National Service in Merchant Navy? Bernard Reed

[George]

Reading the veriouse posts on this one, reminds me of a lad I sailed with on the MV Greenfinch, who had joined the MN to avoid the call up, I think he had done 4or5 years with the MN, but the poor lad was desprate to get maried, and had worked out that by joining a certain regement he would be able to get married an get maried quaters to boot. So off he whent and duely sighned on for his three years in the army, and I think it was about six to nine months later the Gvernment stop the call up. I just hope his wife was worth it
George in Southampton

[Neil Morton]

(I 'jumped " ship in NZ after only three years in the MN, got caught and sent back home. My call up papers were in the post within a week of unpacking my bag.I went hot foot to the pool and managed a berth on the "Gothic". I'd say that the BOT and the MOD wre in very close liassone until the Call Up period ended.