Looking for HMHS (HM Hospital Ship No 9) recorded on a service record is it Tittalenka?

Dear all

I know what HMHS stands for from Google searches, but cannot find this ship's name when I look for HMHS No 9(he was on it from September 1942 to November 1943 (after which he was on the shore base at Lanka, Sri Lanka). My wife's grandfather served as a Petty Officer Sick Berth attendant in the Far East 1942 - 45. In the medal entitlement card included in with the service record it says Tittalenka (42-43) which I presume is HMHS No 9. I have Googled Tittalenka and it brings up no results.

I would be very grateful for your help.

Best

Justin

 

I've also found nothing via the usual interwebs.

I also checked Ancestry shipping records for
any mention of the name (in case she was built
pre-War and served as a passenger ship elsewhere)

I know this doesn't help you much at all.

My only suggestions will be the same as yours:
- Is it a typo? Changing letters didn't help on internet search
- Was it originally a foreign ship? I dont know where the requisition
records would be held. Also, foreign from where? The name sounds
vaguely Russian/Baltic but it's possible location is around Sri Lanka

Last suggestion: Hold tight, you never know with this forum, there
might well be an expert in HMHS's along shortly who can better help

 

Hi Justin,

I'm also struggling to find anything under that ship's name.

Two possible avenues of exploration. 1. Try this website, they have a contact form right at the foot of the linked page:

Hospital Ships

2. Here is the general area of references for Hospital Ships, River Steamers and the like, for files at the National Archives.

Browse our catalogue | The National Archives

I'm sure there are more HMHS vessels than just the Karapara listed somewhere at the Archives.

Steve

 

There were more, here:

Browse our catalogue | The National Archives

There are more on the next page of the file references. Click on where it says 'NEXT 30'.

 

Many thanks to both of you for your help, which has greatly narrowed down the search. I have looked through the links on Discovery and it isnt a hospital ship, so it must have been a smaller vessel or shore base. If it isnt recognised by members of the forum the answer must lie in the files of the National Archives, probably the steamer files you suggest,.

 

Hi Justin,

I guess you might be after HMHS TJITJALENGKA

Mike

 

Hi Justin,

I guess you might be after HMHS TJITJALENGKA

Mike

Thanks so much Mike, mystery solved and there is a memoir of the ship which is very likely to mention my wife's grandfather too

Hospital Ship - Memories of HMHS Tjitjalengka during World War II - Jack Woolman

 

Glad to help, I have come across the name many times as it was heavily involved in the repatriation of Far east prisoners of War, alongside the HMNZHS Maunganui.

Mike

 

Nice one Mike.

And here she is showing No.9.

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Ships/Old%20Ships%20T/slides/Tjitjalengka-07.jpg

Regards
Hugh

 

Well done Mike and Hugh,

I typed TJITJALENGKA into the National Archives search engine and it threw up these references, perhaps they may help in some way going forward.

The National Archives | Search results:tJITJALENGKA

 

Justin,

What is the name of your wife's grandfather who served as a Petty Officer on board ?

Mike

 

Hi Justin,

I guess you might be after HMHS TJITJALENGKA

Mike


good shout

 

Hugh, thank you so much for the picture, once I had the name I couldn't find a picture with the no 9 on it and this all ties it together.

I would also again like to thank Mike and Bamboo 43, the help given and the knowledge shared is humbling.

 

Justin,

What is the name of your wife's grandfather who served as a Petty Officer on board ?

Mike
His name was Archibald Allan, he was a Petty Officer (later Senior Petty Officer) Bedside Attendant from Kinsale in County Cork who served in the Navy from 1931 to 1958. He was posted to Hong Kong and the Far East repeatedly in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. As part of our research into his father we discovered that he had been an RAMC man between 1910-1915 and so military nursing ran in the family.