Merchant Navy Day - 3rd September - Lest we forget

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by Hugh MacLean, Sep 3, 2012.

  1. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    Today, September 3, is Merchant Navy Day.

    My friend and fellow member Billy McGee wrote this in 2003 and I think it pretty much says it all. I hope he won't mind me posting this as I think it is very appropriate today.
    .................................

    (Article written by Billy McGee 2003. Updated for the Tower Hill Commemorative Brochure 2006)

    "Merchant Navy Day”

    On the 3rd September 1939, the day WWII was declared, the first British & Commonwealth casualty occurred with the sinking of the British passenger liner Athenia sunk by U-30 with the loss of 112 passengers & crew. On the 7th May 1945, the day Germany surrendered the last casualty of the War in Europe occurred with the sinking of the British Merchant ship Avondale Park with the loss of two crew. While Britain was living in what became known as the “Phoney War” between September 1939 to May 1940, 177 British Merchant ships were sunk with the loss of hundreds of Merchant Seamen. In the near six years of war, some 2,952 British Merchant ships flying the Red Ensign were lost to U-boats, mines, E-boats, aircraft, commerce raiders, pocket battleships, those who died in captivity and those executed, as well as those lost through the forces of nature in supplying the world with food, raw materials and the materials to fight a war. 32,000 British Merchant Seamen are officially registered with the CWGC being lost to this cause. Unofficial numbers are much higher. These men although civilians volunteered repeatedly to run the gauntlet in the never ending need to supply a nation in its darkest days. Men who once their ship was sunk from beneath them, if lucky enough to survive had their pay stopped before the ship reached the ocean floor. These same brave men were looked upon with distaste at home, simply because they wore no official uniform, which would identify them with any of the armed services. The men of the Merchant Navy suffered more than most in war, even if lucky enough to survive a sinking. The freezing winter waters of the North Atlantic & Arctic Ocean on the North Russian Convoys could kill a man in under a minute. Others left dying of thirst in the searing heat and shark infested waters of the Pacific & Indian Oceans. September 3rd, remember the screams of the dying in the infernos from the burning oil tankers. September 3rd remember the Merchant Seamen machine gunned to death from the SS Anglo Saxon and the two survivors Wilbert Widdicombe & Robert Tapscott who spent seventy days in an open jolly boat before reaching land, which would see Widdicombe dead within three months as his next ship SS Siamese Prince was lost with all hands. September 3rd remember the three hundred and seventy two British Merchant Seamen machine-gunned to death and others beheaded by the Japanese from the ships Behar, Daisy Moller, British Chivalry, Sutlej, Ascot, Nancey Moller & Nellore. September 3rd, remember the likes of 2nd Steward Poon Lim the only survivor from the SS Benlomond who survived one hundred & thirty three days on a life raft. September 3rd remember the two survivors from the Fort Longueuil who spent four and half months adrift in an open boat, only to be captured and imprisoned by the Japanese. Remember fourteen-year-old Welsh boy Kenneth James Lewis, one of the youngest Merchant Seamen killed from the SS Fiscus, a double tragedy as his fifteen-year-old Brother Raymond Leslie Lewis perished with him, both on their first trip to sea. Over five hundred boys age sixteen and under are registered with the CWGC killed in action serving aboard Merchant ships, which includes the youngest recorded serving casualty of WWII, that of Reginald Earnshaw, age fourteen, from the SS North Devon killed 6th July 1941. Also, remember one of the oldest recorded serving casualties, that of James Killey age 74 killed from the SS Fenella, which was bombed and sunk while rescuing injured troops from the beaches at Dunkirk on the 29th May 1940. September 3rd remember Liverpool seaman Billy Swinchin, a survivor from the SS Etrib who survived seventy-seven days on a raft only to be picked up by a U-boat and imprisoned in Germany. Even when captured Merchant Seamen were not treated by the rules laid down by the Geneva Convention. As civilians, they were supposed to be repatriated; instead, they were imprisoned in the Sandbostel Concentration Camp in Germany until they were forced to build their own camp, christened Milag Nord. September 3rd remember the men from the steamers, tankers, tramps, Cam ships, MAC ships, the DEMS, reefers, rescue tugs, cargo ships, coasters, rescue ships, whalers and oilers. Without the Merchant Navy Britain would have starved. There would have been no “Battle of Britain” if it were not for the hundreds of tankers who imported the aviation spirit home. No “Operation Torch”, the invasion of North Africa would have not taken place without the thousands of troops & supplies needed brought by sea. There would have been no D-Day landing at Normandy without the one thousand two hundred and sixty Merchant ships that took part. This country is indebted to all these men. September 3rd remember Merchant Seaman Bill Short who spent four days in an open boat in temperatures of –10. After being rescued warm water had to be siphoned into his stomach as ice crystals had formed. He then had both legs amputated without anaesthetic due to frostbite. Where war goes the Merchant Navy follows. Two World Wars, Palestine 1945-1948, Korea 1950-1953, Suez 1956, Cyprus 1955-1959, Borneo 1962-1966, Falklands 1982, Gulf 1990-1991 & 2003 and Afghanistan. September 3rd remember them! Remember them all, the men of the “Forgotten Fourth Service”.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Roy Martin, Qu1ckn1ck and Reid like this.
  2. Papa

    Papa Junior Member

    Seems like I have some old friends here.

    Shaun
     
  3. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    You do indeed welcome Shuan.

    Regards
    Hugh
     
  4. Papa

    Papa Junior Member

    Nice to meet up again Hugh.
     
  5. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  6. James Harvey

    James Harvey Senior Member

    Today I raised our red ensign instead of our usual blue ensign
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    An interview that was on Border tv.

    Merchant Navy Day: Veteran remembers dangerous WW2 service aged just 14

    Merchant Navy Day: Veteran remembers dangerous WW2 service aged just 14
    [​IMG]
    Donald McKay served in the Second World War, aged just 14. Credit: ITV News


    Events are taking place across the country to remember the members of "the forgotten service" - men and women killed in action while working for the Merchant Navy.
     
    Chris C, Reid, timuk and 4 others like this.
  8. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Thank you for that. Remembering my mother's father, who managed to not get sunk on any of his voyages but sadly passed away when I was very young.
     
    CL1 and Hugh MacLean like this.
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Remembering relatives who served in MN during WW2 and after.
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    davidbfpo, Chris C, CL1 and 3 others like this.

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