Merchant Navy Records

[rdkmt]

Is every discharge number unique to one person? I ask because there are 2 cards with the same name and discharge number but one has a birthdate of 1880 and the other of 1875, I assume that's just a mistake? Also would it be normal for someone to have a BT348 and BT350 but not a BT349?
 
I'm also not sure how to tell which of the following records belong to my relative.

The top transcript is definitely mine, is it possible to tell if any of the following ones belong to him too?

Should I dismiss the ones stamped MMO Poole and North Shields?

William Thornton date of birth 11 Jul 1900, Hull, Yorkshire
Identity certificate number   475881
BT350 Card type   CR10 (1918-20)

====================

William Thornton
Discharge number   940528
Ref: BT348/1 Card type   CR2
1921-1941

====================
William Thornton
Discharge number   940528
Ref BT348/ 1 Card type   CR2
(1921-1941)

======================
W Thornton
Discharge number   1036373
Ref: BT348/1 Card type   CR2
Date range   1921-1941

=========================

W Thornton
Discharge number   1036373
BT348/1 Card type   CR2
Date range   1921-1941

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[seaweed]

The records with the discharge A number 1036373 seem to be the same person.
The numbers on the back of the card are the official numbers of the vessels he sailed on. A quick search tells me that most are Hull registered vessels. Some owned by the Hull shipping line, Ellerman Wilson
Go to http://www.crewlist.org.uk/data/vesselsnum.php
to ascertain the names of all the vessels.
It would seem your ancestor had a break from the sea between 1931 and 1938 otherwise its a very comprehensive record.
 Dis A numbers are unique and its unusual to see a seven digit Dis A. As far as I can tell he has no MN records for WW2. The reason for two CR2 cards is he probably lost one and it turned up later.

[rdkmt]

Thanks. Is there anyway of knowing for sure those other records belong to my William Thornton (Identity certificate number  475881)? Or would it just be a guess?

"its unusual to see a seven digit Dis A." Is that significant?

[seaweed]

Yes. It's an educated guess.
The only way you find out for sure is to examine crew agreements of the ships that were listed on the various CR2 cards.

(Identity certificate number  475881)
This is of little consequence. The UK government of the day feared a perceived threat from Irish Nationalists so from 1918 until 1921 they introduced this ID certificate.
See http://www.irishmariners.ie/intro-cr10.php

"its unusual to see a seven digit Dis A." Is that significant?

It's not of any significance. I did see an explanation but cannot recall the details.

[rdkmt]

Can you give me an idea of what a merchant navy seaman's life was like at that time? I found it hard to find anything on google, most articles seem concerned with the war periods, not pre ww1 or between the wars. I sort of assumed they'd join a ship and stay with it for months, even years. But from the records it looks like they joined a ship for a mission of a month or two then joined another ship and so on.

Is it almost impossible to find out what any individual would have done at sea during WW1 (no records)?

Can you tell me this says, is it fireman?

Thanks again.

[spotter2015]

It was exactly the same as it was in wartime, just not quite as dangerous. Hard work, poor pay, poor food, poor accommodation, frequently hazardous work and conditions. Some might stay for years with the same line, but most would sign on whatever ship the Merchant Marine Office assigned them to when they wanted work. They signed on for the duration of a voyage, once the requirement of their trip was complete that particular contract was finished and they would either sign on for another voyage with that ship or be paid off and go ashore until they were ready to go to sea again. The contract ended if the ship was sunk, even in wartime, and at that point their wages immediately stopped, no ship, no contract, no more pay. Some might work for years as a seaman, some might just make one or two voyages and then stay ashore.
http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780747812326?redirected=true&v=A7V6U&selectCurrency=GBP&gclid=CK2aof2glsMCFabLtAod0UsAGA

[HMac]

Can you tell me this says, is it fireman?

Yes it does - a fireman was an engine-room rating.

Regards
Hugh

[rdkmt]

Thanks all. What surprised me is the distances they travelled, I found one going to Argentina, another Australia.

Another question, I found a reference to an individual with the same name and initial as one of mine who was commended for bravery in WW1, but he was the skipper.

There would be no possibility of someone being a skipper during WW1, but then being a fireman on his card post war (just to rule him out)?

[MUMMYG]

Can't answer your question but you may be interested in this site, it has some great information about this occupation.

https://www.mun.ca/mha/mlc/index.php