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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: BUDERIM ROSS on Monday 14 March 11 06:15 GMT (UK)

Title: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: BUDERIM ROSS on Monday 14 March 11 06:15 GMT (UK)
Good Morning

In looking through the piece of my father's continuous discharge certificate that I have, I note that the column headed "Copy of Report of Character" is filled in with a rubber stamp reading, for example, "VERY B103 GOOD" vertically.

Can anybody enlighten me as to the meaning of the number B103 or B79.

Reference to the ship served on ?

Ross
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Saturday 19 March 11 06:31 GMT (UK)
A separate section was set aside for a report of character,was in two parts  in regard to ability and general conduct, and perhaps sobriety.
 Be aware, however, that if a man deserted or died on a voyage, no discharge information will have been issued.
report of character
•   Conduct: Ability very good; general conduct very good
here is a copy of part of my Fathers Discharge Cert

I wonder if the number in between very and good is the number of the officer or person authorized to certify conduct
you can see in section 2,3 and 4 Dad was on Duchess of Atholl
there are 3 different signatures of the Master of the ship or person reporting conduct

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/jimmytheone/certificates/cert2.jpg)
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: BUDERIM ROSS on Sunday 20 March 11 05:43 GMT (UK)
Thanks Jimmy

I thought that could be the case. The only thing against it is the low numbers.

Ross
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Sunday 20 March 11 05:57 GMT (UK)
I have also located similar thread in Ship's Nostalgia
they seem to indicate the number is the ship's master's number
will keep an eye on developments
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Sunday 20 March 11 06:22 GMT (UK)
I have also located similar thread in Ship's Nostalgia
they seem to indicate the number is the ship's master's number
will keep an eye on developments
Similarly with Mercantile Marine forum
so we have tapped into a vast seafaring knowledge base
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Sunday 20 March 11 06:28 GMT (UK)
From Ship's Nostalgia
Looking back on my discharge books, the the number on the stamps tallies with the shipping master. Each shipping master must have had his own stamp.I sailed out of Manchester for many years and have many discharges from a shipping master J.Clare No.67 and many more from G.Sinclair No.237.
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Sunday 20 March 11 06:37 GMT (UK)
I am trying to confirm the connection between B141 and Captain Moore
 SS Duchess of Atholl as posted section 4 of my Dad's Discharge Certificate
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Monday 21 March 11 04:49 GMT (UK)
Spanner in the works
Empire Brent same stamp same signature 2 different numbers 44 and 41
Largs Bay same stamp same number 15
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/jimmytheone/certificates/cert4.jpg)[/img]
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Monday 21 March 11 05:39 GMT (UK)
Ship and stamp number from Dad's Discharge Certificate

1 Nea Hellas    B87
2 Duchess of Atholl   223
3 Duchess of Atholl   B52
4 Duchess of Atholl   B141
5 Andes    B51
6 Tegelberg    B115?
7 Tegelberg    B38
8 Durban Castle   234
9 Dunnotter Castle   B178
10 Empire Makay   B53
11 Empire Regent   B169?
12 Discharged MN
13 Empire Brent   44
14 Empire Brent   41
15 Largs Bay    15
16 Largs Bay    15
17 Largs Bay UNREADABLE
18 Maloja    13
19 Cameronia    37
20 Official Replacement Continuation Book has been Issued
1 Cameronia    39
2 Alcantara    27
3 Alcantara UNREADABLE
4 TSS Captain Cook   218
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Wednesday 23 March 11 10:00 GMT (UK)
from Mercantile Marine posting
No the number is from the Mercantile Marine officer in front of whom the man was discharged. It enabled the authorities to match the port of discharge with the MMO number.

As all kids of my generation remember you could make a passable imitation of a rubber stamp using half a potato - but you generally wouldn't know which MMO official was where.

Roy
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: Floss on Thursday 08 March 12 13:51 GMT (UK)
Jimmy39
It seems my dad and your dad signed on and off the Empire Brent at the same time, 28th November 1949 in Glasgow.  My dad is 84 next week and we've been talking about his time in the Merchant Navy
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Thursday 08 March 12 14:16 GMT (UK)
Floss
Interesting that they were on same ship about 1 year after I was born long time ago
Dad was Assistant Steward onboard he turned 91 Christmas time just gone he is in a nursing home in Glasgow being well cared for
cheers
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: Floss on Thursday 08 March 12 14:30 GMT (UK)
Hi
My dad was also an assistant steward  :)  I've been wanting him to try and write down some of his childhood memories, he was a bit reluctant at first but now its like someone had unlocked something and the memories have come pouring out, he says he cant write as quick as his thoughts are coming  ;D  He'd been writing about the ships he served on and I was trying to find a photo of the Empire Brent when I came across your post :)
I'm pleased your dad is being well cared for and 91 is a good age :)  Would you mind telling me your dads name to see if my dad can remember him (pm if you like) My dad was born in Bridgeton in 1928 and then the family moved to Parkhead to 'new' tenaments but have just found out they've pulled them down !
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: jimmy39 on Thursday 08 March 12 15:09 GMT (UK)
Floss
My Dad's name is John Cullen born in The Gorbals 1920
we lived in the Gallowgate moved to Barlanark when it was new migrated to Australia in 1959
Empire Brent went through some name changes as she changed owners
also known as LETITIA / EMPIRE BRENT / CAPTAIN COOK

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y67/jimmytheone/family/2006and1942.jpg)

Dad in 2006 and 1942
Title: Re: merchant navy - continuous certificate of discharge
Post by: Floss on Friday 09 March 12 09:56 GMT (UK)
Hi Jim

many thanks for photos, have replied to pm  :)

Fiona