# World War 1 Merchant Navy records

**URL:** <https://forum.naa.gov.au/t/world-war-1-merchant-navy-records/2666>\
**Category:** Questions and answers\
**Created:** [13 January 2026 22:40 UTC](https://forum.naa.gov.au/t/world-war-1-merchant-navy-records/2666 "2026-01-13T22:40:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![geoffh86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@geoffh86](https://forum.naa.gov.au/u/geoffh86)\
**Post date:** [13 January 2026 22:40 UTC](https://forum.naa.gov.au/t/world-war-1-merchant-navy-records/2666/1 "2026-01-13T22:40:15Z")

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I have my grandfathers medal from his service in the Mercantile Marine in WW1 but unable to find service records.

The medal is the British War Medal 1914 - 1918.

It is inscribed with D. H. Bedford ORD. SMN R.A.N. B.

I am told he adjusted his birth date (27/04/1900) so he could help the war effort. He was born in 1900 and served from 1915 out of Brisbane.

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**Author:** ![Peter1427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dbc845/32.png) [@Peter1427](https://forum.naa.gov.au/u/Peter1427)\
**Post date:** [15 January 2026 09:33 UTC](https://forum.naa.gov.au/t/world-war-1-merchant-navy-records/2666/2 "2026-01-15T09:33:54Z")

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Prior to WW1 the RAN was a coastal defence force. Then it became a blue water navy following its purchase of some capital ships like HMAS Australia. Might that account for the “B”: in your grandfather’s medal? Royal Australian Navy (Sea-Going). Just a thought. Hope you work it out.

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**Author:** ![geoffh86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@geoffh86](https://forum.naa.gov.au/u/geoffh86)\
**Post date:** [15 January 2026 23:08 UTC](https://forum.naa.gov.au/t/world-war-1-merchant-navy-records/2666/3 "2026-01-15T23:08:22Z")

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Thank you Peter.  
Sounds like much more research to do  
Cheers