Learn more about these records
Each record will show a transcript and an image of the original document from The National Archives at Kew. The detail in each transcript will vary depending on the type of record, but the Merchant Navy records usually include the following information about your ancestor:
- Name
- Age
- Birth date
- Birth place
- Birth county – In the records where the seaman was born outside of England, this field may show their birth country
- Discharge number
- Identity certificate number
- Card type
- Archive
- Date range
- Series
- Piece number
Image
As well as providing information about your ancestor's career, it should be noted that the Merchant Navy Seamen records can also reveal what he or she looked like. Many of the records include a photograph or a physical description, bringing you face-to-face with your ancestor.
We have listed the additional information you may find on the images. The list is organised by The National Archive reference and title.
BT348 - Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Register of Seamen, Central Index, Numerical Series (CR 2)
- Rank or rating
- Voyage dates and vessel numbers
BT349 - Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Register of Seamen, Central Index, Alphabetical
Series (CR 1)
- Rating
- Certificate
- Health insurance number
- Unemployment insurance number
- Physical descriptions such as height, hair and eye colour, and distinguishing marks
BT350 - Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Register of Seamen, Special Index, Alphabetical Series (CR 10)
- RNR number
- Nationality
- Father’s nationality
- Physical descriptions such as height, hair and eye colour, and tattoos
- Name and address of next of kin
- Signing-on date
- Portrait photograph
BT364 – Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Registers of Seamen, Combined Numerical Index (CR1, CR2 and CR10 Series) and Alphabetical Index
- Rating
- RV 2 Number
- Certificate
- Health insurance number
- Unemployment insurance number
- Height, hair and eye colour, complexion and distinguishing marks
- Signature
The Merchant Navy Seamen 1918-1941 records include index cards that the Registrar General of Shipping and Seaman used between the two world wars to produce a centralised index to merchant seamen serving on British merchant navy vessels. The Board of Trade issued these cards and they fall into three types: CR1, CR2 and CR10. There are two or more cards for some individuals. These are volumes from The National Archives' record series BT 348, BT 349, BT 350 and BT 364. The originals are held by the Southampton Archives.
In most cases, the front of a card gives the basic biographical information about each individual – his name, his year and place of birth, his rank or rating, and so on. Initials were sometimes given rather than first names. Sometimes there is a physical description. You may also be able to see other information about your ancestor, such as discharge number, health insurance number, address of kin and so on.
The reverse of the card may be blank or may contain a list of official vessel numbers and signing-on dates, and/or a photograph and/or signature of the seamen. Sometimes a photograph is not on the reverse of the card but on a separate attached card. Where this is the case, use the arrow on the right side of the image. Where available, the photographs of the mariners are enormously evocative of the inter-war working-class men who made the British merchant navy what it was.
These records are particularly valuable due to the wide range of people they include. It is possible to find records for British nationals, foreign British-registered men and women, experienced crewmen and young cabin crew. Whatever your ancestor's role on the merchant ships, it is well worth searching for them in these records.
© Crown Copyright Images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided.
Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education.
Applications for any other use should be made to:
The National Archives Image Library
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 4DU
Tel: 020 8392 5225
Fax: 020 8392 5266