Jumping ship in New Zealand

Fisherman, Merchant vessels, Emigrant ships etc.

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ang
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:56 pm
Location: Fife

Jumping ship in New Zealand

Post by ang » Thu Aug 25, 2005 11:46 am

Hi ,
I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me with this as I am a bit stuck with where to look for the info and even if it is available anywhere.
I'm researching a G-uncle who was a merchant seaman.
I received his shipping records from the NAS the other day and on one of the boats(1942) theres a comment added to say that he failed to rejoin his ship.This happened in Auckland.
Would this be documented anywhere to say why he didn't return?
I wondered if the Merchant Navy has a similiar procedure to the Royal Navy where they would punish a sailor for this or is it only marked on his record?
Any help or ideas would be great.
Ang :?

StewL
Posts: 1396
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 12:59 am
Location: Perth Western Australia

Post by StewL » Fri Aug 26, 2005 5:07 am

Hello Ang

I am not too sure about the Merchant Navy "punishment" but your right about the RN, same as RAN :lol:

It is possible though, that because it was in 1942 during wartime, that there was some form of punishment apart from not being paid. :D

There is a possibility that due to wartime conditions he would have been mentioned to the local police, but whether there are any records available is a moot point, I am afraid I dont have a clue there.

Also depending on his age, he may have joined up in some regular service, but again I dont know what records are available in NZ

This may be a bit rambling, but just a couple of thoughts. :wink:

Someone else may be able to help here, but I vaguely recall about the UK Merchant Service being nationalised/mobilised during the war, but cant recall where I read about it.
Stewie

Searching for: Anderson, Balks, Barton, Courtney, Davidson, Downie, Dunlop, Edward, Flucker, Galloway, Graham, Guthrie, Higgins, Laurie, Mathieson, McLean, McLuckie, Miln, Nielson, Payne, Phillips, Porterfield, Stewart, Watson

ang
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:56 pm
Location: Fife

Post by ang » Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:30 am

Hi Stew,
You're right about the Merchant Navy being mobilised.He was in '43-'44.
:)
Thanks for your ideas I hadn't thought about the police so you've given me something.I'll maybe have to get in contact with the Merchant Navy and ask their advise.I found a web site for them so they may know if the police would have been involved.

I'll just have to go on looking I think .
I'd email NZ but I don't know who to mail.Perhaps there is someone here who can point me in the right direction.
Thanks again
Ang

WilmaM
Posts: 1920
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:46 am
Location: Falkirk area

Post by WilmaM » Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:42 am

Ang,
Is the 'jumping ship' entry the last on his records?

If not what was next? did he join the navy in NZ or is he on another MN ship ?

If he was in any of the 'Forces' you may be able to get records from them.

Just a thought.
Wilma

ang
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:56 pm
Location: Fife

Post by ang » Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:02 am

Hi Wilma,
No its not the last .He noted as being on another ship 2 months later.

Its not the RN he was in during the war its still the Merchant .I'm waiting on another document coming from NAS about this.
Ang

goldmoondl
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:50 am
Location: London - from New Zealand

Post by goldmoondl » Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:55 am

Hi Ang

Try contacting the New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc - website http://www.genealogy.org.nz/

Someone on there maybe able to help you or at least answer your question.

Andrea
From New Zealand.

ang
Posts: 25
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:56 pm
Location: Fife

Post by ang » Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:18 pm

Thanks .
I'll give it a go.
Ang

Sobil
Posts: 92
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:54 am

Brits in Hot Australasian Waters!

Post by Sobil » Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:14 pm

Hi Ang,

I should have been reading all the postings... I'm looking for merchant seamen info too... What is the NAS and are they on line?

Also I found lots of old records of british crew in Australian waters, logs etc. through mariners.records.nsw.gov.au A lot of the vessels pass through NZ one way or the other. I'm not sure that WW2 counts as old but maybe they can point you in the right direction if it's not there.

Sobil

AndrewP
Site Admin
Posts: 6189
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:36 am
Location: Edinburgh

Re: Brits in Hot Australasian Waters!

Post by AndrewP » Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:41 pm

Sobil wrote:What is the NAS and are they on line?
Hi Sobil,

NAS = National Archives of Scotland - http://www.nas.gov.uk/

Their catalog and details of what they hold are online, but the records themselves are not online. As far as I recall, they cannot do much searching for you. You (or someone on your behalf) has to go there to do the searching.

Their main base is General Register House, in Princes Street, Edinburgh (almost next door to New Register House, where all the births, deaths, marriages etc. are kept).

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

Sobil
Posts: 92
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 5:54 am

Post by Sobil » Tue Sep 13, 2005 4:57 pm

:lol: Thanks Andrew... I was thinking National Association of Seamen.

I'm in Q8 so it's a bit far to go to the records office. Time to call in the family!

Would they cover shipwrecks too... my great grandfather apparently floundered off the Bay of Biscay (probably not that far off because he survived)

:wink: