Search - Arthur Henry Wilton - Merchant Navy & RN.

Thanks again. Your help is much appreciated

 

If his papers are still with RN Disclosures it’ll be a lot quicker than a year. I submitted a request last October and the service file was provided within 8 weeks.

The usual advice from Hugh MacLean is to ask RN to provide information from the “Pay & Victualling” records as it can flesh out the sometimes limited information in the service record papers.

You can ask for that if/when RN Disclosures acknowledge receipt of the enquiry - usually 10 days or so after you submit the application on the MOD website.

Steve

 

Thanks. A job for this afternoon.

 

Update
I've applied for his seaman's pouch from the TNA.
Also contacted MOD and Medal Office.
Hopefully they will come back.
I'll keep you posted.

 

Hi. Received seaman's pouch from TNA. Not a lot in it really.
Hopefully more will be available from other enquiries.

 

Yes, they can be a hit or a miss - some contain lots of information others, very little. The CR1 would be where I would expect the ID mugshot photo to be but unfortunately not in this case. The CR2 card, on the reverse would be previous ships by official number but we know he appears to only have served on PACIFIC RANGER, first and only voyage - torpedoed!

If you had evidence of further sea-time in the MN, It would be in his Dis.A book. If you wanted confirmation of this then there is his CRS 10 - service record post 1941 which is held in series, BT 382 but it would be harder than the seaman's pouch to obtain but it would not be worth it if 1941 was the end of his MN service (which I think is the case). So if his RN records come back it would be interesting to see when he joined up. Any significant gaps may make you look again at post 1941 service in the MN.

Regards
Hugh

 

Yes. Let's see what happens next. Thanks

 

Hi.

Just to update everyone who has helped my search.
Recieved this information today.

 

Hi Barry,

Thanks for getting back and updating us on your research journey.
Sea service confirmed as HMS GLENARM/STRULE and HMS HOWE. HMS HOWE went into refit shortly after he joined her.

Medals: 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Burma Star with Pacific Clasp [cannot have both stars so awarded the first earned and the second in the form of a clasp to wear on the Burma Star] and the War Medal.

Hugh

 

Hi Hugh,
Not a problem. Awaiting news from MOD still but imagine that's going to take a while.
My Dad definitely got around the world during his service.
Barry

 

So the ribbon Barry posted earlier should not have the Pacific, but the Burma with Pacific rosette? Thus:



Also, the Atlantic ribbon in that photo has a rosette, presumably the France & Germany - from that record, Hugh, do you know if Barry’s father would have been entitled to that too? I note the box for that award is void.

Looks likely that either that ribbon bar is not Barry’s dad’s, or that he simply got it wrong when he put it together…

I reckon the medal group should look like this (possibly without the clasp on the Atlantic?):



Ribbon bar like this. Again, not sure whether the Atlantic should have a rosette or not:

 

Efficient buggers aren’t they Barry.

 

Hi. The ribbon might not be my Dad's. My mum was very old when she gave th stuff to me and might have misremembered.
I'll await information from MOD.
Barry

 

Hi Martin,
He was aboard HMS STRULE at that time, and his medal card for the France & Germany Star is blank for that award. However, HMS STRULE seems to have been involved in the convoy EBM3 as part of Escort Group 106 so It would appear he was entitled to the F&G clasp. I think Barry needs to clarify this with the medal office.
The rosette for the Pacific Star would go on the Burma Star as you have indicated, it should not go on the Atlantic Star unless he was awarded the F&G Star.

In February 1944 the ship was tasked to the Russian convoy J.W.57, but was detached from the convoy to Londonderry on 26th If the ship crossed 66.32N then he would be entitled to the Arctic Star so Barry may wish to query that with the medal office too.

Regards
Hugh

 

Thanks Hugh. As you say, with any luck the Medal Office can clarify and it would certainly also be interesting to know about that Arctic possibility.

 

Hi All,
Just to update I received this today from the MoD.

 

So these are what you’re after if you want to do anything to show his medal entitlement:

 

Any recommendations where to get replicas and the costs involved

 

Barry did you ask them about the Arctic Star?

 

No. I forgot