Incoming Passenger list - What does D.B.S mean?

Post by **dlh1** » 10 Aug 2010 16:53

Hi all.

One of my ancestors came in on a ship to Liverpool in 1950 and under the class section it says D.B.S rather than 1st class, 2nd class etc. What does this mean.

Also. Passenger lists don't usually include ship workers do they? If this is the case then this must have been the year that my ancestor injured himself abroad and was brought back to the UK as a passenger as he usually worked on ships and wouldn't have been a passenger.

Thanks

Dan

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec/?htx ... d=28616633

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Post by **northmeols** » 10 Aug 2010 17:20

distressed British seaman (DBS)

Post by **dlh1** » 10 Aug 2010 17:57

You really are a fountain of knowledge!

I wonder what that might mean. He did injure himself badly when he was abroad once and was in a foreign hospital for 3 months. So do you think this could be the ship that brought him back to the UK?

Post by **northmeols** » 10 Aug 2010 19:12

probably. when a seaman is stranded abroad for any reason, health, shipwreck, or family emergency etc. this was and still is the means by which sailors got/get home

Post by **Hilary** » 10 Aug 2010 19:16

It would also include those who "missed" their ship! Maybe been celebrating too much! They then have no means of support so hope another ship will take them home if they cannot find another berth (job).

Hilary
Ed Officer

Post by **Tina** » 16 Aug 2010 12:31

Hi my "Cornie" grandad was a DBS.
He died some months after leaving his ship from "sugar diabetes"..

Tina