WWII merchant ships

[ynot]

Hello,

I have a certificate of discharge book for a merchant sailor who served on various ships between 1940 and 1946, under "discription of voyage" is either foreign or T.124X.

I know that this man was in the Singapore area where the description of voyage says foreign but what is T.124X? Is it just a code for the Atlantic convoys or does it mean something else?

Any comments would be great.

Thanks

Tony

[yellow]

T.124X are men of the Merchant Navy who volunteered for service with the navy.

Steve.

[ynot]

Cheers Steve, that would explain the reason for the 6 inch guns he once told me about just before he died and something about being on an aircraft carrier.

Tony

[yellow]

Those six inch guns you mentioned were used on armed merchantman.

The book you need is the "The Red Duster At War".

Steve.

[ynot]

Now that you mention it Steve, the six inch guns were put on the ship before going to Singapore, he wasn't a T.124X man then.

He did tell me that if they had fired a broadside at the Japs, the ship would have tipped over.

Tony

[yellow]

Do you have a list of ships served?

Steve.

[ynot]

Hello Steve,

Here's the list:

18.2.40 - 28.6.40 Raranga

9.7.40 - 26.11.40 Marquesa

9.12.40 - 25.1.41 HMS Mersey

26.1.41 - 2.12.41 HMS Wolfe

3.12.41 - 19.12.41 HMS Mersey

20.12.41 - 5.5.44 HMS Alaunia, he was promoted to Greaser on this ship.

6.5.44 - 25.5.44 HMS Mersey

26.5.44 - 21.7.45 HMS Thane

19.9.45 - 2.1.46 HMS Mersey

He certainly knew the Mersey and I think he was on the last ship or one of the last ships to be attacked by a U-Boot.

The first 2 ships were foreign voyages, the others were all as a T.124X man.

Tony

[Rick Research]

.

[ynot]

Thanks Rick!

Tony