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British Merchant Navy at War


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PWSTS War Dead Update
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Two years ago I volunteered to transcribe the 1939-1945 Deaths at Sea Registers for the National Merchant Navy Association, who had purchased digital copies of some 4,500 pages. The idea to put forward the names of all those Merchant Seamen who died during the war who fell out of inclusion as war dead by the CWGC due to the circumstances of their deaths even though serving at the time. The documents are made up of both war dead and non war dead and it is my job to document all those non war dead who up to now are forgotten. It is an extremely long process and to date I have completed 1939, 1940 & 1941, nearly 1,700 pages and so far found over 2000 men with no commemoration. When completed they will be handed to the CWGC in the hope some sort of recognition will be granted

This also gave me the chance to look at some of the PWSTS casualties I had been unable to trace or had conflicting information on as not to positively identify from details on the PWTS Memorial. I believe I can now lay a further three to rest.
 
JAY, Able Seaman, BRUCE CASTLE. SS Fort Mumford. Canadian Merchant Navy. 20th March 1943. Age 22. Born New Westminster, BC. Last known address. 7, Upper Station Road, Radlett, Hertfordshire. Halifax Memorial. Point Pleasant Park. Panel 23.
 
SPARROW, Master, OSWALD EUSTACE, M.V. Tricula (London). Merchant Navy. 3rd August 1942. Age 36. Son of Thomas George and Ann Sparrow. Born Epping. Husband of Nora Sparrow. Last place of abode 1, Leys Close, Harrow, Middlesex.  Panel 111. (Christian name incorrect on PWSTS Memorial. Epping ties this man up with the memorial plaque)
 
TITCHENER, Ordinary Seaman, ALBERT CLAYTON, M.V. Empire Dawn (Sunderland). Merchant Navy. 12th September 1942. Age 17, of 126 Beaconsfield Road, Lowestoft. Panel 40. (CWGC have incorrect spelling of surname and is recorded as TICHENER)

 

Rgds Billy



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Andy


PWSTS UK Director

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Billy thats great news. I have just updated the PWSTS WW2 Plaque web page:

http://www.pwsts.org.uk/plaque.htm

as ever we REALLY appreciate your assistance with tracing the details of our old boys.

Many thanks indeed

Andy

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British Merchant Navy at War


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After nearly three years and reading through 4,716 digital pages ot the Deaths at Sea Register 1939-1945, I have found the names and documented nearly five and half thousand men from all corners of the British Commonwealth who have up until now been forgotten and have no official commemoration. Their deaths range from various illnesses to being washed overboard, falling down hatches, murder, suicide, drowning or just recorded as "disappeared at sea" These names are now to be submitted by the National MNA, who have contacts with the MOD and CWGC in the hope they will now gain some sort of recognition for their sacrifice.

Below is the full list of pages researched and the number of individuals found, this also included the 314 pages from the 1946 & 1947 register as I found names of individuals recorded from the war years in these files.

1939-1940 Register 734 pages. 1,033 names found
1941 Register 1,233 pages.1,035 names found
1942 Register 884 pages.1,031 names found
1943 Register 1,183 pages. 946 names found
1944 Register 395 pages 839 names found
1945 Register 297 pages. 477 names found

"We will remember them"

Unfortunately the remaining four  names missing from the PWSTS memorial plaque could not be traced.



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British Merchant Navy at War


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It has recently been brought to my attention, that one of the casualties I supplied NORMAN JOHNSTONE from the PWSTS maybe incorrect. After checking the Deaths at Sea Register and compairing details from the CWGC data, I find the correct individual is the one named below. This error was due to the incorrect spelling of his surname on the PWSTS Memorial, which lead to my initial findings.

JOHNSTON, Senior Ordinary Seaman, NORMAN, S.S. Manchester Citizen (Manchester). Merchant Navy. 9th July 1943. Age 19. Son of Walter and Rosetta Johnston, of Blackburn, Lancashire. Tower Hill Memorial. Panel 67.

Rgds Billy


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Colin


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Well done Billy, great perseverance and another sailor recognised and brought home.



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Cool Colin, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.
Andy


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Well done Billy I will update the memorial page today

Many thanks indeed



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