Hello Listers There may be some circumstances where Certificates of Death were issued even though there is no body found. My husband's ancestor Ralph Forster was a Master Mariner acting as Mate on the maiden voyage of the Stamfordham a Steamer built on the Tyne. The ship, among many, was lost of the coast of America in a huge storm. No bodies were recovered but we found a Death Registration in the Deaths at Sea Registers and have a certificate. Jill in Sydney >> >>>Deaths at sea are not recorded in the normal GRO index of deaths but in the >>>GRO index of overseas BMD. This index is on the FreeBMD site in amongst the >>>catergories listed there you will find BMDs at Sea listed. If you find your >>>man in that index you can order a copy of the certificate in the usual way >>>from the GRO at their site.