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Harold A G BARRATT - Merchant Navy

Harold A G BARRATT - Merchant Navy

Posted: 29 Jun 2013 5:48AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 30 Jun 2013 12:53AM GMT
Surnames: Barratt
I know my father was in the Merchant Navy and travelled to Nagasaki and Hiroshima during this time. I also know he was a Batman / Gunner during WWII and I know his military number. He was stationed in The Orkneys. Can anyone advise what site I can visit to get the maximum information about his military career please? I would be grateful for any leads I may be able to follow. Thanks. Maureen

Re: Harold A G BARRATT - Merchant Navy

Posted: 23 Jul 2013 12:49AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Maureen

You don't say what nationality your father was, but if this is the British merchant navy we are talking about then I would start out by trying:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/advanced-search.aspx?...

This will not just search the National Archives at Kew, but another couple of hundred of archives.

However most if not all of the World War 2 records are generally unavailable to the public I'm afraid apart from some usually Spartan details of soldiers who died which can be found on the CWGC site.

www.cwgc.org

I would also try contacting the Royal British Legion. I imagine they will know where to find these records, and possibly they may have the contacts and clout to get some access to records not generally available; or even if the records are not available they may know may be able to help you possibly by trying to see if they can make introductions or ask questions to surviving members of his units from the time.

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/lost-trails/lost...

Hope you find some info.

Regards

Neil

Re: Harold A G BARRATT - Merchant Navy

Posted: 23 Jul 2013 2:09AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 23 Jul 2013 12:18PM GMT
Surnames: BARRATT
Thank you so much Neil - My father was British and during WW11 was in the British Army. He was also in the Merchant Navy but I believe this to have been when he was in his late teens early twenties (he was born in 1906). I just remember his recollections of this time but was too young to think of asking any questions about his age at this time, names of any ships or anything else.

As my query is about prior to WWII would the two sites you suggest I contact still be able to help me? He didn't die during the war so I don't think CWG would be able to help.

Thanks again for any further help. - Maureen

Re: Harold A G BARRATT - Merchant Navy

Posted: 24 Jul 2013 3:41AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Barratt
The simple answer is that I don't know - but in general due to the way confidentiality works, it is often easier to find records that are older rather than those more recent.

However I would have thought that a records of soldier's joining up for WW2, might think it worthwhile to note that this man had prior service.

I also found the following on National Archives, which seems to suggest that they have made 1M+ merchant navy records up to 1941 available online on Find My Past. Anyway, its another lead, but I would definitely browse FindMyPast first and see if they seem to have what you are seeking before buying any credits on FMP.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/news/618.htm

and on the national archives page above there is a link to a merchant navy search page.

Strangely by coincidences, my grandfather was born 1906 and was British, and he was in the army in WW2, and yet we have recently found out that he also used to be in the merchant navy as well when he was aged about 12-15, 12 being the time when many people left school back then.

Regards

Neil
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