The archive was founded by our member Peter Sharpe in 1985 to record the incredible deeds and sacrifices of merchant seamen at war during the period 1899 to 1999. Peter states that “all three of the Armed Services have government funded Historical Branches which research and record the deeds and actions of their members but the MN has nothing, and whilst the National Maritime Museum is superb it concentrates on the ships and not the men who sailed in them”.

The MN Archive grows hugely each year and already holds complete records of all merchant seamen who lost their lives during wartime (full name, rating, ship, date and often age and hometown) records of their ships, how their ships were lost (cause of loss, U-boat details, time and place of attack, voyage and cargo, references to official records at the Public Record Office and much more), details of all decorations awarded to merchant seamen for the Second World War and the “keys” to locating the “service cards” of merchant seamen 1918 – 1941 at the Public record Office.

In recent research projects the Archive has built an index enabling easy location of the official accounts by MN survivors of almost every ship lost 1939 – 1945,also a detailed record of almost 2000 merchant seamen who died 1939 – 47 and are buried ashore across the globe (therefore not being commemorated on Tower Hill Memorial) and an index of more than 3500 DEMS gunners killed whilst serving aboard MN vessels.

Amongst the thousands of books on the shelves are fleet histories, memoirs, books on the actions of those who sailed under the Red Duster, official and authoritative studies of the wars at sea 1914 – 1918, 1939 – 1945 and the South Atlantic 1982, material on U-boats and a growing collection of Discharge Books, documents and artifacts. It is hoped at some stage to have a small museum, open to the public, and to display artifacts, uniforms and MN medals.

We can provide reports on the service of merchant seamen based upon any surviving records which we manage to trace. Records pre-1918 were mostly destroyed in the late 1960’s when the Government did not have them preserved at the National Archives in London. Merchant Seamen 1914/18 can however be traced via their medals cards. Photographic mug-shots can be traced for most seamen serving 1919/21 and service post 1918 is usually traceable. Service post 1941 can be very detailed. Medal entitlements 1939/45 can be confirmed. We do not work on pre-1918 records, (other than for Ship’s Masters (Captains) as they rarely provide enough material to make it worthwhile.

The standard fee is £45.00 for both home and overseas private enquiries.

The MNA member's fee of £15.00 is for an enquiry regarding a Seafarer's service record after World War I or details of a ship loss, including reasonable photocopying costs. Extra charges will be made for more complicated research and excessive photocopying. A member with only one year's paid membership will be charged the Standard fee of £45.00. At the start of their second year's membership, they will be reimbursed with £30.00 less the second year's membership subscription.

Solicitor's research fee is £50.00 per hour (£75.00 minimum) plus all travel, photocopying and postage costs.

Commercial research - a quotation will be given according to the requirements. This research can become quite involved and the fee will reflect the work involved.

If you would like our assistance then contact us via:

Robert Kitchener
124 Beech Avenue, Bourne, PE10 9RB Tel: 01778 421891 or E-mail: robert@baroc124.freeserve.co.uk

Coffin Drapes

2.5 yard Red Ensigns coffin drapes are available for loan. Please contact Tim Brant (tel: 01472 851130) or David Dade (tel: 0207 690 6039) for details.