Merchant Navy Reconition it

[dave moore]

It mystify me that the MN has never received the same recognition as the armed forces,considering that without the transportation of troops ,also without the MNs efforts to bring food , oil and arms surely both wars would not have won ,this is why it is a bloody disgrace that thousands of lives were sacrificed with very little recognition by the leaders of this country

[Captain Kong]

The Biggest culprit was the Royal British Legion, cannot even become a full member.
so I do not support the RBL. They would not even allow us to march with the Services on Remembrance Day until recently.
I went to wars on the Troop Ship GEORGIC, with Troops to Viet Nam , Malaya and Korea, including weapons and other logistics for war.
I guess the small Veterans badge they gave us was deemed to be enough.
Brian

[Keith at Tregenna]

Armed Forces Covenant

The armed forces community refers to all those who are serving or have served in the Army, Navy, Royal Air Force and Merchant Navy (during conflict). The community also includes immediate family members and dependents of those who have served.

There are a wide range of services specifically designed for the armed forces community available from local government, Ministry of Defence and third sector organisations.

Keith.

[robpage]

From the RBL website

'Beneficiaries' are people who include:

Serving personnel, or those who have previously served
Reserve or Auxiliary personnel, or those who have previously served
Those who have served with the Mercantile Marine afloat in hostile waters
Current or previous full-time members of Allied Civil Police Forces
Those entitled to the campaign medal issued to the Royal Navy, Army or Royal Air Force to those giving them direct support or under their command
Any member of Voluntary Aid Societies who has served full-time and in uniform in direct support of the United Kingdom Armed Forces
Any British subject (by birth or otherwise) who has served at least seven days in the Forces of an Allied nation and received seven days' pay from that nation
Any British subject (by birth or otherwise) who served in a resistance organisation of an Allied nation during hostilities in which the United Kingdom Armed Forces were engaged
Any man who served in the Home Guard for at least six months, or in a Bomb and Mine Disposal Unit for at least three months
Any man who was awarded the Defence Medal in respect of service in the Home Guard or in a Bomb and Mine Disposal Unit.


Now I maybe reading it wrong , but that says to me , MN hostilities only , but WVS or YMCA supporting the army at a base in Wiltshire all good

[Keith at Tregenna]

I cannot see this being up to date or
if only the Mercantile Marine veterans
were included it would now pos be not
helpful ?

K.

[robpage]

straight off the RBL website yesterday . Definition of veterans is quite broad based but the Royal British Legion website is quite clear . Personally it doesn't bother me but when you consider the list of people that they do include as possible beneficiaries then I feel that it is a crying abysmal shame that the Merchant Navy who don't fit into the category veterans are omitted

[happy daze john in oz]

Very different here in Oz.
We have the Returned Services League and that covers any one who was involved in any form of engagement including Merchant seamen who were involved in any form of action.

They recognize the Army, Royal Navy, Airforce and Merchant Navy and any other form of service which may have been involved extending to even the police.

[Keith Tindell]

I went to join the RBL in Ventnor here on the Island, approx 20 years ago, and was asked as a MN seaman, did i serve in a war zone. I discussed with him the definition of a war zone, and didn't get very far with it, and left in disgust. We all worked in dangerous zones from time to time, in my case for eg Cuba?, was that a war zone ?, even places like N africa, i was running every few weeks into Oran, no going ashore, and bombs going off all the time, this was in the early 60s.? However it seems from the talk i had with the manager, if i had been in the RN, and served all my time at HMS Mercury, for those that don't know i, is a shore signal station on the beautiful downs in Hampshire. Then i would have qualified !!!, kt

[j.sabourn]

Keith you should have said you had served in the Jungle in North Shields that was a war zone nearly every night. Most seaman have been in Many war zones and not even realised it. Cheers JS

[Keith Tindell]

I've also been married 53 years John, thats real survival !!!!, kt