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NAVAL RECORDS

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Heather

Heather Report 20 Oct 2004 22:33

Guys, I have googled until my google is sore over this one. I thought that getting my Grandfathers Royal Navy and Merchant Navy records from about 1900 - 1930 would be comparatively easy. He served at the Battle of Jutland and I thought that would be an easy start but having contacted the Archives at Kew the return email is like a conundrum and then they suggest employing a professional researcher. Erm, surely there is a simple way to get these records, isnt there? Has anyone done it without using Stephen Hawkings to interpret the email from the NA?

Unknown

Unknown Report 20 Oct 2004 22:36

Heather I believe that the records are at Kew, so perhaps you'd better e-mail them and ask them to translate their response! nell

Phoenix

Phoenix Report 20 Oct 2004 22:42

Being lazy, I got my best friend to look up my great uncle's naval record (1897 - 1922) on her first visit to Kew. It seems to be very easy. You look them up in an index and then move to the service record. Good handwriting, legible photocopy and now I know he had a tattoo. Try asking for a lookup. If the surname is common, you'd need date and place of birth, but it doesn't seem complicated or time-consuming. Brenda

Heather

Heather Report 20 Oct 2004 23:30

I did contact them but they replied with a very long email listing all the different records available and saying they would not do a look up but could suggest a professional researcher! I am sure someone else on here just requested a search and paid £25 for the info.

Patricia

Patricia Report 21 Oct 2004 00:17

Heather. I've just found out my great uncle was in the Battle of Jutland. and his ship was the first to sunk. The records will be at Kew. I will be going soon, but can't say exactly when to find his records... When I go I could put a message up for you, to let me know who he was etc... thats if you haven't already go his records. Pat.

Heather

Heather Report 21 Oct 2004 10:37

Pat, that really is so very kind of you, I wouldnt like to put a lot of extra work on you. BUT, If you do still go there, please let me know if you still dont mind. I would love to get details on him physicallyand other personal stuff, which I understand the records show. Many thanks, brilliant people on this site.