4th Regiment Maritime Anti-Aircraft Royal Artillery WW2

From FMP Passenger/Crew Lists (America arrivals) Cyril Sunderland, British, age 22/23 appears several times listed as Deckhand, sometimes with additional annotations Army or British Army (usual nomenclature I believe for DEMS gunners).
Ships listed:
Fort Pine
City of Newcastle
Regent Panther
Empire Gulf - additional entry of 'Discharged to hospital - Bad ears'. Empire Gulf arrived New York 8 May 44.
Seminole

Tim
NB. Interesting that gravestone has forenames reversed and says 'Royal Navy'.

 

Tim

Some have him as Cyril, some Cyril Stephen, some Stephen Cyril - so everyone needs to take care that they have the right person

Wish Ancestry allowed access to all their records for the fee they charge

TD

 

All of the posts so far concerning Cyril Sunderland refer to the correct man. It would seem given the information supplied by Tim #41 that he had some health issues with his head as early as May of 1944. Hydrocephalus refers to a disease of the brain.
Regards

Hugh

 

Thank you all so much for your time, effort & help.
Me and my family deeply appreciate your help in finding out more about our Cyril, its a shame he passed due to disease at such a young age but we are happy to have learn't more about him.
Nor will he be forgotten.
Thank you TD, Tim & Hugh

 

Hi, I've been researching my Grandfather who served in the 4th Maritime RA Regt. and later the 6th, after a stint in the Lancashire Fusiliers and the R.A.S.C. I have received his Army service record which only mentions his transfer to the Maritime AA in June 43' after training. I know two ships he served on as A DEM's Gunner. One is MV Empire Chapman which is docked in New York in Oct 43' (Ref Ships Manifest) The other was Ocean Vesper which I know because I have a Shore leave pass in Alexandria Harbour in March 44' with his name on. He received the Italy, Atlantic, 39-45 Stars and Service, defence medals. So my question also is how do I find out his service history from June 43 to his Demob in Nov 45'. Can anybody here point me in the right direction?

Many thanks in advance

 

Hi and welcome,,
Does it say anywhere on his records "see maritime card"? When gunners were transferred to DEMS service a maritime card was kept showing which ships and bases they went to whilst in the DEMS organisation. We know that maritime cards are in the process of transfer from the MOD to the National Archives [although some appear not to have survived] but doesn't seem to be well handled. See this thread, esp page 2, Medal Award Query so you may wish to go back to the MOD on that.

Merchant Navy records could be used only if you knew a ship at the end of his service as you could backtrack through crew agreements but this does not apply in your case.
Regards
Hugh

 

Thanks Hugh for responding, I can't remember seeing anything but I will go over the various docs again. Thanks for that