Lest we forget

[William Bramhill]

Poppy Scotland has a new Merchant Navy badge for this year.

https://www.poppyscotlandstore.com/p...2&_ss=e&_v=1.0

- - - Updated - - -

Picture here.

[Graham Payne]

Thanks William, just purchased one.
It,s about time somebody thought of it.
Thanks again mate.

[Steve Singleton]

Hi to Everyone.....
My Red Duster will be flown for the rest of the month here in Chile.

I live in a small village outside of Coronel. It was in Coronel Bay that the Royal Navy suffered a heavy defeat in WW1..... But the RN won the second round a few months later, near the Falkland Islands.

Locals occasionally ask me why I am flying the flag..... as I do every year in November..... when I explain, they are suitably respectful to all the lives lost...not only here in Coronel, but around the world by RN & MN personnel.

There is a small monument in the port of Coronel to that battle and at least one restaurant has models of the ships involved and various memorabilia on its walls...but I have not been able to find out just who appreciates that history. (So far, anyway.)

I must try and get some photos to post on here for you guys. So stay tuned!

Lest We Forget. Indeed.

- - - Updated - - -

[j.sabourn]

Hi to you too Steve. Were you living in Chile in the 1980s .If so you will have more knowledge of the latter day Falklands war where Chile was assumed by most to be an ally of Great Britain Than most of the general public who were mainly only used to what newspapers told them. Cheers JS.

[Ivan Cloherty]

For those who may be watching the march past at the London Cenotaph on Sunday 10th November the Merchant Navy contingent (getting smaller every year, old age catching up on us) will be in Column A4. Column 'A' will be leading the march past this year. Providing my legs don't give out I shall be marching as usual this year. We desperately need more MN people to apply for the invitation to march as we are down to 17 personnel (currently) this year, we do not want our representation to disappear. Wherever you live in the mainland UK there is free rail travel to and from London on 9th and 10th November if you have a MN Veterans Railcard. You don't need a ticket, your Vet Card is your ticket.

Unfortunately you will need an invitation to march and pass the vetting requirements, you can apply to the MNA or British Legion for an invitation, (recommend the MNA route) bit late for this year, they will probably start the vetting applications in April/May 2025 for November 2025. Lets swell the ranks for 2025

[Bill Morrison]

Hi Steve. My book Naval Battles Of The First World War has a chapter on the The Battle of CORONEL November 1st 1914. It is just over one hundred and ten years ago.
Opening passage. The Battle Of Cornel.

Poor old Kit Cradock has gone at Coronel. His death and the loss of the ships and the gallant lives in them can be be laid to the door of the incompetency of the Admiralty.
They have broken over and over again the first principles of strategy.

Vice- Admiral Sir David Beatty.

I think from memory our member from the Isle of Wight lost his grandfather on HMS Good Hope.
Bill.