To Kick Start this!

[Keith at Tregenna]

The Tower Hill memorial for World War 1 was unveiled in 1928 to mark the service and sacrifice of the merchant Marine in WW1. In 1928 King George V created the title 'Master of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets' and appointed the then Prince of Wales to that office.

This is how the title 'Merchant Navy' came into being.

Thee have been / has been Merchant ships and Merchant Seamen for time evermore, but recognition ad officialdom came from the above.

In 1999, for the first time, members of the Merchant Navy were 'allowed' to take part in the national Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. They were not officially invited previously because they had not been, what is termed as, 'under command'. However, in that very significant year members of the MNA marched at the event and were proudly led by the MNA's National Chairman at that time. Perhaps it should be noted that had the armed services waited, as long for the Merchant Navy has done, for a signal to join them in their military gatherings in the North Atlantic, Western Approaches, Korea and the Falklands, there may very well have been no national service of remembrance to attend. Captain John Sail National Chairman Merchant Navy Association.

They Bore the Brunt
By Joe Earl


They sailed the seas to bear the brunt,
They steamed the courses laid,
Ten thousand miles their battle front,
Unbacked and undismayed.
Fine seamen these of our great race,
From your seaport or town,
They risked their lives with danger faced
Until their ship went down.
Remember them - they held the line,
Won freedom on the way,
Remember them - their life was thine -
On merchant navy day.

J.Earl

[Red Lead Ted]

lets not forget that before the royal proclamation of king george the :v ,the british merchant fleet was known as the merchant service,prior to the end of the first world war,it was in recognition of the fact that the merchant service, sailed valiantly alongside the royal navy,it became the merchant navy.interesting thought good health all ted.

[Frank Ferri]

WAS it Christopher Columbus or the Vikings or the Egytians in their papyrus boats who landed in Latin America
Frank ....

[Doc Vernon]

The Egyptians were the first to make papyrus riverboats and other different types built for various uses. Of course you knew this!Frank! haha!

[Red Lead Ted]

you both wrong mates ,blue funnel lpool were there before them LMAO good health ted

[happy daze john in oz]

Then there were the Welsh with the coracle, went round in circles and vanished up its fundemental. Sorry about that Taffy's

[Geoff Anderson]

ih john it must have had an assie crew ,couldnt find the tiller ha ha.

ive seen these guys working these coracles, its amazing to watch them do it .one hand for the paddle the other is used to tow a net. they go up stream , down stream, across the stream and in some very strong currents. i could have watched them all day.

best wishes geoff.

[Geoff Anderson]

hi all . dont they have papyrus boats in south america. lake tity ca ha ? springs to mind. [sorry about the spelling]
best wishes geoff

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
I had a good time in Fundemental the beer was warm the girls were cold, and e couldn't get a sub.
Cheers Des

[Keith at Tregenna]

OLD AND NEWER QOUTES.

On 30 October 1945 the Houses of Parliament unanimously carried the following resolution expressing gratitude to the Merchant Navy on the victorious end of the war :

"That the thanks of this House be accorded to the officers and men of the Merchant Navy for the steadfastness with which they maintained our stocks of food and materials ; for their services in transporting men and munitions to all battles over all the seas, and for the gallantry with which, through a civilian service, they met and fought the constant attacks of the enemy."

The Right Honourable Alfred Barnes, Minister of War Transport said :

"The Merchant Seaman never faltered. To him we owe our preservation and our very lives."

AND

On World Maritime Day 23rd September, we are mindful that these islands depend on shipping for their survival. 95% of our trade is carried by merchant crews. Please remember all the world's 1.2 million working seafarers, routinely risking piracy or shipwreck; and remember,too, the service and the sacrifice of those many brave members of the Merchant Fleet who have given their lives in peace and war. Mission To Seafarers