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Britain had one of the largest merchant fleets in the world. The workforce on these vessels was a casual, ‘jobbing workforce’ so in any one year as many as 1.5 million people could be employed in the Merchant Navy.
This means that many people are likely to find ancestors in our new Merchant Navy Seamen records – celebrities included! Take a look at the celebrity examples we’ve found in the records – have you found any of your own ancestors?
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's grandfather, a 3rd Officer - please click to enlarge
You might remember that Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen discovered that his maternal grandfather Ronald Ernest Wilks was a merchant seaman in his Who Do You Think You Are? episode. Well here he is! Ronald was born on 13th August 1898 in Newport and was employed as a 3rd Officer on three vessels between 1920 and 1921. His record includes a photograph showing that flamboyant hairstyles seemed to run in the family!
Norman Wisdom
Norman Wisdom, a cabin boy - please click to enlarge
Did you know that Norman Wisdom was once a merchant seaman? Here we see that Norman Joseph Wisdom, born on 4th February 1915 in London, once worked as a cabin boy on SS Mandy Count. Norman was recorded as having hazel eyes, brown hair and a pale complexion. You’ll also see an early autograph at the bottom!
Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile's brother, an ordinary seaman - please click to enlarge
Jimmy Savile’s brother John Henry Savile was also a merchant seaman and can be seen here telling a porkie pie about his age. John is recorded as having been born on 24th May 1918 in Leeds, though our birth records reveal that he was actually born a year later in 1919! John worked as an ordinary seaman on SS Firby and has signed his name at the bottom of the record. He was recorded as being 5’5’’ tall with brown eyes, fair hair, a fair complexion and a scar on the crown of his head.
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This means that many people are likely to find ancestors in our new Merchant Navy Seamen records – celebrities included! Take a look at the celebrity examples we’ve found in the records – have you found any of your own ancestors?
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's grandfather, a 3rd Officer - please click to enlargeYou might remember that Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen discovered that his maternal grandfather Ronald Ernest Wilks was a merchant seaman in his Who Do You Think You Are? episode. Well here he is! Ronald was born on 13th August 1898 in Newport and was employed as a 3rd Officer on three vessels between 1920 and 1921. His record includes a photograph showing that flamboyant hairstyles seemed to run in the family!
Norman Wisdom
Norman Wisdom, a cabin boy - please click to enlargeDid you know that Norman Wisdom was once a merchant seaman? Here we see that Norman Joseph Wisdom, born on 4th February 1915 in London, once worked as a cabin boy on SS Mandy Count. Norman was recorded as having hazel eyes, brown hair and a pale complexion. You’ll also see an early autograph at the bottom!
Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile's brother, an ordinary seaman - please click to enlargeJimmy Savile’s brother John Henry Savile was also a merchant seaman and can be seen here telling a porkie pie about his age. John is recorded as having been born on 24th May 1918 in Leeds, though our birth records reveal that he was actually born a year later in 1919! John worked as an ordinary seaman on SS Firby and has signed his name at the bottom of the record. He was recorded as being 5’5’’ tall with brown eyes, fair hair, a fair complexion and a scar on the crown of his head.
More...