Genealogy Chat

I just went to one of the sites (http://www*nationalarchives*gov*uk/documentsonline/royal-navy-service*asp) suggested and found the following advice for post 1923 records. Why can't I find an entry? If the individual's service record is in another time period: records of seamen who entered the Royal Navy after 1923 are not held by The National Archives. For service between 1928 and 1938, please contact The Directorate of Personnel Support (Navy) Navy Search TNT Archive Services Tetron Point William Nadin Way Swadlincote Derbyshire DE11 0BB Tel: 01283 227913 Fax: 01283 227942 For service after 1938, please write to: Data Protection Cell (Navy) Victory View Building 1/152 HM Naval Base Portsmouth PO1 3PX

thanks again the records I want are pre 1920 thanks again to everyone for being so helpful.

Thanks for this thread - it is a project that I have been putting off beginning because I was finding it so difficult to work out what I needed to get what from where - if you follow me! Now that my little girl started school last week I have the time to get on with it. No excuses! Abigail

Bob, You need to make it clear that you are referring to post 1923 records which have restricted acess, and not the pre 1923 records from the National Archives. Jennifer

Valerie, Go to the Documents online page http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/ Where it says Royal Naval Seamen, instead of clicking on search, click on the blue word MORE just above search, it gives you all the information there. There are even images which you can enlarge to see an example of a record Jennifer

Added By Robert Gledhill you need a Certificate of Kinship,Details of Deceased are SURNAME,FORENAMES,OFFICAL SERVICE NUMBER,N I NUMBER,SERVICE CAREER,eg DATES of joining/leaving,which SERVICE,eg RN,RNR,RNVR,RNIVR,DATE of BIRTH,and what infofmation you require,also names of any ships. EVIDENCE OF DEATHeg photo copy of death cert,your link with him,and the cost is £30,this is for post 1923 records BOB

That is very true Jennifer. This hobby costs a fortune and I've never been brave enough to add up all the costs of all the little bits and pieces over the years.(I could have probably bought a small house) Double check everything before you start paying out. People can and will rip you off. Also go over old ground because the web is updated daily

very good advice Jennifer , I am worried because it doesnt really say what you will get for your money.Maybe I will see if another rellie who is researching him will go half with me .

One of the most useful pieces of advice I can give, don't be tempted to rush in and purchase information until you have read all the information and facts on a web site. You can often save yourself a lot of dissapointment and expense if you read everything carefully first. This is particularly important for people who are just setting out on this very addictive hobby. Equally, for us old hands, it pays to do the same, as so much more is becoming accessible on line every day. Jennifer

Sheila Thanks, and once again it is good to see the correct and succinct information. My research on this was done before these records came on line, so I may well be out of date occasionally at what may be available online, but it does not hurt to keep people on their toes! Janet

Janet Yes you get all that information. If you check out the National Archives documents on line it is listed under 'Register of Seaman's Services'. There are also WW2 Seaman's Medals but they are two seperate things and yes £3.50 is worth every penny for the amount of information received and far cheaper than paying a researcher to do the work at Kew.

Jennifer Thank you for putting this succinctly. I have already said to Sheila that I stand corrected on this one. It is good to see some correct information being posted. Janet

Janet, You ask people to get their facts right, this works both ways. Pre 19122 Royal Naval records downloaded from Kew for £3-50 Name DOB Civillian ocupation. Physical description i.e Height, hair colour, eye colour,complexion. and distinguishing marks. Date of enlistment, period of engagement. Dates of service on every ship and land base. Date of discharge. Conduct and awards. Jennifer

Sheila I stand corrected if that is so, but that seems remarkably cheap to me for those records. I presume you also have his place and date of birth and where he enlisted as well as his occupation on enlistment? Janet

No Janet What I downloaded were service records. I have lists of ships that they sailed on along with dates and birth date, colour of hair, height, any marks or scars, badges received when they left why they left....and they were all dated from 1870 to 1900. Not a medal in sight and believe me I also know the difference!

Sheila It is the medals entitlement you can download for £3.50 NOT the Naval Records and believe me there is a very big difference between the two!! You have to search for the pre 1922 records yourself at Kew or pay someone to research for you. Andrew I did say, if you read it correctly, that only 10% of Merchant Navy records have survived at Kew but that there were more Merchant Navy Records to be had from Newfoundland in Canada and I stand by what I said previously, that only 10% of Merchant Navy Records have survived at Kew, but you can download a leaflet on Merchant Mariners from TNA site which will tell you all about it. I have searched in vain for my Merchant Seaman at Kew but he may well be in the Archives in Newfoundland. Janet

You're quite right Andrew and the web page in Canada is http://www.mun.ca/mha/

Janet: I'm going from memory, but I don't believe you're correct that only 10% of the Merchant Navy records survive. My understanding is that what was the Public Records Office intended to keep a random sampling of 10% and pulp the rest, but that a maritime museum in Canada, possibly their national one, arranged to be given the ones that were to be destroyed. So 10% of the records are in the UK, with the remaining 90% in Canada. I'm pretty sure the museum is in Halifax, NS, and that you can arrange to get copies of their part of the records.

sorry got called away the cheek of it !!!! Thanks for all your replies , nice to see so many still on here its been very lonely.I did download the short one from Nationalarchives but when I did another search they also had his number in some kind of Seamans records book you had to ask for an estimate give that number and what ships he had served on and so on which I did . But I am wondering how much this is going to cost and if it will be worth it. I am sure someone said that you often get photos of them too. I know his date and place of birth , he served in the late 1800s to the early 1900s

Royal Naval records pre 1922 are available on line to download on the National Archives at a cost of £3.50 I have several and they are well worth the money