William Edward Halsall

[BillyH]

I don't know much about this man, (or the Merchant Navy!) but I am hoping an expert might be able to tell me which medal(s) he qualified for from his service in the Great War.

All I know is that he was born in 1863 and his home was in Liscard, Wallasey in 1901 + 1911. He was a seagoing officer for many years I believe.

I know some info is available from N.A. but I don't want to pay. I do subscribe to Ancestry but I don't think they have anything.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

BillyH.

[johnboy]

From FMP. Could it be him?

 

British Merchant Navy, First World War Medal Cards 1914-1925 Transcription

Print transcription

First name(s)	William Edward
Last name	Halsall
Birth year	1862
Birth place as transcribed	Bootle, Liverpool
Birth place	Bootle, Liverpool
Birth county	-
Birth country	-
Link to site	http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8024317
Source	Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Index of First World War Mercantile Marine Medals and the British War Medal
Archive reference	BT 351/1/56848
Record set	British Merchant Navy, First World War Medal Cards 1914-1925
Category	Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory	First World War
Collections from	Great Britain

National Archives

Crown Copyright transcriptions reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England.

[seaJane]

There is a man of this name born in Bootle, Liverpool 1862 in TNA's index of First World War medals awarded to the Mercantile Marine.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8024317

[johnboy]

Looks like same man as I gave but different year of birth than given by OP. There are quite a few men of his name shown as working for IOM Steam Packet but no birth place shown.

[seaJane]

It may depend where BillyH got the date of birth; for example if it was from FreeBMD, a December 1892 birth might not have been registered until1893.

[ernest james]

He appears to have served on the Benin on the 1915 crewlists

 

http://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/crew-member?crew_member_search[lastName]=HALSALL&crew_member_search[firstName]=WILLIAM+E&crew_member_search[vesselName]=&crew_member_search[capacity]=&crew_member_search[birthPlace]=&crew_member_search[submit]

 

Do you have any Discharge number or RS2 number from his medal card?

 

ernest james

[BillyH]

Thanks for the interest.

I had already seen the N.A. info - but I don't want to pay!  His medal card (or whatever applied to Merchant seamen) is what I am asking for.

I now think that 1862 in Bootle is the correct birth record.

He only appears on a 1901 census - at 43 Meadow Street, Liscard (he was presumably at sea in 1891 + 1911)

In 1911 his wife was at No.9 Turret Road in Liscard.

 

Ernest James, I think that must be him on the S.S.Benin in 1914-15, Castle Street is the next road after Turret Road.

 

BillyH.

[seaJane]

54 minutes ago, BillyH said:

Thanks for the interest.

I had already seen the N.A. info - but I don't want to pay!  His medal card (or whatever applied to Merchant seamen) is what I am asking for.

 

BillyH.

That is what TNA would give you, so far as I know. I thought 1 dose of £3.45 would be cheaper than a FindMyPast subscription

[ernest james]

I would expect TNA medal record card to give details of the award of his Mercantile Marine medal plus the British War Medal which was usually awarded as well. It may also give his home address plus his Discharge number and his RS2 number. The numbers are very useful if you want to try and link to other records.

ernest james

I agree with SeaJane's comment on the £3.45 dose.   

[BillyH]

10 hours ago, ernest james said:

He appears to have served on the Benin on the 1915 crewlists

Thanks once again SJ + EJ

It is definitely him on the S.S. 'Benin' because it has his address as Turret Street which is correct. He was also on 'Lucia' and 'Seattle' by the look of it.

I am happy with all this now, just wanted a general idea about him.

 

BillyH.