Hi All My Grandad was in the Merchant Navy during WW2. I have found his medal list. When I try and find his war records. Which number do I quote, R.152888 Is this his service number, and Discharge Number 53220 would this be his service number? As Ever thank you for your help. Nick
Hi Nick I have sent our resident MN man a nudge, in the meantime, I assume this is him: UK, WWII Medals Issued to Merchant Seamen, 1939-1945 Name: Arthur Edward Pepin Birth Date: 20 Dec 1917 Service: 1939-1945 Medal Issued/Claimed: 1946-2002 Discharge Number: R152888 URL: http://discovery.nationalarchi... Reference: BT 395/1/76847 Description: Medal listing of Pepin, Arthur Edward Discharge number: R152888 Date of Birth: 20 December 1917 Date: [1946-2002] Held by: The National Archives, Kew Legal status: Public Record(s) Closure status: Open Document, Open Description Access conditions: Open on Transfer Is there a relationship to Arthur Raymond Pepin??? TD
Hi Nick, The only number of interest would be R152888 which is his discharge number - akin to a service number. I will point you in the direction for records tomorrow. Where do you get 53220 from? There is a death in 1974 for an Arthur Edward Pepin possibly at sea - not sure if that is your grandad or not. Regards Hugh
There are no online records for him, apart from the medal file, but that does not mean he doesn't have any - seamen's pouches are available to search online but many were destroyed in the 1960s and consequently there is no pouch for him. However the file you want is his CRS 10 which is his service record from 1941. Other methods are needed for service prior to 1941. Depending on when he left the MN will determine where his records, if they have survived, are held. Normally I would tell you to copy the following file held at Kew in piece BT 382/1407. However, if he was the person I mentioned in my previous post who died in 1974 and if he was still serving in the MN at this time then his records will be held in piece BT 382/2794. Either way the records will be in one of those files [Up to 1972 only though]. These files best viewed by visit to Kew as difficult to obtain online. Visit to Kew the best option but if that is not an option at your disposal we have two guys on here who will copy for reasonable costs compared to what you would pay using other options. Any questions please feel free to ask? Regards Hugh
Wow Hugh, thanks I will contact them. I don't know what a Seaman’s Pouch is. LOL Grand dad is both of them. During the time in the Atlantic I was told they stopped in Canada they did not know what they were picking up. But lord Hawhaw told them on the radio. One trip they were playing cards and there was a loud rumbling. Apparently he went up to find out but was away for a couple of hours. When they went to find him he was sat in snow in a depth charge that had been rolling around. My Nanny had a bad kind of fever and spilt hot fat on his foot. unable to sail his captain said he could not sail stood on the jetty. That ship sank with all hands he lost his best friend. After the war he left the Merchant Navy. I was told that he was not getting on with my Nan and then reenlisted. he died at sea after a heart attack. I remember as a 3-4 year old tremendous love, and sitting on his knee. He was a lovely gentleman. I remember sitting in bed with Nanny and Granddad eating biscuits (chocolate Digestives) while they had tea from a teas maid. He also was in the Territorial Army. The Pic is his last voyage. Grandand was in the middle white vest. I love this pic. makes me feel close to him.
It's little anecdotes like this that are so interesting to read. Thanks to your Nanny's accident with the hot fat, she effectively saved his life which allowed you to benefit from knowing him even if only for a short time. And you have a special memory with him too which is nice. Thanks for sharing with us. RRTB
