Jonathan
Further to my e-mail I have found another reference at the national Archives in the UK,
you can order online. This time go to the catalogue
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp just enter his dicharge book
number R272686.
You will find under reference BT391/87/44
Navy Operations, Seamen's Pouches
Registry of Shipping and Seamen: War of 1939-1945; Combined Office Merchant
Name: Phillips, Albert John.
Service number: R272686.
Date of birth: 30/01/1924.
This should give you his wartime details
Regards
Bryan
Go to
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp and get information from
his Seamans Pouch
enter in Word or Phrase Phillips A.J.
Series Code enter BT372
You then get
BT 372/533/11 R272686 PHILLIPS A J 30/01/1924 CARDIFF 1913-1972
BT372/533/11 is the National Archive Reference. R272686 is his discharge Boook No. then
his surname and initials and his date and place of birth
1913-1972 is the period covered.
Click on R272686 PHILLIPS A J 30/01/1924 CARDIFF
the next web page will then give you top right a button circled in red with the letters
Request this> . You can order this on line.
They may now want proof of his death and any relationship in order to get his documents.
But I would make the request first and
find out what they require.
Click on Request this> and the next page lets you order a digital copy in PDF ionline.
Follow their instructions. These documents
will be his ID card and other information. However as to what ships he was on is a
problem, there is no central index of seamen and
the ships they served on other than crew agreements, these are filed in year ending of the
voyage and official number of the ship.
So you need to know the ship to start with, then you can look up the official No. then
find out which archive holds a copy of that
agreement. These agreements only state his name, rank, year of birth, place of birth,
previous ship, when and where signed on and
where and when signed off.