No Recognition

[Captain Kong]

Hi Keith,
I did hear that Lady Astor MP said Merchant Seamen should not be paid wages, they travel the world and get board and lodgings, What more do they want.?.
.
She is the same woman who accused Winston Churchill of being drunk, and he replied, "And you madam, are ugly , but I will be sober in the morning"
Cheers
Brian.
PS. it was not me who made her daughter pregnant,

[Captain Kong]

.Regarding what people thought of Merchant Seamen in wartime,, we used to sing this song in the 50s.
KT posted it in a couple of years ago.
.The words I knew were slightly different but meant the same.
.
.
.Song of the Merchant Navy in Wartime

You have seen him on the Street,
Rolling round on drunken feet,
You have seen him clutch the lamp-post for support,
You have shuddered in disgust,
When he’s grovelled in the dust,
‘Cause he’s just a Merchant Seaman back in port.

You have seen his ship in port,
When to his sweetheart paying court,
You have seen him, when his ship is on the spree,
But you have not seen the clip,
Of that lonely ‘blacked out’ ship,
Ploughing furrows through the mine infested sea.

He has brought your wounded home, through the “ Sub “, congested zone,
He has carried your troops across the sea by night,
He’s a hero and a sport,
And when he is not in port,
He is always in the thickest of the fight.

He has fought your wicked ‘Hun’,
With just a 4: 7 inch gun,
He has ruined Hitler’s Atllantic Ocean plan,
But when he is back in port,
He’s no hero, he’s no sport,
He is nothing……..but a drunken Sailor man.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Captain.

RE: "We used to sing this song in the 50s".

UPDATED LINK:
http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categorie...hant-navy.html

Can you remember to what tune ?

Cheers,

K.

[Captain Kong]

Hi Keith, I can remember the tune but how do I email a tune? It is not the Maggie May tune as someone suggested.
I dont know how to describe it. I guess like any other song it had its own tune.
Cheers
Brian.

[DeepSea]

the government obviously thought it would cost too much in medals to recognise the brvery of men who were volenteers yet had no uniform or weapons.

Merchant Seamen qualified for all but one of the campaign medals issued during WWII to the three armed services.

I believe the full recognition was overlooked due to the fact most of the men were serving in the MN before the war started and simply continued with their job when the war finished and just got on with their job, unlike the majority of the three armed services who were conscripts and only in it for the duration.

[eric fisher]

Hi, After returning from Operation "Torch" in Nov. '42 and at 17yrs old, my uncle took me on a pub crawl in Manchester. He was well liked and known in those circles and when I was refused a pint he lambasted the Publican saying, " If he can go to sea and do that kind of thing for us all then serve him, or else. They did, and likewise in other pubs.

He was so proud of the M.N. and every time I came home we would do the same. He and another uncle were my mentors. I did have my silver M.N. badge on the lapel and sometimes had abuse on leave, 'course Mum said I'd never a girl unless I wore the right gear, and never did either. By the time I would stagger to the nearest dance hall I was in no condition to attract females, unless I flashed my financial attributes. Shame on me, my Mum was right!

If you'd care to, look at my D'Day thread post 'bout my Red Duster Badge. No matter about recognition, I have everything to remember, and never forget those who were less lucky than I. Eric

[Keith at Tregenna]

Hi Keith,
I dont know how to describe it. I guess like any other song it had its own tune.
Cheers
Brian.

Although we share "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" sometimes recalled by the last line of its first verse, "For Those in Peril on the Sea" and / or The Sailor's Hymn.

I have attempted to seek our own Merchant Navy Song, in the end asked for help and together we came up with Over the Seas and Far Away.

LINK: http://www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Images/...FAR%20AWAY.pdf

To the tune of Over the Hills and Far Away: LINK: Sharpe - Over the Hills and far away - YouTube

No attempt to sway away from the Sailor's Hymn in anyway, just our choir sing both each year at the Annual Service and "Over the Seas and Far Away" can be adapted to all branches, ports. towns. countries etc.

Still seeking as said a tune to "The Song of the Merchant Navy in Wartime" that an arrangement can be made and performed to further remember all.

LINK: http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/m...y-wartime.html

All help welcomed:

K.

[E.Martin]

Ah Well don't forget those poor R Navy lads had probably just spent five whole days at sea.

On one Shell tanker I was on the Deck Stores a ex Royal Navy man,spent all his time wondering round the ship with a bit of paper in his hand.

[Hugh]

Recognition for the wartime MN is very close to my heart. The way to do it is to concentrate on the MN and what they did and reign in the jokes about the RN.

Sorry about the sense of humour failure.

Regards
Hugh ex-RN

[Ivan Cloherty]

Recognition for the wartime MN is very close to my heart. The way to do it is to concentrate on the MN and what they did and reign in the jokes about the RN.

Sorry about the sense of humour failure.

Regards
Hugh ex-RN

Hugh I apologise if my remark upset you, but alas I've had many a RN man tell me I'm not a proper sailor, I just grinned to myself, knowing the sea miles I'd covered