What motivated you all to join the Merchant Navy.

[j.sabourn]

As the title of this post one reply could be as regards the NE coast of England there were 3 main industries……..
1.The fishing and merchant fleets.
2.The coal mining Industry
3. The shipbuilding industry.
Today these hardly exist anymore , bad or poor decisions were politically made and those who made those decisions should admit it and not try and blame others. I am not a proposer of nationalization but even that would have been preferable to what we have today and what Oliver Hardy used to say to Stan Laurel applies
“ Another fine mess you’ve got us into Stan “. JS

[George Gunn]

My dad was at sea during the war and for a while after until getting married to my mother. He never said much about his time at sea. I had been in the sea cadets and had been on a few courses and ships through them. I left school at 15 and worked on the tugs for a year before being made redundant when the tug company scaled back on manpower, it had always been in my mind that I wanted to go to sea and being paid off from the tugs gave me the opportunity.
The tug office was just around the corner from the pool at Blyth so I called in and asked about joining up. Because of working on the tugs I was told I would not have to go to sea school . After passing the medical and getting my parents permission I was issued a discharge book and I.D. card.
There wasn't much call for deckboys on the pool so eventually they arranged for me to join the Aranda in the Royal Albert docks in London, so I was put on a train to London by a tearful mother and a father giving me advice about certain characters.
Managed to somehow find my way to Anchor House, not bad considering I had no idea about the tube and lugging a big case, from there I worked by on the Aranda for a few days before being asked did I want to join the Canopic sailing that day and if so get your gear together. So I was on my way to Australia that night.
I did 4 trips on her before joining the Illyric for 1 then the Icenic for 3, a great experience for a young lad I certainly didn't regret a moment. Was on a small coaster for a bit while courting my now wife before getting a job at the Blyth power station.
Regards Michael

Hi Michael

Familiar story, wonder how many on this site like you and me !! met a girl and came ashore and were left with these distant and happy memories.

[Johnny Kieran]

Same thing as many of you really. Sea cadets first, dad refused to sign me into the RN, but eventually got into the Vindy, then off we went.