http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp

If you want photo’s of your father, uncle’s, other family members or yourself, you will need D.O.B of the person whose details you are seeking, open the above link and you will be in Merchant Navy Records, do the following to get details:

Put the name of the seaman the top box “Word or Phrase” in this way Surname, Initial e.g. Jones. E
Then in the lowest box where it asks, “Department or Series Code” write BT 372.
You will then get a list of seamen showing those details … The date attached to the record is the date of birth of the seaman and not the registration date.
I got photo’s of my father dating from a 28 year old, in 1928, to the time he retired; the whole deal cost 10 pound sterling and believe me it was worth a million to me, I saw my dad as a young man and he was handsome.

Have go, even if it is yourself.

PS. Stuff you order is emailed to you within hours.

Hi TonyDW
Great site, something we have needed for a long time.
Reg.