B.N.F.N. - meaning?

[cnssjw]

Hi All

Any clue what B.N.F.N. might mean, preceding a 4-digit number, in relation to an "Admiralty Identity document"? I found it on an Ellis Island shipping manifest (crew) list, listing one of my ancestors.

It’s from a list of the crew on board a merchant navy vessel called the Lowther Castle, arriving at Ellis Island in January 1919, having sailed from Cardiff.

The document is headed "American Consular Service" and states that the crew members listed have been verified by the British Board of Trade.

Other crew have the initials R.N.R. and R.N.V.R. before their numbers. I'm guessing these refer to Royal Navy Reserve and Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, but I cannot find B.N.F.N. anywhere.

Any hints would be most welcome, thank you.

[neil1821]

Is this a handwritten document or transcribed?
An "R" could easily be mistaken for a "B" depending on the handwriting.
"F" likewise could be a misread.

In the context of RNR & RNVR, RNZN may be a possibility. Royal New Zealand Navy?
Just a thought

[cnssjw]

Hi Neil

Thanks for your reply. The manifest is hand-written, but the initials B.N.F.N. are in capitals and are spookily well-defined. There is absolutely no doubt that those are the initials.

Cheers

[Jacquie in Canada]

Have you tried posting this in the Armed Forces section of the forum? You might have better luck there getting an answer.

[cnssjw]

Thank you Jacquie.

I hadn't thought of doing that, but it makes sense. I will try my luck there.

Cheers

[Adele1]

Hello,

wild guess "British Navy, Foreign National"?

Adele

[cnssjw]

Hi Adele

Thanks. It'll be something like that I guess. I never did find out for sure though.

Cheers