Merchant Seaman - Death at sea

[romawi]

Hi, really not sure what forum area I need for this but hopefully someone might be able to point me in the right direction.
I have an ancestor who I believe died at sea whilst working on steam ships or Royal mail liners. I can find his record under Find My Past - British Armed Forces and overseas deaths files but I would like to find out how he died.
Charles Frederick Biddiscombe born 1900 died whilst aboard the SS Andes in 1960. He was a butcher on board and won the British Empire Medal in the June of this same year so I don't know if these two events are linked.

I appreciate I could order death certs but is there any other place to find such information?
Many thanks

[normamac]

Newspapers are a great place to look.  You may find an obituary for him  . Try the local paper in his home town.
Norma.

[seaweed]

If he died at sea it will be recorded in the vessels logbook.
ANDES official number 167337. Her 1960 logbooks and crew agreements are lodged in the British National Archive.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_ep=167337&_cr=bt&_dss=range&_sd=1960&_ed=1961&_ro=any&_st=adv

It should tell how he died and from what cause. That said The records you found on FindMyPast re. British Overseas Deaths, suggests he may have died on shore, in hospital or involvement in an accident etc.
Whatever the case, the logbook should tell you where he died and if the logbook has no details of his death, it will give you other avenues to explore.

I don't know if you have details of his MN career 1941 1960. If not they may be available from here.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10990313 or here.

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10988351

These records are stored alphabetically in blocks of 60 names. They record all the vessels he sailed on from early 1941.


If its problematic for you to visit Kew , let me know via PM and I will endeavour to take a look for you next time I visit. Whenever that may be.

Incidentally his WW2 Medal card can be downloaded for free from

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D4274236

[romawi]

Hi, I have found a probate record now for Charles Frederick and it says he died at Royal South Hants Hospital on 1 July 1960. I will post in the Hants forum and see if I can get any joy there. Thanks for all the advice and help.

[hanes teulu]

Did you check his Merchant Navy records at FindMyPast?

[Gadget]

Also here:

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=833214.msg6979016#msg6979016

Are you sure the probate record has him dying in  hospital, and is there an entry for his death in the GRO standard death  index as well as the deaths at sea index?

I'm sure it would be only one of them 

As far as I'm aware, deaths at sea certs can be acquired from the GRO  in the same way, entering the relevant details in the application form.

Gadget

Add :

I have a probate record for him as having died at the Royal South Hants Hospital on 1 July 1960.

[Gadget]

GRO Ref

Charles F Biddescombe Q3, 1960, Southampton Vol 6b page 595. Aged 59

You can order the cert in the usual way.

Gadget

And

Deaths at Sea ref

Chareles Frederick Biddescombe
 July 1960, Andes, GB
Ref - BT 334 Box 0111, Nat Archives