The National Archives
Search The National Archives
Advanced search
   
 
the Catalogue
Welcome (catalogue home page) About the catalogue Research guides  
Search the catalogue Browse the catalogueLink to help - opens in a new windowSearch hit list (from your last search)
 
 
 

Research Guides

  
Page specific help - opens in a new window: Research guides
 
 
Back
  
 

Merchant Seamen: Abbreviations Found in the RGSS Registers

Domestic Records Information 112

1. Introduction

A range of abbreviations were used by the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen (RGSS) when entering details of voyages etc. in the various registers of service for seamen, masters, mates, engineers and fishing officers. The lists below, although not complete, do contain a lot of the abbreviations commonly used which offer a means to translating most of those not included.

It should be noted that no key has been found for the "Port Rotation Numbers" used in many of the pre-20th Century registers of seamen's service. A key to Ships' Official Numbers may be found in class BT 336 .

2. Abbreviations for Rank or Rating

Abbreviation Alternatives Probable Meaning
2 E 2 Eng 2nd Engineer Rank or Rating
2 M   2nd Mate Rank or Rating
3 E 3 Eng 3rd Engineer Rank or Rating
3 M   3rd Mate Rank or Rating
4 E 4 Eng 4th Engineer Rank or Rating
4 Off   4th Officer (4th Mate) Rank or Rating
5 E 5 Eng 5th Engineer Rank or Rating
5 Off   5th Officer (5th Mate) Rank or Rating
A App or Apptce Apprentice Rank or Rating
AB   Able Seamen Rank or Rating
Asst   Assistant Rank or Rating
Bkr   Baker Rank or Rating
Bos Boatn or Bosn Boatswain (2nd Mate?). Also Bosun. Obsolete form= Boson. Rank or Rating
Brkpr   Barkeeper Rank or Rating
B R Stwd   Bedroom Steward Rank or Rating
Btchr   Butcher Rank or Rating
Btmn   Boatman (a seaman left on board to look after the ship when in port) Rank or Rating
C   Captain (Master) of a vessel Rank or Rating
C   Cabin Rank or Rating
C Boy C/Boy Cabin Boy (possibly a Cabin Steward) Rank or Rating
Cadet   Company Cadet (possibly an Apprentice) Rank or Rating
Cf M   Chief Mate (1st Mate) Rank or Rating
Ch   Chief Rank or Rating
Ck   Cook Rank or Rating
Clnr   Cleaner Rank or Rating
Cptr Cr Carpenter Rank or Rating
CRS   Central Records Section: prefix to form number, see separate list of forms Notes
Ctring   Catering Rank or Rating
D Boy   Deck Boy Rank or Rating
DBS   Distressed British Seaman. One who is left without a berth, ill or without funds in a foreign port. Notes
Dept   Department Rank or Rating
D H   Deck Hand Rank or Rating
Dispr   Dispenser Rank or Rating
Dk   Deck Rank or Rating
D K   Dock Street Location
Donkey-man Dkyman A donkey-engine operator. A donkey engine is a small steam engine, used for subsidiary operations on board ship. Rank or Rating
Dr   Doctor Rank or Rating
DR   Decline to Report. Normally implies a problematic person, a poor character, or unable to do work. Character
E Eng or Engr Engineer Rank or Rating
EDH   Extraordinary Deck Hand Rank or Rating
Electr   Electrician Rank or Rating
F   Foreign Trade F or H column
Fireman F Stoker Rank or Rating
Ftr   Fitter Rank or Rating
G   Galley Rank or Rating
GS   General Servant Rank or Rating
Gsr   Greaser (works in engine dept.) Rank or Rating
H   Home Trade F or H column
Hd   Head Rank or Rating
Hosp   Hospital Rank or Rating
J Eng   Junior Engineer Rank or Rating
Jnr   Junior Rank or Rating
JOS   Junior Ordinary Seaman? Rank or Rating
KP   Kitchen Porter Rank or Rating
Lman   Laundry Man Rank or Rating
Ldg   Leading Rank or Rating
L/Boy L Boy Leading Boy Rank or Rating
LT   Lamp Trimmer Rank or Rating
M   Mate Rank or Rating
M   Mess Rank or Rating
MAA   Master at Arms Rank or Rating
Med O   Medical Officer Rank or Rating
MNEA   Merchant Navy Establishment Agency Contracts
MNRP   Merchant Navy Reserve Pool Ship
MR   Mess Room Rank or Rating
Mstr   Master (Captain) of a vessel Rank or Rating
Mtrman   Motor Man Rank or Rating
N Wman   Night Watchman Rank or Rating
Off   Officer Rank or Rating
OS   Ordinary Seaman Rank or Rating
P Psr Purser Rank or Rating
Pman   Pantry Man Rank or Rating
P/Boy P Boy Pantry Boy Rank or Rating
Passgr   Passenger Notes
Plmr   Plumber Rank or Rating
Psge Wkr   Passage Worker Rank or Rating
Ptlman   Patrol Man Rank or Rating
QM   Quarter Master Rank or Rating
R   Refrigerating Rank or Rating
RO   Radio Officer Rank or Rating
RT   Radio Telegraphist Rank or Rating
S   Saloon Rank or Rating
S   Seaman Rank or Rating
S B Attendt   Sick Bay Attendant Rank or Rating
Scnman   Section man Rank or Rating
Sig   Signal Man Rank or Rating
Skipper   Master of a small ship or fishing vessel Rank or Rating
Sl Mr   Sail Maker Rank or Rating
Slr   Sailor Rank or Rating
Sman   Seaman Rank or Rating
Snr   Senior Rank or Rating
Srgn   Surgeon Rank or Rating
Strkpr   Store keeper Rank or Rating
Supny   Supernumerary Rank or Rating
Stwrd   Steward Rank or Rating
Swpr   Sweeper Rank or Rating
SOS   Senior Ordinary Seaman Rank or Rating
T Trmr Trimmer One who trims, (arranges) the cargo in the ships hold. Rank or Rating
Telgt   Telegraphist Rank or Rating
Trst   Tourist Rank or Rating
Util   Utility Rank or Rating
VG   Very Good Character
Wman   Winch-man Rank or Rating
WO   Wireless Operator Rank or Rating
Wtr   Waiter Rank or Rating

3. Abbreviations for Destinations

Letter Country
Letter Country
A West coast of Africa and adjacent islands
Aust Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand
B Baltic, Norway, White Sea, Gulf of Finland and Kattegat
C China, Japan and oriental archipelago
Cp Cape colonies, Ascension, St Helena, Natal, Algoa Bay
Ct Coasting trade, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, from River Elbe to Brest
EI East Indies, Burma, Mauritius, Red Sea
FPS France, (South of Brest), Portugal, Spain (outside Straits of Gibraltar, Azores
M Mediterranean, Black Sea, Sea of Azoff, Adriatic
NA British North America, Greenland, Iceland
NP North Pacific and West coast of North America
NS West coast of Denmark
SA Brazils, River Plate
SP South Pacific and West coast of South America
US United States (East coast and Gulf ports)
WI West Indies and Gulf of Mexico
For Foreign (not further identified)

4. Port numbers for UK ports

Port Number Port Name Port Number Port Name Port Number Port Name
1 Aberdeen 50 Gweek 99 Wells
2 Aberystwyth 51 Harwich 50 Westport
3 Aldborough 52 Hull 101 Weymouth
4 Arundel 53 Ilfracombe 102 Wexford
5 Ayr 54 Inverness 103 Whitehaven
6 Baltimore 55 Ipswich 104 Whitby
7 Banff 56 Irvine 105 Wick
8 Barnstaple 57 Kirkcaldy 106 Wisbech
9 Beaumaris 58 Kirkwall 107 Woodbridge
10 Belfast 59 Lancaster 108 Yarmouth
11 Berwick 60 Leith 109 Preston
12 Bideford 61 Lerwick 110 Gainsborough
13 Borrowstounness 62 Liverpool 111 New Ross/Ross
14 Boston 63 Llanelly 112 Maryport
15 Bridgwater 64 London 113 Alloa
16 Bridlington 65 Londonderry 114 Perth
17 Bridport 66 Lyme 115 Arbroath
18 Bristol 67 Limerick 116 Carmarthen
19 Campbeltown 68 Lynn 117 Caernarvon (including Pwllheli,Portmadoc, Barmouth)
20 Cardiff 69 Maldon 118 Hartlepool
21 Cardigan 70 Milford 119 Tralee
22 Carlisle 71 Montrose 120 Runcorn
23 Chepstow 72 Newport, Monmouthshire 121 Wigtown
24 Chester 73 Newry 122 Ballina
25 Chichester 74 Newhaven 123 Folkestone
26 Cley 50 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 124 Shields
27 Colchester 76 Padstow 125 Strangemouth
28 Coleraine 77 Penzance 126 Fleetwood
29 Cork 78 Plymouth 127 Peterhead Fraserburgh)
30 Cowes 79 Poole 128 Workington
31 Dartmouth 80 Portsmouth 129 Lowestoft
32 Deal 81 Port Glasgow 130 Teignmouth
33 Dover 82 Ramsgate 131-146 probably not used
34 Drogheda 83 Rochester 147 Douglas
35 Dublin 84 Rye 148 Derbyhaven (& Castletown)
36 Dumfries 85 Scarborough 149 Peel
37 Dundalk 86 Scilly 150 Ramsey (plus other Isle of Man ports)
38 Dundee 87 St. Ives 151 Guernsey
39 Exeter 88 Shoreham 152 Jersey
40 Falmouth 89 Sligo 153 Middlesbrough
41 Faversham 90 Southampton 154 Ardrossan
42 Fowey 91 Southwold 155 unknown
43 Galway 92 Sunderland 156 unknown
44 Glasgow 93 Stockton 157 Sunderland
45 Grangemouth 94 Stornoway 158 Granton (Edinburgh)
46 Gloucester 95 Stranraer 159 Newcastle-upon-Tyne
47 Goole 96 Swansea 160 Youghal (S. Ireland)
48 Greenock 97 Truro 161 Barrow
49 Grimsby 98 Waterford    

5. Port numbers for Colonial Ports

Port Number Port Name Port Number Port Name
200 Halifax, Nova Scotia 255 - 256  
201 Liverpool, Nova Scotia 257 Bombay
202 Pictou, Nova Scotia 258 Calcutta
203 Yarmouth, Nova Scotia 259 Cape Town
204 - 206   260 Cochin, India
207 Sydney, New South Wales 261 unknown
208 Hobart Town 262 Madras
209 - 210   263 Melbourne
211 Launceston, Van Diemen's Land 264 - 270 unknown
212 Sydney, Cape Breton Island 271 Gasp, New Brunswick
213 - 216   272 Windsor, Nova Scotia
217 Kingston, Jamaica 273 St. Stephen, NB
218 St. Lucia (see 223, 231) 274 Digby, Nova Scotia
219 Montego Bay, Jamaica 275 Hong Kong
220 - 221   276 New Glasgow (Pictou), NS
223 St. Lucia (see 218, 231) 277 Moulmein, Burma
224 Malta (plus Gibraltar ?) 278 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
225 Louis, Mauritius 279 Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
226 - 227 unknown 280 unknown
228 Miramichi Bay, New Brunswick 281 Grand Island, Cape Breton Island
229 Prince Edward Island 282 Weymouth, Nova Scotia
230 St. John, N. B. (see 243) 283 - 286 unknown
231 St. John's, Nfld (see 244) 287 Antigua
  St. Lucia (see 218, 223) 288 Cape of Good Hope
232 Kingstown, St. Vincent, WI 289 Medway, Nova Scotia
233 - 235 unknown 290 Port Wallace, Nova Scotia
236 Bathurst, New Brunswick 291 (Ganpboro??), Nova Scotia
237 Sierra Leone 292 unknown
238 - 241 unknown 293 Richibucto, New Brunswick
242 St. Andrews, Newfoundland 294 Geelong
243 St. John, NB (see 230) 295 St. Mary's, Newfoundland
244 St. John's, Nfld (see 231) 296 Stanley, Falkland Islands
245 St. Johns, Antigua 297 - 299 unknown
246 - 249 unknown    
250 Bermuda   Abbreviations:
251 Arichat, Cape Breton Island   NB = New Brunswick
252 Montreal   Nfld = Newfoundland
253 Quebec   NS = Nova Scotia
254 Demerara, Guiana   WI = Windward Islands

6. Central Records Section (CRS) Forms

CRS Description
CRS 1 Merchant Navy Personnel, seamen discharged and immediately re-engaged on Articles for further service in the same ship.
CRS 2 Transfer from ship to leave and Reserve Pool.
CRS 3 Seaman remaining in the employ of the same management.
CRS 4 Entry form to Merchant Navy Reserve Pool when not direct from sea-going employment.
CRS 5 Advice to Manager of Employment Exchange that a seaman has been instructed to report to his Office.
CRS 6 Absentee report.
CRS 7 Cancelling absentee report.
CRS 8 Certificate of discharge from Merchant Navy Service.
CRS 8A Right of Seamen to appeal against discharge from Reserve Pool.
CRS 9 Instructing a seaman to report for employment in a certain ship.
CRS 10 Seaman's History sheet.
CRS 11 RGS forwarding cards, ED350 to Merchant Navy Reserve Pool.
CRS 12 Merchant Navy Reserve Pool forwarding cards ED350 to Superintendent MMO.
CRS 13 Superintendent, MMO forwarding cards ED350 to Ministry of Labour, and subsequent action.
CRS 13a TE For action under MIL Circular No. 121/
CRS 13a E For action under M/L Circular No. 23/53
CRS 13aEA(2) For action under M/L Circular No. 23/60
CRS 13a SC Training of youths for Merchant Navy, M/L Circ. 6/94.
CRS 14 Release from Merchant Navy obligations. Asking applicant for personal particulars.
CRS 15 Release from Merchant Navy obligations. Advising applicant of his liability to register under the Registration for Employment Order, 1941.
CRS 16 Forwarding to the Merchant Navy Reserve Pool application for release from Merchant Navy obligations.
CRS 17 Informing applicant of the result of his request for release from Merchant Navy obligations.
CRS 18 Certifying that a former seaman is not now required for service in the Merchant Navy
CRS 19 Forwarding to Merchant Navy Reserve Pool Central Office an application from a man who desires to be released from the Armed Forces in order to return to the Merchant Navy
CRS 20 Acknowledging a request for release from the Armed Forces and informing application what action he should take if the request is granted.
CRS 21 Refusing an application for permission to transfer from the Armed Forces to the Merchant Navy.
CRS 22 Letter to Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry asking for a man to be transferred from the Forces to an unpaid Reserve for service in the Navy.Merchant
CRS 23 Telling Local Pool that a man has been released from the Forces and will report to them shortly.
CRS 24 Application to return to seagoing employment. No indication that writer is subject to the Registration for Employment order. Referring applicant to Local Pool.
CRS 25 Telling applicant who has had no sea service that his application for employment in the Merchant Navy has been referred to Pool.
CRS 26 Telling applicant that we are unable to assist him to obtain shore Directing him to Ministry of Labour employment.
CRS 27 Applicant has not been to sea since 31st December 1935. Referring him to Ministry of Labour (ED 10 procedure).
CRS 28 Asking for particulars of a seaman's age, occupation and last discharge.
CRS 29 Telling an ED350 registered man that the Pool have been told of his willingness to return to Merchant Navy at once.
CRS 30 Medical Certificate.
CRS 31 Asking applicant to produce evidence of acceptability as Pilot or Observer.
CRS 32 Tells Air Ministry (or Admiralty) of a seaman's release for duty as Pilot or Observer.
CRS 33 Special certificate of release as Pilot or Observer only.
CRS 34 Telling applicant that release has been granted for entry into RAF (or FAA) as Pilot or Observer.
CRS 35 Telling local pool that a release to train a s Pilot or Observer has not been granted.
CRS 36 Telling Central Pool that a seaman desires release to train as Pilot or and asking for their observations Observer
CRS 37 Release from Armed Forces to serve in the Merchant Navy.
CRS 38 Questioning released Armed Forces man, returning, or still required for the Merchant Navy.
CRS 39 British seaman authorised to serve in a Non-British ship.
CRS 40 British Seaman discharged from a Non-British ship.
CRS 41 Application for entry into Reserve Pool.
CRS 42 Failure to notify RGSS of a seaman serving in a ship or previous evidence of service in Merchant Navy.
CRS 43 Information received of seaman serving in a ship. No CRS form of engagement received.
CRS 44 Instructions to report after discharge.
CRS 45 Application to return to employment in Merchant Navy.
CRS 46 Return to unit of a Released Man.
CRS 47 Confirming telephone message regarding discharge of seaman, giving reasons.
CRS 48 Granting discharge from Merchant Navy. Advising seaman that CRS 8 will be issued by RGS under certain conditions (and enclosure).
CRS 49 Forwarding to seaman CRS 8 issued by RGS.
CRS 50 A certificate of Temporary Release from Pool due to medical unfitness.
CRS 51 Loan of seaman from Pool for service in a ship to which the Essential Work Order (Merchant Navy) 1942 does not apply.
CRS 52 (Tally card; to be attached to NR 110). Slip for attachment to Alien Seamen's Documents.
CRS 52A Revised "Notice" for NR l 10.
CRS 53 British Seaman's Identity Card.
CRS 54 Application for British Seaman's Identity Card.
CRS 55 Report of loss of a British Seamen's identity Card.
CRS 56 Transfer of a Seaman to National Registration and Civil Rationing.
CRS 57 Record of Issue of Ration Cards to a seaman ashore.
CRS 58  
CRS 59 Forms of receipt and order on Photographer.
CRS 59A Acknowledgement of application for British Seaman's Identity Card.
CRS 59B Order for photograph.
CRS 60 Advising MMO how to set upon Seamen's Identity Card invalid by National Registration Officer.
CRS 61 Seaman's Identity Card improperly held, asking Nat. Reg. Officer to act.
CRS 62 Asking MMO to issue CRS 8 to seaman whose discharge has been recommended by us and Central Pool.
CRS 63 Wanted for desertion abroad.
CRS 64 Referring to period of loan in connection with CRS 51.
CRS 65 Action sheet for surrendered or impounded Identity Cards.
CRS 66 Process sheet for National Service Action.
CRS 67 Requesting Seaman to call at MMO for conversion of Nat. Reg. Card.
CRS 68 Information from Nat. Reg. that member is holder of unconverted NR 110 Number.
CRS 69 Instructions to MMO to issue Seaman's Unemployment insurance Book.
CRS 70 Relating to alleged deserters from the Army to be used in the MN Reserve.
CRS 71 Amendment of BSIC.
CRS 72  
CRS 73  
CRS 74 Daily operational Pool Report of Personnel movements.
CRS 75 Instructions to Seamen whose BSIC is incorrect.
CRS 76 MNRP Notice of Termination of Employment
CRS 77 Request for RS3 Pouch (Internal)
CRS 78 Relating to withdrawal of RS3 Pouch from file.
CRS 79 For completing record as to latest movement contained in RS3 Pouch.
CRS 80 Reporting admission of seaman to HM Prison.
CRS 81 Medical Examination of Certificates Engineers and Apprentices.
CRS 81(2) Medical Examination of Volunteer Apprentices.
CRS 82 Report of loss abroad of a BSIC.
CRS 83 Temporary Identity Card for issue abroad.
CRS 84 BSIC enquiry form.
CRS 85 Medical report on a merchant seaman.
CRS 86 Requesting Sea Cadet to obtain parents consent to enter training school.
CRS 87 Wallasey Sea School; parents consent to cadet to enter.
CRS 88 Wallasey Sea School Rejection of application.
CRS 89 Wallasey Sea School Preliminary acceptance of Cadet's application to enter.
CRS 90 Wallasey Sea School Final Acceptance of Sea Cadet.
CRS 91 Letter to Manager, Labour Exchange relating to application to become a Sea Cadet.
CRS 92 Notification to Inland Revenue of Seaman's departure from Pool.
CRS 93 Notification to Inland Revenue of opening or closing of articles.
CRS 94 Inland Revenue voyage slip.
CRS 95  
CRS 96  
CRS 97  
CRS 98  
CRS 99 Letter to applicant for training in Wallasey Sea School enclosing forms.
CRS 100 Training youths for the Merchant Navy. Application form..
CRS 101 Application form for ribbon 1939/45 Star.
CRS 102 Application forwarding a supply of ribbon 1939/45 Star.
CRS 103 Letter informing applicant he is not eligible for the 1939/456 Star.
CRS 104 Letter to application re 1939/45 Star stating claim is being considered.
CRS 105 Letter informing relatives of a deceased seaman that ribbon cannot be issued to them.
CRS 106 Letter explaining procedure for applying for 1939/45 Star.
CRS 107 Letter explaining procedure for applying for 1939/45 Star.
CRS 108 Letter explaining procedure for applying for 1939/45 Star.
CRS 109 1939/45 Star.
CRS 109A Amendment Slip.
CRS 110 Application for War Medal
CRS 111 1939/45 Star
CRS 112 1939/45 Star
CRS 113 1939/45 Star
CRS 114 1939/45 Star
CRS 115 1939/45 Star
CRS 116 1939/45 Star
CRS 117 1939/45 Star
CRS 118 1939/45 Star
CRS 119 1939/45 Star Chevrons for War Service.
CRS 120 1939/45 Star Wound Stripes
CRS 121 Application for clothing coupons by a Seaman who has lost his clothing book.
CRS 122 Merchant Navy Selection Board. Report of Interview.
CRS 123 Letters to volunteers with instructions to report to Fireman's Training School.
CRS 124 Instruction to report to Cooks Training School.
CRS 125 Volunteer Questionnaire
CRS 126 Letter to Deck or Steward Trainee.
CRS 127 Entry of Men registered under National Service Act
CRS 128 Entry of Men registered under National Service Act
CRS 129 Electoral Declaration `record Card Proxy Voting.
CRS 130 Parliament (Elections and Meeting) Act 1943
CRS 131 Proxy Meeting
CRS 132 Proxy Meeting
CRS 133 Proxy Meeting
CRS 134 Proxy Meeting
CRS 135 Temporary Identity Card Ex POW
CRS 136 Alteration of Income Tax Coding.
CRS 137 Alteration of Income Tax Coding.
CRS 138 Alteration of Income Tax Coding.
CRS 139 Alteration of Income Tax Coding.
CRS 140 Kings Badge.
CRS 141 Kings Badge.
CRS 142 Ships Records to CRS Section
CRS 143  
CRS 144  
CRS 145  
CRS 146 Release from Merchant Navy to the Building Trades
CRS 147  
CRS 148  
CRS 149  
CRS 150 Report of Engagements
CRS 151 Report of Discharge
CRS 152 Report of Engagement Advice Note
CRS 153 Report of Discharge Advice Note
CRS 154 Seaman to whom a British Seaman's Identity Card has been issued (or re issued)
CRS 155 Statement of a seaman seeking to transfer to the National Register, the loss of his British Seaman's Identity Card and for his Merchant Navy Clothing Book regarding
CRS 156  
CRS 166  
CRS 166A  
CRS 178  
CRS 178A  
 
     
 

(ri2281) Last updated: 12 September 2005 | © Crown Copyright 2002

  
The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU
Tel: +44 (0)20 8876 3444 Fax: +44 (0)20 8392 5286
Contact us: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact/
Website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
     
 

Catalogue Reader v3.0.1