RootsChat.Com

General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: SimonKD on Tuesday 22 January 13 14:22 GMT (UK)

Title: Navy search
Post by: SimonKD on Tuesday 22 January 13 14:22 GMT (UK)

Sorry for posting another question so soon after the other but:

I have tried to trace a man called John Heddon White who served on board HMS Alsation during WW1, trying to find anything on ancestry is proving quite a challenege (although perhaps I am doing it wrong).  Is it possible to search for records via what ship a sailor served on?

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: GrahamSimons on Tuesday 22 January 13 14:43 GMT (UK)

This guide may help - many records are on the TNA website

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/royalnavyrating1853-1923.htm

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: casalguidi on Tuesday 22 January 13 15:22 GMT (UK)

You may be able to find him in the medal rolls with a service number.  Have you found his service record http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-seamen.htm ???

Casalguidi :)

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: SimonKD on Tuesday 22 January 13 17:54 GMT (UK)

I cant find him in the National Archives unless he is in the unsorted lot (will have to scroll through the PDFs), from what I can see anyway.  I have looked on ancestry but it gives me an awful lot of John H Whites in the Navy at that time so it's looking very hard indeed. 

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: mmm45 on Tuesday 22 January 13 18:58 GMT (UK)

HMS Alsatian was an armed Merchant Ship so he may have been Mercantile Marine.Do you have a date of birth and place of birth it could narrow it down

Ady

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: SimonKD on Tuesday 22 January 13 19:41 GMT (UK)

I have him born in Braunton Devon in 1878, where do I look for that kind of thing?

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: mmm45 on Tuesday 22 January 13 20:00 GMT (UK)

There is a john white born braunton 1879 on mercantile marine records on the NA site

Ady

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: mmm45 on Tuesday 22 January 13 20:02 GMT (UK)

Name White, John Place of Birth: Braunton, Devon Number: C1406 03-02-1879

Here's details its a good possible?


http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?_q=John+White+braunton&x=33&y=12

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: SimonKD on Tuesday 22 January 13 20:38 GMT (UK)

Thank you so much that does indeed look like him too me.  If I order that pdf what sort of info does it contain?

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: mmm45 on Tuesday 22 January 13 20:50 GMT (UK)

Mercantile Marine not my speciality I'm afraid hopefully one of the members better versed in that research will pick up and advise.
If he served under Royal Naval Reserve orders he MAY appear on the RN medal rolls on ancestry now you have a number should be easier to find

Ady

Title: Re: Navy search
Post by: mmm45 on Tuesday 22 January 13 21:02 GMT (UK)

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-reserve-service-records.htm

 is what it may contain.

Ady