Discharge Reason ?

[weddieD1948]

Thanks again, more to think about, he was born in 1902 and when starting this service was only 16 yrs and 8 months old, surely he could not have been in the merchant navy as young as that, I have just applied to Glasgow to obtain his Army service record that is another mystery , pictures in Army uniform (RASC ?)  in England and India , but here again I have no documents or proof , just a few family stories. Thanks again.

[MaxD]

He was certainly a seaman of some sort.  I did notice that the next man in the records also came from Chilvers Coton Nuneaton, was also an seaman, was of a similar age, joined on the same day, served on the same vessel and was discharged at about the same time.  Has the ring of two lads on a ship - fishermen?? somewhere, volunteering together for the Mine Clearance service which started in February 1919.

MaxD

[bbart]

Findmypast shows a man of the same name to have been in the Merchant marines, complete with his picture.  Mother was Elizabeth, of 66 High St. Nuneaton.  Birthdate of 09 Sept 1902.
There is one notation that looks like "Phidius  1-5-19", so perhaps that was the merchant ship he was on before he joined the minesweeper?

[weddieD1948]

Thanks again, B Bart,   great info do you say that this Marine service was before 1919, so that would be in WW1 ? Just logged on to FindmyPast and I cannot seem to find anything any more help would be great .

[bbart]

Hi Weddie,
I just put in his full name and year of birth at Findmypast, and in the results screen, there is an entry for British Merchant Seamen for him.  For me, it was the 4th result down, but it may vary between users?

[weddieD1948]

Thanks again bbart, found that but now a bigger mystery , that picture does not look like any of the pictures we hold of my dad, I will continue to search for things , Thanks again

[MaxD]

I had thought we'd cracked it there for a moment - how does the location (Nuneaton?) add up for your father's origins?  And married to Rose living 22 Glenfield Avenue Nuneaton in 1939 - same birth date as the RNVR man and the Merchant seaman.  Son of Harry and Elizabeth Mary from Hinckley (1911).

MaxD

[weddieD1948]

Yes MaxD, all of that adds up and is info I hold, the picture we have is not him, we knew from family stories he had done a few trips round the globe , but as I say no proof. Have a look see what you think.

[bbart]

I have looked at dozens of these cards before and after the one in question.  All the photos of the men have either a typed service number right on the photo, or a handwritten service number on the photo.

The one for John William Burchnall, of Nuneaton, is the ONLY one I have found where the number has been altered.... take a look: