?

[timbo58]

Pam, Merchant Navy records are NOT part of the Royal Navy, they were a civilian service.

Most Merchant Navy stuff I've seen is at the national archives under the BT (Board of Trade) prefix.

[coachcaptain]

Hi,

Which country were you needing the records from? Uk or Australia?

The English merchant navy.

[coachcaptain]

Pam, Merchant Navy records are NOT part of the Royal Navy, they were a civilian service.

Most Merchant Navy stuff I've seen is at the national archives under the BT (Board of Trade) prefix.

Thanks Pam, will have a look on the National Archives site.

[Pam Downes]

Pam, Merchant Navy records are NOT part of the Royal Navy, they were a civilian service.

Most Merchant Navy stuff I've seen is at the national archives under the BT (Board of Trade) prefix.

Thanks Tim.
I had a feeling that was the case, and hopefully I will remember in future.

Pam

[coachcaptain]

Thanks for the info guys, great response.

[Pam Downes]

Hi Jeff,

I don't think it will help you much unless you either come to the UK for a holiday or else hire a researcher (the latter though probably expensive, might still be the cheaper option ) but I found this while answering another query about Merchant Navy records.
https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/resea...ple-crew-lists

If you put a name into TNA site you might get a record with a number on it. Whether that will help in tracing further records I don't know but it might be worth investing a few dollars.

Pam