Death/ Disappearance at sea

[Heb66]

Please could anyone advise me how to research a death / disappearance at sea in 1929 have no other real info apart from name as of yet. Does a death at sea appear in the GRO index ?

Many thanks

[Mort29]

By 1929 I'd think so.

The GRO Index for such is only available thru 'FindMyPast' site I believe.

Added - it only runs 1854-1890 

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/BmdAtSeaStartSearchServlet?event=D

[CaroleW]

Would it only be on the GRO index if it happened in British waters?   I don't know the answer and the GRO website is useless

[OneBigFamily]

Hi Heb66

Hope you find the following website more useful than the GRO.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/births-marriages-deaths-sea.htm
- see Section 3
It explains "General Register Office: Miscellaneous Foreign Returns can be searched and downloaded online at http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk/ "

Hope its that simple! 

OneBigFamily

[OneBigFamily]

However, another link from the NAtional Archives explains the following:

http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Births%2C_Marriages_and_Deaths_at_Sea#Registers_of_Births.2C_Marriages_and_Deaths_at_Sea:_Death_Registers:_1891_to_1964

Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths at Sea: Death Registers: 1891 to 1964
These records are held at The National Archives under category BT 334: Registers and indexes of Births, Deaths and Marriages at Sea. These records contain the death registers of those passengers and crew who died on the SS Titanic and SS Lusitania

Would be hepful if they could make their minds up!

[stanmapstone]

Would be hepful if they could make their minds up!

The returns at bmdregisters are only 1875 to 1891. The records are held at The National Archives under category BT 334 are from 1891 to 1964


Stan

[Heb66]

  Thank you very much everyone for all your input, am waiting for  my friend to get back to me with specific info, apparently there is a telegram with her elderly mothers belongings about the incident.

A much needed visit to PRO Kew is on the cards I think

[LizzieW]

So if you can't find a death on BMDRegisters of someone supposedly lost at sea in 1877/8 does that mean he didn't die in English waters, or that he wasn't lost at sea after all?

[seaweed]

Go to "Find my Past"
Go to Deaths and Burials
Go to British Overseas 1761-1994
Go to GRO Marine Death Indices 1903-1965
You may be lucky and find him there. As already pointed out Kew holds comprehensive records for DAS 1929 in BT334/88 and BT334/89 both for overseas and British waters

If you find nothing in GRO Marine Death Indices 1903- 1965 just send me a PM 

If he died at sea and the body was brought ashore then his death would be recorded in the usual way.