hi Could you help me please, how would i go about getting information on My G/ Uncle’s merchant Naval record , Thomas Marshall AB born 1894 of Appledore ,Bideford ,devon he was killed on MV Fife Coast 1940 ww2 On 8 August 1940, Convoy CW-9 was attacked and torpedoed off Newhaven by a German schnellboot Flottille consisting of S-20, S-21, S-25 and S-27.M , my G/ Uncle was washed a shore and buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery - Commonwealth War Graves .. i know he is merchant navy, but i still cants find his merchant navy Service number or the ships he was on before, And also how can i claim his (war medals). any help would be much appreciated Peter A Richards
Hi, Your best bet will be to contact forum member Hugh MacLean - the forum maritime expert. You can see I’ve alerted him to your post. I’m sure he’ll post a response on the forum over the next few days - if not send him a personal message. Good Luck Steve
For record Casualty Able Seaman MARSHALL, THOMAS Died 08/08/1940 Aged 42 M.V. Fife Coast (Liverpool). Merchant Navy Son of Alexander and Isabelle Marshall, of Appledore, Devon. INSCRIPTION: GOD'S GREATEST GIFT, REMEMBRANCE Buried at BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY Location: Pas de Calais, France Number of casualties: 5777 Cemetery/memorial reference: Plot 12. Row C. Grave 14. See cemetery plan
View Name: Thomas Marshall Age: 46 Birth Date: abt 1894 Birth Place: Appledore, England Death Date: 8 Aug 1940 Death Place: At Sea Off Beachy Head TD
I am away from home at the moment but back tomorrow evening and I will respond then if that is ok. Regards Hugh
The above post by TD for his death card, if you click the left button twice it will bring up another card with more info, as the one in the link has been crossed through as it’s a duplicate they also show his discharge number which is like a service number
1913 to 1940 Fourth Register of Merchant Seaman's service. These records are available at the National Archives at Kew and are held on Microfiche in the following classifications BT 348: Register of Seamen, Central Index, Numerical Series (CR 2), BT 349: Register of Seamen, Central Index, Alphabetical Series (CR 1) and BT 350: Register of Seamen, Special Index, Alphabetical Series (CR 10). These three classes were combined in one classification namely BT 364 Register of Seaman, Combined Numerical Index (CR1, CR 2 & CR 10) and were made up by extracting combinations of cards from the other three classes. The original records for the above named classifications are now held at the following address: Southampton Archives, Southampton City Council, South Block, Civic Centre, Southampton, S014 7LY. This office is open Tuesdays to Fridays 9.30am to 4.30pm, with one late evening opening each month. There is no charge for a personal visit. Alternatively enquiries for information from the records may be made by post, e-mail or fax but there will be a charge for this. Cargo ship Fife Coast, 367grt, (Coast Lines) loaded with a cargo of refined sugar at London for Falmouth and Plymouth joined up with the 25 ship Convoy CW-9 code named “Operation Peewit” which departed Southend on the 7th August 1940 and was the first West bound Channel convoy since the decimation of Convoy CW-8 two weeks previous. In the early hours of the morning as the convoy moved slowly through the English Channel, unbeknown they were being tracked by German Freya Radar, which had recently been installed on the occupied French coast. Suddenly out of the black night four E-boats were amongst the convoy and no sooner had they arrived they were gone leaving behind three ships torpedoed and sinking and one other ship sunk after colliding with another vessel in an attempt to avoid a torpedo. The Fife Coast struck by one torpedo had her deck plating ripped open killing four crewmembers and one DEMS gunner instantly and within five minutes sank leaving the six survivors floating amongst the wreckage. Desperately clinging onto a small life raft, which had broken free, here they clung onto until rescued three hours later by the naval trawler HMT Talthema and landed at Newhaven. The body of one of her crewmembers was eventually washed ashore off the French coast and buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.
Hi Peter, The date of death is what makes this seaman difficult to research as any records would be confined to the Fourth Register of Seamen held in pieces BT 348 (CR 2), BT 349 (CR 1) and BT 350 (CR 10) and BT 364, Combined Numerical Index (CR1, CR 2 & CR 10). As already referenced by Billy in an earlier post #10, the original records are held at Southampton but I would suggest the only surviving record is his CR10 posted already by Graham #5 – the photo on this card would be dated 1918 or 1919. Unfortunately, there is not much information on the card, no discharge book number. James, there is no discharge book number on those cards - sadly, so far, I cannot find his discharge number as he has no medal file at Kew or any other surviving records apart from what is already on this thread. Peter, you asked about two things, previous ships and medals. There is only one way now [given that there appears to be no surviving records apart from a CR10] to obtain previous ships and you may now need a bit of luck to find them and you may have to do a lot of digging in files at Kew. Certainly you can try Southampton but like I said I doubt you will find anything there apart from the CR10 and to make a successful search you do need his discharge book number. So I suggest you obtain the last Crew Agreement [CA] for FIFE COAST official number 162394 for the year 1940 which is held at Kew in piece BT 381/1071 The ship's Official Logbook would have gone down with the ship but crew records could be constructed from the shore-side copies if they survive. The CA should list his previous ship and if it is not there it may be worth looking at the previous voyages within the 1940 file as he may have done more than one trip aboard the ship and other documents may list previous ship. When you have found the previous ship you then go and look at that CA and continue to back track. However, as you have a CR 10 card from about 1919 it would suggest he had served in the MN for about 20 years so that is a lot of searching you have to do. However, for medals you only need to find his ships for Sept 39 until August 1940. With regard to medals - well I am afraid it does not get any easier. If there is no surviving medal file for him - and I cannot see one - then it will be up to his next of kin to apply for them and also to prove from records what ships and what theater of the war they operated in so that the correct medals can be issued. So the very first thing you do need to do is contact the Registry of Shipping and Seamen in Cardiff and ask if they hold a medal entitlement for him. There is a chance that they may and if so they can furnish you with the details but if not then it is all about obtaining records of service [that will be acceptable]. They will also send you an application form. I am happy to guide you on this should you need any help. I would suggest he would be entitled to the 1939-45 Star, possibly the Atlantic Star and the War Medal. Why not give them a call details below:- Registry of Shipping & Seamen Maritime & Coastguard Agency Anchor Court Keen Road Cardiff CF24 5JW Tel: +44 (0) 2920 448 800 email: rss@mcga.gov.uk Regards Hugh
Thank you so much for your help i really appreciate it,and yes i thank i well need your help again. i well ring them Thank you so much. Peter
hi. I know i got a lot to go on with about ,but could you also tell me the same about my other G/uncle Alexander Marshall 1891, Appledore ,Devon LOOKING FOR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT, SS BESTWOOD WAS EMPLOYED AS AN ADMIRALTY COLLIER IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR, ON MAY 29th, 1917, WHEN 12miles N.W. of S. BISHOP LIGHT, SHE WAS INVDVED IN COLLISION AND SANK MY G/ UNCLE WAS ON BOARD AND KILLED CAN ANYONE TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT HOW TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AS I CANT SEEM TO GET ANY WHERE WITH IT .ANY HELP WILL BE MUCH APRECIATED AS I AM COMPLETLEY STUCK AFTER THREE YEARS OF TRYING