Merchant Navy Reserve

[Angus Macdonald]

While going through an old shipping magazine dated May 1994 i came across a full page ad for MN reserves in time of tension or war. They (registry of shipping and seamen) wanted all ranks and ratings who were under the age of sixty and had been at sea in the previous ten years. Also they had to be permanently resident in the UK,british subjects or protected persons,or citizens of the Irish Republic. They were not to be members of any other service or reserve. The annual pay was £200 less tax and it goes without saying you had to be medically fit. What i would like to know, have any of you ever been there or know anybody who was there.I can't imagine it still being in operation as we don't have much of a Merchant Navy left.

Regards Angus

[Captain Kong]

I think it was around the early 60s when I first saw the Ad. I wouldnt join because I thought ,...If they cant find me a job in peace why should they find me a job if there is a war, why not get the foreigners who had my job in peace time to do it.
I noted that when the Falklands war started and they were doing up the Canberra as a Troopship, all the Indians were taken off, British lads employed to go and endure the Argie attacks then when they returned to Southampton they were all sacked and the Indians all got their jobs back.

Cheers
Brian.

[j.sabourn]

I to remember this advert Brian. As was still at sea did not really apply to us. Most of my years at sea were with foreign crews. The union and so called troubles on British ships early on were storms in a teacup and could have been solved with a bit more ease to suit all if it hadnt been for the owner looking for the cheapest manning costs. I have stated in previous posts that the safest and most reliable crew in an emergency were the British trained. their biggest attribute to this was that they spoke English for starters. Were taught and trained as seamen and were professional in their own right. Some of the subsequent crew I sailed with, the numbers were up and suppose they were more docile than previous British crews who they did not want to follow out of a job. How they were cheaper I dont really know as also said in a previous post that I did a seminar in the 70"s and apart from the Greeks the next cheapest was the British. There was only coppers in the difference. Also in previous posts have made statements about the manning of Russian ships etc. These countries have a full supply of trained seamen today. The UK and I suppose Europe have none.

[Gulliver]

Yes.I put my hand up here. I was a member of the RNR(Membership Card is pictured )

MNR CARD-1276.jpg

My Reporting Station was GCBS,Mann Island,Liverpool. I lived in North Wales so I suppose that was the nearest geographical large port to me.

It was a short-lived scheme of 11 years ,started in 1989, to " ensure the availability of a modest number of British Merchant Seamen to help crew UK vessels and maintain supplies to Western Europe in the event of an attack by the Warsaw Pact."
Ironic that it coincided with the dying throes of the MN,when there were very few ships left.
It was for those MN personnel of any rank who were no longer serving at sea
I had just been finally made redundant in 1990 and took my 17 months salary package and ran ! ( We got 1 month per year of service redundancy package rather than the meagre one and a half weeks per year basic statutory package that some poor sods in other companies received ).I digress.

Once embarked upon my non-seafaring 2^nd career I must have applied to that MNR advert somewhere,or perhaps it was after I'd notified the RGSS of my leaving.
I was in it for 10 years in total and received my welcome “bounty” of £200 per annum-at least I think it was that amount but I haven’t kept records.Whatever, it was a welcome bonus for having served in the MN.
All you had to do was ensure your tickets ,discharge book and medical were still valid,and supply a phone number and home address where you could be contacted by telegram.
Every year there was supposed to be a practice ‘call-up’ where you had to reply personally to a telephone call,or return a reply-paid postcard to the RGSS,Gabalfa.Cardiff,indicating you had received the call-up notice.

To my knowledge this practice of call-outs never happened,and I received my “bounty” and newsletter every year.
I feel fairly certain it was discontinued the year that I moved to London in 2000.(It was actually discontinued on 23rd May 2000).
The valedictory letter from the RSS,Cardiff,on MCA notepaper ,made reference to the fact that "With,however,the ending of the Cold War ,such an attack is a very remote threat;and international conflicts are now of a very different nature and very removed from the U.K.base." ,and also reference to the fact that the RNR would fulfill the function of we MNR members in any future conflict.......

Gulliver (MNR ret'd ) <<------
Gulliver

[Captain Kong]

I read a few years ago that the British military and navy were having exercises on the US Coast, The Merchant ships the British Government chartered were banned by the US Coast Guard as being unseaworthy, substandard and useless for purpose.
How embarrassing for the government but they still charter sub standard ships. I also read that in the Gulf war the ships they chartered again were substandard Bulgarian ships. What a way to fight a war.
Each of those ship owners must have been Praying for their ships to be Sunk and then collect millions off the British Government.
That is why we need a British crewed, British Merchant Navy.
Brian

[Peter Trodden]

Gulliver,I to joined up. My mate and I were home on leave (Offshore Riggers) in the mid 80s and while visiting our local MNA club the Sec, came over with the enlistment forms saying something like "Your both ex ABs and your Country may need you " We read it and signed it,more in devilment than loyalty.We said that if called up we would say to THEM,go and get some Flip-Flops or Greeks that have taken our jobs. The idea behide this scheme was,in a time of overseas conflict the UK govt, would Bare-Boat charter ships and Man them with MNR,but it never happened. Years later when War kicked off in the Balkans and they were moving the RA and Armoured Brigade from Germany to ports in the Adriatic,we thought this is it,But no. Later I read in the Newmast Mag, that at the time,the Countries with the big Ro-Ro's would'nt Bare- Boat,they had to be crewed by thier men. Still the money was handy and so was that nice silk tie.
ttfn. Peter.

[Gulliver]

Yes Peter,I forgot about the nice silk MNR tie (free!( which you just reminded me about. Wish I'd kept it- they must be collector's items no doubt now.
I suppose I did feel guilty about taking that £200 bounty every year.......no I didn't !, I mean it was bloody hard work staying in waiting for that call-up message.......and wondering whether to pack blues or tropicals.

Cheers!