Merchant Navy Discharge Book - Character Report

[Jak Collis]

Hi all, first time poster so apologies for any mistakes.

I'm currently in the middle of some research into the discharge books of the Merchant Navy, I've found mentions of the character reports received going down as far as D(declining) but only seen evidence of VG (very good).

I was hoping someone would be able to share their knowledge, either on the full list of character reports, or somewhere I could find this info.

In particular I am interested in the lowest rating available.

(EDIT) I should probably specify I'm looking in to WW2 merchants.

Many thanks in advance,

Jak
Heritage Assistant with Big Heritage

[Geoff Smith]

I would imagine that, even in the "olden days", anything other than a VG in both ability and conduct, meant you might as well not bother to try furthering your career. Which would mean that any books with anything other would have been chucked.

[Doc Vernon]

Might be of use to you ??
Cheers

Abbreviations in merchant seamen's records - The National Archives

[Ivan Cloherty]

I would imagine that, even in the "olden days", anything other than a VG in both ability and conduct, meant you might as well not bother to try furthering your career. Which would mean that any books with anything other would have been chucked.

When a man presented his book with a 'DR' in it, I judged the man plus his previous service, not all people who issued DR's were correct and sometimes it was a clash of personality and not ability and some with a DR were just glad to get off the ship and couldn't be bothered to lodge a complaint (or their side of the story) to the Shipping Master. I always made it clear unless they wanted another one they'd better behave on my trip. When I was Supt, and a seaman arrived at the office with a DR in his book, I always contacted the Master of a vessel before sending him down to the ship, I never treated a DR as a generalisation, as a junior mate I'd seen them issued for trivial reasons and there always two sides to a coin

[happy daze john in oz]

On a couple of occasion been sent to see the skipper due to a number of incorrect acts of service, that is what I was told coming back late to the ship about 6 hours late and still smelling quite sweet,
Grog can do that to you.

Logged and pay deducted but in my discharge book two VG.

I never did find out what they were for, was it for the sweet smell of grog or something else?

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Only once came close to a DR [Declined to Report} and that was after twelve gruelling months on the British Builder, the reason we all didn't get one was because the Super sacked the Skipper, the shipping office wouldn't issue them.
Des
PS lowest ranking is Double DR

[j.sabourn]

ENR looked worse Des. One more letter. Showed at least you went down fighting. JS

[cappy]

Only once came close to a DR [Declined to Report} and that was after twelve gruelling months on the British Builder, the reason we all didn't get one was because the Super sacked the Skipper, the shipping office wouldn't issue them.
Des
PS lowest ranking is Double DR

well des i got one DESERTED .......like i was in the RN......never met anyone with that before ...even the committee in shields said ......they hadnt seen it before...but he was a ist trip old man .....with a fancy accent .....bloody seamen he dropped the lifeboat when the vessel was still underway at least six knots the forrard falls came off when the boat hit the water ...the boat then spun round ...causing the seaman on the forrad falls to fall and injure his back as the clinker built boat hit the ship itself and broke some planking ......we had to drop the other lifeboat...all in search of an appprentice who went over the wall........ah happy days .......at least 6 or7 skinned out pissed off in oz.... cappy skinned out for love of a beauty on holiday sadly her father whipped her of to queensland ...from south australia.....well i know the mate was issuing orders to us on the falls but ...as ididnt like the old man i am blaming him ...ps always had his uniform on even off karg island in julyand august while we discharged long steel pipes from welsh ports and middlesboro.andwe were on water rations.....oh life on the ocean wave .....R683532 cappy

[Jak Collis]

Thank you everyone for your input! This has been a great help!

[j.sabourn]

Did you have your glasses on when reading that Cappy or maybe the old man was drunk and meant to put up perverted . Was best in your case unless you had gone and told him you were deserting for him to leave the page blank and if had to enter a discharge would either be failed to join or missed the ship . VNC was the other alternative , stands for very nice Chappy . But in your case Cappy weather beautiful today about 28 degrees don’t know what people are moaning about . Cheers JS