PWSTS Forum for Old Boys, Family and Friends

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

2014 Merchant Navy Day Commemorative Service London

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Main web site updated with full information. Please let me know if you are attending this year?

pwsts.org.uk/MND2014

JOHN LOCK · PWSTS Forum Moderator

I shall be attending.

Regards John.

paul · PWSTS Forum Member

Barry Knell,Dave Spencer and Myself will be attending

Regards Paul

glancon · PWSTS Forum Member

And so will I, Elwyn Owen.

Regards Everyone

Glancon

Vintage Port · Ex PWSTS Standard Bearer

Count me in Andy.
Roger

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

I plan to make it this year. Thanks for the updates everyone, main web site amended this morning to reflect the names of those attending.

Wiggy did I see that you are back in the UK at the same time or have I just made that up?

paul · PWSTS Forum Member

Graham Goodsall is over from oz and will be attending

Walla · PWSTS Forum Moderator

All things being even I will be there this year

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Great news, thanks gents. Looking forward to buying a round smile

Main web site just updated with names and extra info. Please keep the names coming.

Admiral are you attending with Rosie and picnic basket?

PWSTS MN Day 2014

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Attending so far:

Trevor McKay PWSTS 1963

Peter Deakin PWSTS 1959

Patrick Sullivan PWSTS 1955

John Lock PWSTS 1967

Paul Ditchfield PWSTS 1962

Barry Knell PWSTS 1962

Dave Spencer PWSTS 1963

Elwyn Owen PWSTS 1950

Roger Head PWSTS 1958

Mike Westhead PWSTS 1961

Steve Tester PWSTS 1963

Dave McKay 1958

Graham Goodsell PWSTS 1962

Paul Walsh PWSTS 1975

Andy Gale PWSTS Hon

terry doughty · PWSTS Forum Member

Hi Andy I will be attending but im afraid only on the Sunday. Sorry to miss out on the drinking!!!! regds

Dave1947 · PWSTS Face Book Editor

Think you will manage a pint with us on the day Terry..Looking forward to it..

Dave

-- Edited by Dave1947 on Monday 4th of August 2014 12:43:04 PM

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Thanks shipmates, web site list will be updated

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

List as of 4 August - please let us know if you are attending aww

Dave Spencer PWSTS 1963
Terry Doughty PWSTS 1962
Trevor McKay PWSTS 1963
Peter Deakin PWSTS 1959
Patrick Sullivan PWSTS 1955
John Lock PWSTS 1967
Paul Ditchfield PWSTS 1962
Barry Knell PWSTS 1962
Dave Spencer PWSTS 1963
Elwyn Owen PWSTS 1950
Roger Head PWSTS 1958
Mike Westhead PWSTS 1961
Steve Tester PWSTS 1963
Dave McKay 1958
Graham Goodsell PWSTS 1962
Paul Walsh PWSTS 1975
Andy Gale PWSTS Hon

terry doughty · PWSTS Forum Member

I wont miss a pint on the day Dave. Will ring you when I get there. rgds Tel

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

All those who served in the Merchant Navy in 1914-1918 will be commemorated by a Service at the Merchant Navy national memorial on Tower Hill in London at 1230 on Sunday 7th September 2014.

In this centenary year, the First World War memorial will be the focal point for the Service in Trinity Square Gardens on Tower Hill, London EC3. It bears the names of 11,541 members of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleet for whom there is no grave but the sea, listed with the names of the 1,458 vessels from which they were lost.

In 1914, 43% of the worlds merchant ships, some 20 million tons gross, was owned and operated by Britain and the Dominions. Keeping Britain in business, those ships brought in food and raw materials, exporting industrys output to the world. In the War, the Imperial German Navy saw cutting the trade routes as the means to victory, expressed by Admiral Reinhard Scheer, Commander-in-Chief of the High Seas Fleet, as Our aim was to break the power of mighty England vested in her sea trade. For this, the submarine became Germanys principal weapon and it was not countered until the full introduction of the convoy system in May 1917, grouping merchant ships under the protection of naval escorts for passage across the North and South Atlantic in particular. Nonetheless and at the cost of 178 boats and their 5,000 crew members, German U-boats had sunk 6,924 Allied ships, almost 13 million tons gross, with the loss of more than 14,000 merchant seafarers by the end of the War in 1918.

The Service will include the reading of a first-hand account of U-boat attack in 1915 on a British merchant ship which resulted in its master being awarded posthumously the Victoria Cross. This was the first time the VC had been awarded to a civilian, in this case its oldest recipient in the First World War, he being Captain Frederick Parslow, born in Islington. The Wars other civilian recipient was also a Mercantile Marine master, Captain Archibald Smith from Aberdeen, following a 1917 U-boat attack.

HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, will contribute addresses to the Service. Together with veteran and serving members of the Merchant Navy, relatives and friends, it will be attended by representatives of the shipping industry and Royal Navy, including the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas. Present too will be Admiral The Rt Hon the Lord West of Spithead, the National Patron of the Merchant Navy Association which organises the Service. Wreaths will be laid, followed by the planting in the memorials lawn of miniature Red Ensigns, the flag of the British Merchant Navy, in individual acts of remembrance.

All are welcome at the Service, held annually on the Sunday following Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September, the anniversary of the start of the Second World War. In tribute, Red Ensigns will be flown on the Department for Transport headquarters in Horseferry Road, London SW1; on HMS Belfast and from Tower Bridge. The latter is an honour shared with only the Union Flag and White Ensign. ENDS

CONTACT & NOTE TO EDITORS/

CONTACT:

For further information or to attend the Service, please contact Captain John Sail, National Chairman of the Merchant Navy Association:mnasail@gmail.com; 07739 380717 or Ms Donna Creasey, Personal Assistant, on 01205 460917.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

1. There are two other Merchant Navy memorials in Trinity Square Gardens on Tower Hill. The Second World War memorial carries the names of 23,832 members of the Merchant Navy, fishing fleets, Lighthouse, Pilotage and Steam Services for whom there is no known grave but the sea and which lists the 2,174 vessels from which they were lost. The Falklands Campaign memorial records 17 names and their 4 ships. All three memorials are in the care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

2. The First World War memorial, unveiled by Queen Mary in 1928, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, as were the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the memorial to the Missing of the Somme at Thiepval in Belgium amongst others.

3. The title Merchant Navy was bestowed upon the Mercantile Marine by HM King George V in 1928 in honour of its service and sacrifice during the First World War. In the same year, the King appointed Edward, Prince of Wales, Master of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, a title now held by HM The Queen.

4. The Service appears on the official First World War centenary and Commonwealth War Graves Commission websites:-

http://www.1914.org/events-calendar/?id=EVENT495767

http://www.cwgc.org/discover/war-at-sea.aspx

http://www.cwgc.org/events.aspx?d=07&m=09&y=2014

5. The Red Ensign image below is available on request.

Roger Hoefling

(020) 7289 8836

JOHN LOCK · PWSTS Forum Moderator

Due to unforeseen circumstances I will not be able to attend this years service, hope to be there next year to see you all.

Regards John

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

That's a great shame John. Hope all is well mate. Look forward to seeing you next year.

JOHN LOCK · PWSTS Forum Moderator

All's well mate, just a little bit of business that I have to attend too, that happens to be on the afternoon of the 7th.

Apologies again.

Regards John

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

You were missed John, but there is always next year. Some photos have been uploaded to the main web site

http://pwsts.org.uk/MND2014.htm

JOHN LOCK · PWSTS Forum Moderator

Great photo's & good weather, shame I couldn't make it. There's three new faces in the back row that I don't recognise, 1st on left, the one on Andy's left & far right, names please.

Regards John

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Peter Deakin, Mike Westhead and Trevor McKay wink (Peter and Trevor all the way from New Zealand)

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Message from the MNA:

A big thank you to everyone who helped and attended the Service yesterday. It was certainly a success and has helped to raise the profile of the Merchant Navy and our Association that bit more.

Regards,

Tim Brant

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Creeper you were missed mate. Hope all is well with you and Rosie?

British Merchant Navy at War · PWSTS Forum Member

Attached are a number of photos of myself and other volunteers laying the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red poppies at the Tower of London Moat before the Merchant Navy Day parade. Up to date before our planting shifts started on the 7th September around 500,000 had been planted and it was hoped that around 30,000 could be planted on that one day alone in a number of shifts, which had been allotted the biggest planting day of the project. The shifts were four hours long, but I could only do three due to attending the MN parade across the road.

After all the volunteers were grouped together we had to watch a health and safety video, which actually showed us how to put on a pair of gloves and safety goggles for planting the metal stems. We were basically given a patch to work and left to form our own production line. The people at the tables are assembling the stems, which had to be attached, two washers, a spacer and a cap to hold the poppy. I undertook the job of distributing the stems to the poppy planters, who fitted the ceramic poppies and planted in the ground. The stems came in three lengths and planted in a fashion to give a wave effect and when viewed from the air would show a sea of red and none of the grass underneath. The experience was well worth it and at the same time gave me the opportunity to promote the MNA and Merchant Navy as people were curious about my blazer and as usual some were not aware of who are what we are.

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Nice photos Billy. Before the parade I made a point of spending time looking at the poppies and reflecting on their significance. Whilst most of us are unaware of quite how much work is involved in the planting of so many poppies we can appreciate that it must be a numb knee experience.

I do feel for you having to endure a H&S video on how to put on gloves. #umbrellas

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Does anyone else have photographs of Tower Hill to send in?

Below is an interesting web site about Tower Hill

http://www.benjidog.co.uk/Tower%20Hill/

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Main web site updated with some good photos sent in by Terry Doughty

http://pwsts.org.uk/MND2014.htm

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

Standard Barer badge and clasps found upstairs in the Liberty Bounds pub next to Tower Hill on Sunday 7th September 2014. It has clasps dating back to 2006, with one of the clasps being issued for the "freedom of the City of Plymouth in 2009" Please contact me so I can return to owner.

Andy · PWSTS UK Director

EJ1940 · PWSTS Forum Member

Thanks Andy for the video, makes me wish I could be there.

EJ