George McKenna

[sidney fowler]

My grandfather George McKenna born 1887 Liverpool served in the Merchant Navy from about 1911 to 1953.Most of the time with White Star Line/Cunard.
For his service in WW 1 he was awarded the Mercantile Marine Ribbon and Medal.
However I can't find any record of his service during WW 2. Any suggestions.
Also a family story has him being torpedoed.Is there any way of confirming this?
Appreciate any help.
Sid Fowler

[Doc Vernon]

Hello Sid
I know that you already have his War Medal record ww1 but just checking the Archives to see if its correct ,I will try and persue this futher if I can,
I am sure our Expert Hugh will soon be on to this as well
Cheers I think you have spelt the Surname incorrectly.

Reference:	BT 351/1/93840

Medal Card of	McKenna, George
Place of Birth:	Liverpool
Date of Birth:	1887

Would you possibly have a Ships name to start!?
Do they show his discharge Number at all ie R--------- ??

[Doc Vernon]

It shows a CR2 Record Card ??? But not sure of the DOB on this one (does look like 1887 though) ! It has also the discharge Number 555686 and rating at that time as Butcher shows Ships Official Numbers from 1919 to 1921 Fair Haired and seems like there is another Discharge Number but I cannot make it out!
Would you know any of this!?
Cheers

Address then shows as 51 Rydal Street Liverpool UK

[Doc Vernon]

Ship listed of the The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company

(Known as White Star Line) Ships Shown on Card

Vedic 19/2/19 to 21/6/19

BELGENLAND

16/8/19

BALTIC is on his card joined 5/5/1920

His last Ship I can see was the Celtic joined 6/8/1921 White Star Line

So to sum up looks as though he was not involved in WW2 ?? But I cannot be sure!
however with the Ship Records shown looks like he was not??

I have no records of any other Ships he may have been on during WW1 unless this is not him I cannot even find records for past that date of 1921 ?? And you say he was serving till 1953???? Strange! Anyway I hope that Hugh will be able to sort this out! He is really very good at all this! Cheers

George McKenna 6.JPG Is this him ??

[Keith at Tregenna]

First look suggest:

United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941

1921-1941
George Mckenna
Birth:
1887
Lancashire

Same name recorded: 1918-1921

Possible death.

George Mckenna
England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007

Birth:
1887

Death:
1936
Liverpool South, Lancashire, England

?

Keith.

[Hugh]

Hi Sid,
He has 6 cards in the Fourth Register of Seamen including 2 x photos. B. 20.12.1887 in Liverpool.
One of the cards puts him on SCYTHIA 3.5.1941 and note states original lost through enemy action.
There are no online records for him for WW2 so you need to obtain his CRS 10 from the National Archives Kew, if it has survived - this starts from Jan 1941 until he left the service. The file reference is BT 382/1117

Best if you are able to visit Kew to obtain that file though If you need copies of the 6 cards giving his service from 1919-1937 send me your email by private message.

Regards
Hugh

[Doc Vernon]

A question for Hugh please!
Hello Hugh just a question here as I am a wee bit confused.
I have a Seamans Record Card CR2 with name of G McKenna Born Liverpool as F&T (Fitter and Turner)
I cannot understand the dates shown on it as it Shows Birth Year as just 31 (presume that will be 1931) however there is an official Stamp that is dated 11/12/33 Mercantile Marine Port Talbot. So as you see the dates don't make sense or do they! If he was Born 31 how can the official Stamp show only two Years on as 1933????? Flumexed~
The Ship shown on that is Casanare Liverpool Off Number 147295 Dis Number 1101042
Cheers Thanks if you can explain!??

Another strange thing to is that the last Ship recorded on this CR2 is also the

SCYTHIA

143730 joined 16/1/41

This is just interest
Convoy

WS 6A

Convoy sailed from Avonmouth, Liverpool and the Clyde with all sections joining off Oversay 9.2.41, and consisted of:

ALMANZORA ASCANIUS BELLEROPHON BERGENSFJORD BURDWAN CAPE HORN CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF CORINTH CITY OF HANKOW CITY OF PITTSBURGH CONSUELO DALESMAN HIGHLAND BRIGADE KINA II LEOPOLDVILLE

LLANDAFF CASTLE LLANGIBBY CASTLE LOGICIAN MAHSEER MANCHESTER CITIZEN MATAROA NOVA SCOTIA OPAWA PORT ALMA RANGITATA RUAHINE SALWEEN SCYTHIA THYSVILLE

[Keith at Tregenna]

Need Sydney (Sidney ) to comment on all thus far, then we may have a direction to further search.

Keith.

[sidney fowler]

Hi Vernon,
Yes the name is McKenna.I have a certificate/discharge number 555686 that is on the document about his medals.There is another number
that looks like R8(orS)841144.It is very hard to read.Records have him on the Scythia 31/10/1939 again on 5/12/1939.The next I have is the Samaria 1/11/1944.
Can't find anything inbetween. I do know he had a reputation for coming home with a pocket full of danger money and spending it all in the local boozer.
Yes that is his photograph.His last ship I have is the Georgic 15/8/1953.he was a bedroom steward.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Sid
Yes that is the other number that is on that Pic I cut it out to post!
Will look and see if there is any futher info!??
Cheers