Merchant Navy record at Kew

[Ruth1973]

Hiya, I am trying to request copies of records for my grandad Harold Samson from the National Archives site as they are held at Kew.

When I try to order copies it comes up with the message that it is unavailble due to maintenance being carried out.  It appears this is going to be the case for some time....

Is there any other way to view my grandad's sea pouch as the site calls it?
It does metion going to Kew but unfortunately that is not an available option right now for me....

There are 2 sets of records linked to his name which might be something to do with the fact that he went awol in Sydney in 1942 and joined the Australian army then used an alias name to get home to the UK but admitted it on arriving at Port in the UK as he had no  papers for the Alias name used.

He died last year, still very much missed and I would love to see the details about his merchant navy days and expecially his alias details.

He should have been on the SS Waimarama when it was destroyed on its way to Malta as the ship took part in Operation Pedestal but my grandad survived as he left the ship in Sydney!

[HMac]

Looks like it is down for maintenance at the moment and I don't know how long for. The seaman's pouch link that I have given you on another site is able to be ordered online as it is to a named person. They would redact personal information such as nat ins numbers etc prior to sending to you but if the online option is not available then you have two options. 1 visit Kew and view all the files that you need including the Form CRS 10 which is best viewed by a visit anyway. 2 pay a researcher to do this for you.

Regards
Hugh

[Ruth1973]

hiya. they said its not down due to maintenance but because they have removed a lot of files due to details such as NI numbers and so that not just anyone can order them.

Visiting Kew is not going to be an easy one for a while and I am not having any luck finding much out on records on ancestry.

Its just a bit disappointing getting so close.

The man I spoke to at the National Archives on the phone said to send an email with details from their website.  He said having a copy of my grandad's death certificate will help but he couldn't make any guarantees....

[HMac]

Hi Ruth, Looks like they are now in the process of changing how you order from BT 372. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/recordcopying/
Follow the guidelines in the link.

However, typical Kew they are not making themselves clear as has been the problem for sometime at least with MN records.
I quote form the above link

Searches of the records
 We no longer offer free searches of the records to identify items to be copied.

We are unable to search:
•within any document for an individual, unless the Catalogue description indicates that the file is for that particular person only

Record pieces for BT 372 are by definition to a named person.

Regards
Hugh

[gortonboy]

hi,,when and where was he born? 

[hsu29]

Hi Ruth, I hope you will find this of some help.

The National Archives in conjunction with Find My Past have released the Merchant Navy records from 1918-1941.

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/media/news/news-item.jsp?doc=merchant-navy-seamen.html

I think the ones they've released are CR1 CR2 and CR10 which include photographs. I found my great great grandafather photograph in one yesterday.

The search I did produces a Harold/Harry Samson, I hope that one at least is who you are looking for.
Best of luck in your search.

hsu29

[Ruth1973]

Hiya, thanks for all the replies.
Unfortunately I don't have paid membership to FindMyPast.  I paid up to ancestry last year but am renewing in November,  Need to make the choice over whether I will go for FindMyPast instead.

Harold Ausitn Samson was born on 17 Oct 1919 in Woolwich, Greater London.

HMac did a search for me from a post I made on www.mercantilemarine.org (amazing site ) which gave the two results, one of which is probably an alias he used to get home when he went AWOL in Sydney.

Details HMac provided to me which match d.o.b are:
Harold's Seaman's Pouch:
Item reference BT 372/116/40 
R161946 SAMSON H A, 17/10/1918 WOOLWICH LONDON

His possible alias record which appears to be linked to his under the name C H Lancashire who is from Australia:
Item reference BT 372/239/73
R204676 LANCASHIRE C H 06/11/1900 CASTLEMAINE AUSTRALIA. NOTE: see also BT 372/116/40.

I am hoping to visit Kew Archives next month to see the records and it looks like family have dug out a few copies of his book for me as there were a few left not sold so that was a bit of luck.  I can't wait to see the book as I know there are a lot of photos in it of other merchant ships that he took whilst on the SS Waimarama so that might be of interest to others.

I have also been given his Australian Army record and where to get it from.  The details match and it is definately him.  It is held at the Australian National Archives and I will be sending of for a copy next month.

[Ruth1973]

Also I phoned up the National Archives who said my grandad's records were included in the ones removed from online availability as a load were withdrawn due to having private data on like NI numbers.

He said the only way to view them was if the actual person came and had id to prove it or if the person had died I'd need to bring a death certificate  to prove it due to identity and data protection.  I think he quoted a privacy law?