Genealogy Chat

After years of a family story that my grandfather was in the Merchant Navy I have just found these records which proves he was! Is there anyone who understands what these CR1 and CR2 record cards from the Merchant Navy mean?

My grandfather was Lionel George Heard, b. 1907 London. One of the records I have found is for a Lionel G.B. Heard - he didn't have another middlename but the Dis.A Number is the same on both cards so I am sure they are both his.

My grandfather has a CR2 dated 1931 and a CR1 dated 1932, the CR2 has the number of a ship in the appropriate box and written on the back is a number which is the same as a handwritten number on the CR1, on the CR1 it follows a name which looks like Rangitata, maybe a ships name?

As far as I can make out they are not actually discharge records, some information I have found in forums on the web suggest that a CR2 is used when transferring to a foreign ship but I've found no corroborating info.

There doesn't seem to be much information on where to find out about Merchant Navy seaman and their records and I'd be very grateful if anyone has any knowledge, expertise, insight. I'd like to find out how long he served and whether he was in the Merchant Navy in the war, my grandmother says he was in the secret service!

Many thanks for reading

Karen

Hello Karen
this might be useful

http://www.fgrubbs.com/3104/rangitata/rangitata.htm

you could contact the owner of the site

Thank you for the link, it looks very interesting.

I'm still trying to find out whether there are any service records for the Merchant Navy, my knowledge on the MN is very limited!

Karen

have you looked on The National Archives site?

Link

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/merchant-seamen-sea-service-1913-1972.htm

There is this record on FMPs Merchant Navy records.

Last name: HEARD

First names: Lionel George

Age:

Day of birth: 5

Month of birth: June

Year of birth: 1907

Place of birth: Mitchen

County/country of birth:

Card type: CR1

Discharge number: R 105705

Identity certificate no.:

Series: BT349

Date range: 1921-1941

Piece number:


There are two pages, but not much info though, although it does state index finger left hand missing.

If you think its him i can send you the page
George

George

Thank you very much for taking the time to look this up.

I do have this image, it is this that has caused my interest - for example what exactly was/is a CR1? is the date range his years of service or the date of the records held? How do I find out how long he was in the Merchant Navy? There is another record a Lionel GB Heard - this is him too - that card is a CR2, not sure what the difference is.

My mother always said he had a finger missing, it was quite a surprise to find some thing written down about it. I'm also wondering if this meant he wasn't able to serve in the war and maybe stayed in the Merchant Navy,

Karen

CR 1 cards normally record:
• Full name of individual
• Year and place of birth
• Physical description
• Dis.A. No
• Rating
• Number and grade of any Board
of Trade Certificate
• Voyage details for one ship only
– ship’s official number and
date of signing on
• Possibly a signature

CR 2 cards normally record:
• Dis.A. No
• Full name of individual
• Year and place of birth
• Rank or rating
• Number and grade of any Board
of Trade Certificate
• Voyage details – ship’s official
number and date of signing on
Not all the information is always recorded

Thank you for this information. ~Although this helps me see that they logged different details do you know why there are two types?

Karen

The answer is in the link George gave to you - CR1 is an Alphabetical register and CR2 is Numerical

Thank you, and very sorry for being so dense. I went to look at the National Archives as George suggested but didn't realise the link went there, I read it as a link to the image he found, realise I should have looked more carefully. Not deliberate I promise, I appreciate people taking the time to help.