Merchant Navy WW1 William Ferris

[pjdgm]

Hi All just discovered I have relative that served in the Merchant Navy during WW1 was wondering if the medals maybe out their still or if any one could provide me with more details on him and his service etc.

Thanks

 

Peter

Edited 13 hours ago by pjdgm

[alf mcm]

Peter,

This record includes his photograph;-

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=TNA%2FMSEA%2FBT350%2F08%2F11%2F081140&parentid=TNA%2FBT350%2F2130782961%2F1

Image courtesey of Findmypast.

The numbers next to his photo identify individual ships.

Regards,

Alf McM

 

[PRC]

The National Martime Museum has a project to transcribe and digitise the merchant marine crewlists from 1915. https://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/#home

The nearest match in a search return was a 23 year old W. Ferris, born London, who signed up to served aboard the Llandovery Castle from 6th March 1915 to the 22nd May 1915.

The relevant entry in the crew agreement shows his permanent address as 121 Percy Road, Canning Town - the same address as that held for William on his identity certificate as posted by @alf mcm

This was his "First Ship" and he signed the agreement at Poplar on the 3rd March 1915. He was discharged along with the rest of the entries on the page on the 22nd May 1915 at Tilbury. https://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/document/209229#&gid=1&pid=5

I'm not very familiar with the layout of these documents, but I think from the entry on the front page, all the individuals referred to in this section were Stewards aboard the ship. Her official number was 135302. The Llandovery Castle was described as a foreign going ship.https://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/document/209229#&gid=1&pid=1

The Llandovery Castle was a Royal Mail Steamer and at that time was serving West Africa, carrying mail, passengers and cargo. In 1916 she was commissioned and converted into a hospital ship. She would be sunk in 1918 while carrying out that role. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMHS_Llandovery_Castle

I'm sure the ship sailed again in 1915, but I'm not spotting any further sign of William.

Cheers,
Peter