Henry John Johnson, HMS Engadine

CWGC gives me this information - Henry John Johnson, Fireman, Naval Auxiliary Personnel (Merchant Navy). H.M.S. "Engadine." Died 21st February 1943, aged 27. Son of William James and Mary Jane Johnson; husband of Annie Amelia Johnson, of Forest Gate, London.

But the headstone inscription in San Diego, California, says that he was a "Greaser." Was that the US Navy equivalent of Fireman? He's also "British Navy" on the headstone - does Naval Auxiliary Personnel mean that he was Royal Navy? Or was it just someone in the US getting it wrong?

 

Hello Berenice,

NAP (Naval Auxiliary Personnel) were Merchant Seamen who signed T124 Articles of Agreement effectively subjecting them to Naval discipline while retaining their Merchant Navy pay and conditions - they were classed as Royal Navy.
A Greaser is an engine-room rating who attended to the lubrication of the main engines and generators. On US ships the same rating would be called an Oiler.

HMS ENGADINE was originally to be the Clan Line ship CLAN BUCHANAN requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1941

http://www.bandcstaffregister.co.uk/page2066.html

Regards
Hugh

 

Thank you very much for clearing that up, Hugh.

 

The web link to HMS Engadine has now changed and is:
HMS Engadine

 

UK, Shipping and Seamen WWI and WWII Rolls of Honour, 1914-1945
Name: Henry John Johnson
Death Age: 27
Birth Year: 1916
Death Date: 21 Feb 1943
Death Country: United Kingdom

Says Fireman

TD

UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
Name: Henry John Johnson
Age: 27
Birth Date: abt 1916
Death Date: 21 Feb 1943
Cemetery: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Burial Country: United States of America
Father: William James Johnson
Mother: Mary Jane Johnson
Region or Memorial: United States of America



UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960
Name: Henry John Johnson
Event: Death
Birth Date: 19 Jul 1915
Birth Place: London
Death Date: 21 Feb 1943
Death Age: 27

States : Intracranial injury sustained in fall from bow of ship to quay

 

Fireman/Greaser/Trimmer were engine-room ratings and the titles were often used interchangeably.

Regards
Hugh