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.

The letters B, N, F and N are very distinct and I don't believe there is any possibility that they could be similarly shaped letters.

Any hints would be most welcome, thank you.

[km1971]

I am sure this has been posted before. From remember it is something like British National Foreign National. Someone will clarify.

Ken

[cnssjw]

Hi Ken

Thanks for your reply. I did do a search of all the forums but couldn't find anything close to those initials.

Cheers

[J.J.]

Can't find anything close to that acronym...
Nothing under merchant seaman abbreviations, altho it does say it is not a complete list...
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=328&j=1

[cnssjw]

Thanks for trying J.J.

[J.J.]

I just saw this posting on another forum...Because I now see that it is written under the numbers list preceding several numbers might it have been a made up abbreviation for something such as British Naval Fleet Number or the like?

[cnssjw]

That's the best suggestion I've seen so far. Thanks for that - I will try to investigate further.

Cheers!

[J.J.]

eek, I just threw that out there... I imagine it is more likely to not be that simple
You could try emailing this museum to see if they know anything about it ....
http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/research_info.htm

[cnssjw]

No reply from the Royal Naval Museum yet.