looking for any naval records of my father Alexander Crane

[Sue Mcabe]

how do i start my search for naval records of my father please

[keyboard86]

how do i start my search for naval records of my father please

Hi we have to be careful if your father is still alive, was he Merchant or Royal Navy?

Keyboard86

[CaroleW]

Are you talking about WW11 service records or did he serve after WW11

[Blue70]

When did he serve? If he was in the Royal Navy this may be useful to you:-

https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records


Blue

[keyboard86]

Hi again, if he was Merchant Navy, their are records of an Alexander Crane born Liverpool, details of exact date of birth I have excluded in case your father is still alive.

Keyboard86

[Sue Mcabe]

Hi I dont know much about my deceased fathers naval life my sister says he started of in the Merchant navy and joined young maybe  giving incorrect date of birth he was a galley boy I do not know if this is correct, however we have come across a photo of him in what looks like a royal navy uniform  and wondered if he was transferred to here for his national service for the second world war his date of birth is 17/11/1923  Any help would be appriciated  Thanks

[keyboard86]

Hi again, the Merchant record is indeed him born 17th November 1923 Liverpool signed on 26th August 1940 discharged 25th March 1941 Rating Galley Boy he was on vessel Baltraves Official number 132840 his discharge shows Series BT 349 Discharge Number R 226198
Keyboard86

[keyboard86]

Hi again,  the birth registration of Alexander appears to be Alexander Crane Dec qtr 1923 Liverpool 8b 314 Mothers maiden name Wells

Their is a marriage of an Alexander Crane to a Jane Wells Dec qtr 1919 Toxteth P 8b 331
Keyboard86

[seaweed]

Before and during WW2 it was legal for boys of 14 years and over to join the British Merchant Navy. The realty was as a galley boy he would have been the lowest of the low and treated as such. This did not deter  those who did volunteer. Many did lie about their age looking for adventure searching for boyhood dreams of visiting foreign shores. It is a fact that over 500 boys aged under 16 died whilst serving in the MN in WW2.
I cannot find any on line Merchant Navy records for you man after he was discharged from BALTROVER in Liverpool in March 1941. I note his height was given as 5 feet 4 inch's. His MN records may have been lost or destroyed but you cannot discount the possibility he did later join the RN.
I would first of all try and get hold of the Logbook and Crew Agreement of BALTROVER  covering March 1941. They may give you an indication of why he left the ship and if nothing else will give details of where the vessel sailed whilst he was on board.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11043686
You could also search for his form CRS10 which should be available from here. Your best bet would be to visit Kew and search for both documents yourself.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?name=Search&_aq=&_ep=crane&_or1=&_or2=&_or3=&_nq1=&_nq2=&_nq3=&_cr1=bt382&_cr2=&_cr3=&_dss=range&_sd=&_ed=&_hb=tna&_col=0&_d=BT&_ro=any&_rd=&_rsd=&_red=&_st=adv&_rv=
This will tell you if indeed he did have MN service after March 1941.
I would also pursue the advice offered by Blue70.