Merchant Navy - My Grandad's Records wanted

Hi all,
Trying to track down my grandad's past in the Navy.
Under the impression he was in the Merchant Navy but not entirely sure.
I have photo's of him at sea on service and seems the photos were on large ships but also 1 photo of him seemingly on a smaller boat.

Also, my mum (His daughter) seems to remember him saying about him lying about his age so he could join the Navy.

Name: Ernest Belshaw
DOB: 1/1/1924
Birth Place: Nottinghamshire, Lenton
Also lived in Lenton possibly when he enlisted.
Married Doris Dudley in 1947 in Nottingham.
Ernest's Father was William Belshaw also from Nottingham.

Any search i make comes up with nothing, so i do wonder if his records were destroyed during the war.

He worked at Raleigh factory in Nottingham, worked with a Gentleman called 'Sid Webster' (I assume his name was Sidney), Sid apparently was also in service with my Grandad, hence them staying good friends and working together.

I have, today, posted a military record request so maybe that will shine some light on his past.
Have searched all the obvious places online.

If any further info is required please let me know.
Any relatives? then feel free to get in touch.

Thanks for any help

 

welcome to the forum
if you posted the photos it would help forum members

If he was in the MN then we have experts on here to be able to help you further
likewise if he served in another branch of the services we have members who will be able to assist

 

Have you tried the TNA for him as Merchant Seaman? See: Merchant seamen serving since 1918 - The National Archives

Might be worth posting the photos of the ships you have as that might help.

 

Thank you for reply.
Ill upload the photos shortly.

 

Looked at TNA a few times but always get lost on there or unable to work my head around the website.
Ill give it another go with the link youve provided.

Thank you for the reply.

 

Forum member Hugh MacLean may be able to give you advice on how to trace his MN records.

Good Luck

Steve

 

- Records of the Admiralty, Naval Forces, Royal Marines, Coastguard, and related bodies Reference: ADM 363/442/142 Father perhaps?

 

So as you can see, ive uploaded the photos i have of my Grandad.
If unsure of which person he is in the photos then feel free to ask and ill explain what little i know.

The image of them linking arms in swimming trunks, paddling in the sea, the person in the middle is Ernest Belshaw and we feel that the person on the far left of the image is the afore mentioned Sid Webster.

If nothing else, i hope you enjoy seeing the photo's of my Grandad and hopefully someone else will see their own relative in the few images ive shared.

 

Royal Navy, South Africa?

 

That is my Grandad

Dad = William, Mother = Lydia, Veronica & Margaret are my Grandad's Sisters.
My Mum knew it was her Dad as soon as i showed her the press cutting.
My mum said she knew he had mentioned about being in South Africa. We are not sure of anywhere else he was posted but for sure he was in South Africa.

Thank you so much for finding such info, it has warmed our hearts seeing message's from the rest of our family being sent to my Grandad whilst serving.

 

1944

 

Couple of more images that didnt seem to appear in my initial uploads.

 

The 4th photo, in Post 6 appears to show two objects: a depth charge thrower, with nothing loaded so has a cap on. I cannot identify which type, Google has a lot of images to view. The second object behind the men is an oil drum and these were used as depth charges. There are fewer images and usually one or both ends have some fittings.

The 1st photo, in Post 6, appears to be BL 4-inch Mk IX naval gun

See: BL 4-inch Mk IX naval gun | Wikiwand (side view of the angular gun cover / shield).
Many were fitted to an early WW2 series of corvettes, primarily for anti-submarine duties and other photos such as: HMCS Cobourg | Cobourg Harbour Is Our Town show a better view and the aiming / firing positions with their protective shutters open. Plus: Flower-class corvette | Wikiwand


From: Britain 4"/45 (10.2 cm) BL Marks IX and X - NavWeaps

You can even get models of them: 1/128 Flowers Class 4" MKIX CPI (HMS Bluebell) x1 by MicroMaster on Shapeways

 

Thanks for the pointer, however, not sure what im looking at via the url/link you have posted.
It shows various 'details' but no names that i can see.

Ernest Belshaw's Father was William Belshaw, my Mum says he was in the Army not the Navy if that helps.
Thank you for your help though, much appreciated.

 

Thank you so much.

That is my Grandad for sure.
Seems he was engaged to someone else before marrying my grandma Doris Dudley.

 

Hi,
He was definitely Royal Navy not Merchant Navy so you should apply for his service records from the MOD.
Regards
Hugh

 

Thank you so much for your detailed post, ill have a gander through the links you have posted and see how i can educate myself.
Again, thank you for your detailed response.

 

Thank you Hugh.

I have today posted a request for his Naval records from the MOD, so hopefully get a reply over the next few weeks.
Really intrigued as to his past in the Navy, already a surprise that he was engaged to Madge in 1944 as he married my Grandma in 1947.
No doubt there are more surprises to come