New Zealand Merchant Marine research query

[AndyMacdonald]

Hi all, I am in unchartered waters. My g-grandfather served throughout WW1 in New Zealand-based Union Steam Ship Company (USSCo). His name was Alan Hamilton Macdonald. I know he made a number of wartime voyages around the Pacific and also over to the USA. His service file from USSCo in NZ is pretty slim, and in keeping with all USSCo records that I have seen makes no mention of medals issued. I wonder whether he was issued with the Mercantile Marine War Medal and BWM for his 14-18 service? All his ships were NZ-registered, which means his name does not appear in the UK records for those medals. I am curious to know if anyone can steer me in the correct direction to find out what, if any, service medals he was issued? I vaguely recall hearing that there was some kind of list in NZ of recipients on NZ-registered ships, or maybe it was an archive/library that held that information? One of his granddaughters threw out his medals, so all I know is that he had some. During WW2 he served, but I am not sure in what capacity, but it appears to have been RNZNVR. It may also have been Merchant Marine again, but who knows? In any case, it was with an NZ-based service/arm/formation/... He is not to be confused with his son, who used the same name, during WW2 in RINVR. Bests Andy.

[ritterk]

Hi Andy

Found this on NZ Archives site...this is his probate record - a copy can be ordered from NZ Archives for a small sum.

I will see what else I can find,,,ie.if he was awarded WW1 medals etc

Cheers

Hugh

MacDONALD Alan Hamilton - Auckland - Retired Master Mariner (R14766700) 1969 - 1969

Item ID Agency Series Accession Record group Box / Item Sep Record no. Part Alternative no. Record type R14766700 BBAE 1570 A645 2127 / P530/1969 Text

[AndyMacdonald]

Hi Hugh, Thanks a bunch! I have found his name listed with a variety of spellings: Macdonald, MacDonald, McDonald, and so on. I have his probate file already, but that does not shed much light on potential WW1 service. I have from various sources cobbled together some ships that he served on during the war, although it is not exhaustive and I recall that there are several others: Tutanekai, Rimu, Niagara. I am having his USSCo records digitised and sent over. Appreciate any help you can offer. I am not sure that the Watt Index is online, and so I have my visibility restricted somewhat! Bests and thanks, Andy

[AndyMacdonald]

Hi all, Just doing some digging on this topic and would be grateful for some expert insight. According to various websites, the Mercantile Marine War Medal was awarded by the Board of Trade. The medal was apparently awarded to people who had served in the Merchant Navy and who had made a voyage through a war zone or danger zone during the 1914-1918 war. What and where, in terms of this medal, are the danger zones? Apparently it was entirely possible for Merchant seamen to be awarded the British War Medal for service only, but not the Mercantile Marine War Medal because they did not pass through either a war or danger zone. Thoughts? If I am doubling up on a previous thread (I couldn't find one), then please accept my apologies and be kind enough to post a link. Adding to my earlier post, I am now able to confirm that AH Macdonald sailed in and around NZ coastal waters for the period Feb 1914 to March 1918. Two years of that was in a government appointed cable repairer, the rest in merchant vessels. In the latter half of 1918 he was second officer on SS Niagara, which sailed across the Pacific to the US. The USSCo files show he docked in San Francisco, and suggest that he was also on the east coast. Of the latter, I am seeking clarification. Bests. Andy

[Waddell]

Andy,

According to this, if they received a Mercantile Marine Medal they were entitled to a British War Medal

Details are here for BT351-

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details?Uri=C3387

A short search does not reveal Alan Hamilton MacDonald, so you may need to search around a little deeper to find if he is on the registry.

I researched and wrote about a locally connected man, Edward Baker, who was a Transport Officer with the Union Steam Ship Company aboard the S.S 'Aparima'. That ship was transporting troops from New Zealand to Egypt in 1916. He received medals, although they were claimed by his mother posthumously in 1922.

His BT351 entry is here-

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7973562

His mothers application for the medals is held by the Australian National Archives here-

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=9576417

Page 2 of his mother's application may be of interest to your research as it lists the 'Danger Zones' for shipping.

You may be interested in Edward Baker's story, which is on page 10 of this link-

http://www.thebushtele.com.au/archives/121025.pdf

Voyages to all parts of the world were danger zones when raiders like the 'Wolf' were operating.

Hope this helps!

Scott

[AndyMacdonald]

Scott, I really do appreciate that post so much! Awesome! Cleared up so many questions. Looks like his SS Niagara voyage out of NZ to the US, and subsequent return, qualify as entering and clearing a danger zone under Part 7 of the Danger Zone list.http://recordsearch....pts/Imagine.asp. Now to find out whether he got the medal! Over the years I have heard from several reliable people that the UK records don't necessarily include NZ recipients of the Mercantile Marine War Medal, but whether or not this is true, or to what extent, remains unknown to me. Andy

[christine liava'a]

The Niagara never went to San Francisco. Rather Vancouver. Her route was Sydney or Auckland, Suva, Honolulu, Vancouver.

A. H. MacDonald arrived in Vancouver on  19 Sept 1918. The Pacific in late 1918 was not a danger zone. Liners were travelling the Auckland - Vancouver route and the Wellington - Papeete - San Francisco route every month. The main dangers were storms and reefs.

 

 

Edited 28 August , 2022 by christine liava'a