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Merchant Navy payments when men were POW's

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Janine

Janine Report 15 Feb 2005 09:14

Does anybody know what happened to sailors/ stewards payments when they were taken as POW's in WW2? Did they send their payments to their wives including the wives that were overseas? My grandfather served as a Steward for the English Merchant Navy - He was taken as a prisoner of war for some time - Would his wife who was in Australia recieved any payments? Cheers Janine

Unknown

Unknown Report 15 Feb 2005 09:56

I don't know. I imagine the wives would need to live on something! Perhaps you can find some sources of info here: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/merchant/ nell

Janine

Janine Report 15 Feb 2005 10:12

Thanks Helen - I will try that website. I have a feeling my grandmother never knew what happened to her husband and left their son in state care - I also have the feeling my grandfather never knew he had a son, I have recently found my family in the UK - Whilst they had heard he had someone in Australia he never mentioned a child which was unusual they said. My grandmother dissappeared soon after my fsathers birth. Cheers Janine and many thanks

Thomas

Thomas Report 15 Feb 2005 10:25

As soon as their ship was sunk, crew were off the payroll,all heart the shipping companies!!

Janine

Janine Report 15 Feb 2005 10:31

Luckily for my grandfather he was serving on another ship at the time it was sunk. Only just mind you but he was taken as a POW for some time - Maybe they thought he was an MIA or KIA instead and my grandmother thought him deceased, gave up their child and returned to UK or elsewhere. Cheers Janine