Merchant Navy uniform: belt

This Merchant Navy uniform belt belonged to Edward Henry South (1922–2015). Born in Lambeth on 9 July 1922, South joined the Merchant Navy in September 1939 and served throughout the Second World War, rising from Steward’s Boy to Chief Steward. According to his record book, he served initially in the cargo liner Almeda Star on the London to Buenos Aires route, then in the Royal Star on the same route. In fuel tanker MV Narragansett, he served on Atlantic convoys. He married Mary Baker on 1 April 1943 and their son, Edward, was born three months later.

He was at the D-Day landings in the Goldshell, a support ship carrying fresh water, and then returned to Atlantic convoy duty in MV Rapana, another patrol tanker. In November 1945, he transferred to the tanker Nuculana, in which he served until July 1946 when his wartime service terminated, and he was discharged from the Merchant Navy at his own request.