Finding a Death Certificate

[Christine Turnbull]

My father died on board a Hong Kong registered ship that he was serving on during WW2 and his body was buried at Chittagong. Later that year Probate was granted to my mother , his widow, in the UK. I am therefore assuming that there must have been a Death Certificate. Can anyone advise how and where to search for it please.

[jim1]

Hello & welcome.
You don't say if your father was a British citizen.
Assuming he was British his death would have been registered in the UK & his death certificate will be held by the GRO.

[dawnsh]

Hi Christine

If you're happy to post his name, then people here will be able to search the index online and be able to give you the correct reference numbers so you can order the certificate from the General Register Office at www.gro.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can register with the GRO and try to order his death certificate using the information you have and they will search for you.

Both services cost £9.25, if you have the reference despatch is 5 working days, if you don't have the reference despatch is 15 days depending on whether they find the entry or not. If they don't find the entry then your £9.25 will be refunded.

Hope this helps

Dawn

[Christine Turnbull]

Thank you for your replies. Yes, my father was a British citizen. His name was William Slaughter Miller - a Merchant Navy Officer, Discharge Book no 1094409 who was serving aboard the Hong Kong registered vessel the 'Yuen - Sang' no. 152444 as Second Mate. The ship was plying between Calcutta and Chittagong. His death is recorded by the Ministry of Shipping and Seamen at Cardiff as 'Heart Failure'. He was buried in Chittagong under the Red Ensign but I can't find any record of a grave or the Cemetery in which he was buried. He has no memorial.

[Christine Turnbull]

Should have stated that he was born in 1905 and his date of death was 22.3.1943

[dawnsh]

From the GRO Marine Deaths 1943

WILLIAM S MILLER
Age    38
Name of Vessel    YUEN SANG
Page    90

From memory, you have a blank text box to fill in for the details required after entering the surname and first name

Hope this helps

Dawn