Merchant navy ww2 stories book

Other aspects of the war discussed include the activities of the german navy, the role of the bbc, how the prisoners knew what was happening in the war, the nuremberg trials and the human cost of the conflict. The topic has already been studied to a ridiculous degree. Qships, also known as qboats, decoy vessels, special service ships, or mystery ships, were heavily armed merchant ships with concealed weaponry, designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks. This book tells the stories of allied merchant vessels attacked during wwii. No other book i am aware of concentrates on the merchant fleet, all the other books i have read concentrates on the allied and german navies and the battles they fought. Also termed as merchant marine in some countries, the field of merchant navy is an important part of the global shipping sector and is an integral component of any nations economical. Merchant navy in the second world war 19391945 the. Navy great britain collectable wwii military books for sale ebay. The stories world war ii us navy armed guard and world war.

A history of the british merchant navy 5 book series. We would like to obtain digital copies of any documents or photographs relating to ww2 you may have at home. The merchant seamen and the navy armed guard fought valiantly with the help of god. I have enjoyed reading about other members stories and hope my family story is of interest. For the british, the battle of the atlantic was a fight for survival. Some allied merchant seafarers were even sent to the notorious japanese prisoner of war camps, as andrew linington recounts. The united states merchant marine refers to either united states civilian mariners, or to u. For bibliographic information on max reids book dems at war please go to the sources page of the allied merchant navy of wwii website. When envisioning those who served in the second world war, many picture the brave men and women, standing tall and proud in their uniforms. When i was a young boy growing up in strathroy in 1939, canada entered the war. This refers to the agreement form t124x completed by the seaman.

Most records relating to the merchant navy can be found in the board of. Japanese naval and merchant shipping losses during world war ii by all. If you are interested in this ww2 battle this book. The true story behind tom hanks greyhound movie history. S piro ark will launch the book on wednesday, march 21, at 8pm at hampstead garden suburb synagogue. Requiem for convoy pq17, a novel by valentin pikul is dedicated to the fate of the convoy. See more ideas about merchant navy, wwii posters, ww2 posters. The settings of nautical fiction vary greatly, including merchant ships, liners, naval ships, fishing vessels, life boats. Louis cafiero, his travels and pictures, wartime and postwar. Part four of tracing your merchant navy ancestors looks at wartime service. Prior to our declaration of war on 10 september, 1939, canadianbritish merchant shipping was placed under control of the navy.

This gave qships the chance to open fire and sink them. Bernard edwards has another good book about the allied merchant mariners with lots of details of the men and the ships they sailed on and covers many battles during the early part of the war. It was never easy or even routine to sail the waters where death reigned supreme. The merchant navy in the battle of the atlantic 19391943 and. Veterans history project, library of congress, includes a search capability for the stories of merchant marine and u. In doing this, they sustained a considerably greater casualty rate than almost every other branch of the armed services and. Neutral shores, ireland and the battle of the atlantic. The merchant navy in the second world war the merchant navy. Bofors gun cyril perkins 7 stories book written at school in. Use this guide for advice on how to find british merchant shipping records known as crew lists and agreements, dating from 1861 to. At this time two of the ships crew lists the ss legato and ss gitano show him as being height 6ft and weight 170lbs young and fit then or so they. Neutral shores, ireland and the battle of the atlantic home. The story about building and arming canadian merchant ships in ww ii is intricately entwined with that of the british maritime system. Tom hanks new world war ii film offers a dramatized account of the battle of.

Nautical fiction, frequently also naval fiction, sea fiction, naval adventure fiction or maritime. By registering with our site you will have full instant access to. Commander james cohen qvrm rd vr rnr, formerly so1 maritime trade operations for those who served in the merchant navy in the world war ii there has always been some resentment that they were disregarded as the forgotten 4th service, yet. This was the period of greatest german success and the question of great britains survival was at stake. This book focuses on the british merchant navy prisonersofwar and is partly based on contemporary diaries hidden from the germans. Stories of the australian merchant navy, the war at sea 19391946. It is a while since john wrote his memories and since he did it i have managed to find out more about the ships he was on and the people. In this book, peter elphick tells the story of the merchant navy through a series of individual accounts. The date marks the sinking of the first allied merchant ship in 1939, just hours after the second world war began. Mar 12, 2018 the whale that had defeated the elephants of napoleonic france, imperial and nazi germany was to be killed from within.

Buy navy great britain collectable wwii military books and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay. Wwii navy from boys to men second world war diaries. Ulysses as the complete, the perfect fighting machine, mans ultimate, so far, in his attempt to weld science. These brave lads brought soldiers to fight when men were needed at a combat site. Jul 22, 1999 peter elphick tells the story of the merchant navy in a series of individual accounts. Veterans affairs canada recently published a history titled valour at sea. When the war began, britain was illprepared for the fight. British and commonwealth merchant ship losses to axis submarines 1939. Ww2 canadian rcn navy a bloody war memoir reference book ebay. J w stanworth memoirs of the merchant navy 7 stories jack.

Merchant ships archives naval historical society of australia. Homer hickams book torpedo junction discusses germanys brutal attack on merchant marine ships during. The use of qships contributed to the abandonment of cruiser rules restricting attacks on unarmed merchant ships and to the shift to. Jan 04, 2018 jews in the merchant navy in the second world war is published by vallentine mitchell.

So britains merchant navy, a disparate collection of private vessels, became the countrys lifeline, while its seamen, officially noncombatants, bravely endured the onslaught of the german uboat offensive until allied superiority overwhelmed the enemy. Merchant ships were attacked not only in distant waters but also within sight of the australian coastline while traversing much. Merchant navy is a specialized industry which is fully engaged in commercial activities involving transportation of cargo and passengers through sea routes. This is one of the few books that exposed the reality and incredible sacrifice of the united states merchant mariners during wwii. Captive in fukushima a merchant navy chief officers. See more ideas about merchant marine, marine, merchant navy. Woodman gives a history of the allied merchant fleet from 1939may, 1943. The agreements were known as t124x merchant ships and t124t tugs agreements. This register comprises of seamens pouches bt 372 and bt 391 and docket books bt. World war 2 merchant marinerelated nautical fiction. In this important, moving and exciting book, drawing extensively on firsthand sources, the acclaimed maritime historian richard woodman establishes the importance of the british and allied merchant fleets in the struggle against germany and. Browse through the categories below to find stories and photographs concerning major aspects of world war two, and the locations where key. See more ideas about merchant navy, merchants, ship poster.

These books have been greatly appreciated by readers across the. The stories world war ii us navy armed guard and world. Merchant navy, second world war australian war memorial. The committee report was a humiliating insult to those heroic men who have been putting up a 25year battle for equal treatment with war veterans. The merchant marine were the unsung heroes of world war ii. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to. As the outbreak of world war ii edged closer in 1939, the british merchant fleet remained the largest in the world, employing some 200,000 men and women. The merchant navy played a vital role in keeping britain supplied during wartime, as well as transporting equipment and personnel overseas. Yet their experiences and their sacrifices, vital to the maintenance of the war effort and the survival of britain, have been overshadowed by those of the armed forces.

Jun 09, 2015 during world war two, japanese submarines and german raiders sank 30 merchant ships in australian waters, with the loss of 654 sailors. The story places the reader on board as an observer in this intense telling of a naval story out of world war ii. This collection details over 9,000 awards made to those who served in the merchant navy from 193945. So much so that the reader must look away from time to time a the author describes the h. During the second world war merchant navy ships carrying valuable cargoes were at just as much risk as royal australian navy ran warships. From countless interviews with survivors he has succeeded in portraying, in the most vivid manner possible, what it was really like to serve at sea in every theater of the war. After the first world war king george v, in recognition of the contribution made to the british war effort by merchant ships, granted the title of merchant navy to nonmilitary sailors. Please share this post so as many people as possible can see it and hopefully we will be able to obtain photographs of all these boys. Oct 05, 2020 although the atlantic convoys of ww2 are fairly well known, many people do not realise that merchant vessels were also involved in the pacific theatre of war. Frank laskier 1912 8 july 1949 was a british seaman who came to public attention during world war ii in late 1940, laskier was a gunner in the merchant navy when his ship was attacked and sunk by a german raider off the coast of west africa. Though fictional, the forester book is deeply researched and noted for its. Below is a collection of stories and anecdotes from the merchant navy in ww2. Cliff mcmullens page the defensive arming of merchant ships is uploaded on tom purnells convoy hx72 and the sinking of the canonesa site.

It tells the story of the atlantic war from all sides, with a keen interest in the merchant navy. A book that provides much more information on the ships is ugly ducklings. If your ancestor served 19141918 or 19391945 they may have qualified for service medals. Those vessels carried cargo to and from the country and those of the commonwealth to sustain its war effort. A merchant seamans tale of survival from the sinking of. This is the second part of the reminiscences of john hirst who was born in ossett in 1921. It covers his time serving in the merchant navy and his time in the russian convoy. The world war ii story of the royal navy s effort to defeat nazi germanys most powerful warship. Merchant seamen crewed the ships of the british merchant navy which kept the united kingdom supplied with raw materials, arms, ammunition, fuel, food and all of the necessities of a nation at war throughout world war ii literally enabling the country to defend itself. Ww2 canadian rcn navy a bloody war memoir reference book. The term merchant navy refers to a nations commercial shipping and crews. This book details the huge losses of merchant ships and their crews in ww2.

Merchant seamen who served on royal navy ships in ww 2 1939 1946 these merchant seamen served on royal navy ships by special agreement with the admiralty. The british merchant navy of world war ii, previously known as the merchant service or mercantile marine comprised the merchant shipping registered in great britain and independently operated by british commercial shipping companies. The canadian merchant navy was comprised of men and women tasked with the difficult job of faring vital equipment, supplies, and soldiers to europe and the rest of the world. The book is also interesting since it describes the soviet belief that soviet submarine k21 hit the tirpitz. Australian merchant navy day remembrance address september 24, 2018 by lcdr desmond woods, ranr membersof the merchant navy war memorial fund, veterans, war widows, merchant mariners, members of associated organisations, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I thought this was a really interesting and detailed book on the japanese ww ii merchant ship construction. Details of merchant ships can also be found in books on specific operations, such. Jun 09, 2015 keith smiths album 1943 this intimate story of a fathers near death in australian waters during wwii, told by his daughter, is a window into the untold story of thousands of merchant seamen working off the coast of australia who were under the threat of attack every time they left port. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the first or second world war, please do not destroy them. Merchant ships archives naval historical society of. They depended on the safe transit of hundreds of merchant ships carrying food and supplies from america to feed the country and keep the war effort going. In doing this, they sustained a considerably greater casualty rate than almost every other branch of the armed services and suffered great hardship.

Quote hi maureen, there are a number of websites out there that may interest you and further your knowledge. Ships sunk during ww2 published newcastle herald 821993. Digital copies of group photographs, scrapbooks, autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to ww2. Kerry stewart tells the intimate story of her fathers neardeath so close to home on the iron knight in 1942. Anacapa was also withdrawn from qship duty in 1943 and served out the remainder of world war ii as an armed transport in the south pacific and aleutian islands.

Wikipedia gives some information about u32 and has a picture. Ship and operational histories imperial war museums. To receive our weekly friday briefing newsletter showcasing new books, bargain books, navy news and photos, please enter your email address at the bottom of this page and click the subscribe button. Japans liberty ship equivalents of world war ii by s. The imperial japanese navy converted the 2,205ton merchant ship, delhi maru, into a qship. Navybooks specialist publishers of royal navy books and. The men of britains merchant navy, although unarmed civilians going about their lawful business were the first to be involved with the enemy in the second. Plunged into depression after a brief, postwar boom, the ships and men of the british merchant navy found themselves called upon to repeat their sacrifice to the menace of german hostility within twenty years of the end of the war to end all wars.

Membership is open to all that are interested in the british merchant navy both past and present. The renowned maritime historians compelling study of the vital role played by merchant seamen during wwii in the battle of the atlantic. Most people then, and now, have no idea how important the merchant navy is to the united. The merchant navy suffered proportionately the highest casualties of any of the services in the second world war, approximately 30,0000 of the 185,000 seamen who served being killed. World war 2 merchant marinerelated nautical fiction from the.

John hirst reminiscences part 2 merchant navy service ww2. These are the main three departments on almost all types of ships and they work in coordination to ensure a smooth running of ship and its operations. A merchant seamans tale of survival from the sinking of the. British and commonwealth merchant ship losses to axis submarines 19391945.

Dads navy the untold story of the merchant navy in ww2. Some of the stories of survival after being torpedoed are harrowing, disturbing, thrilling and true. Canadaazs world war ii merchant navy scholars commons. The book, courtesy of a merchant navy volunteer researcher wattylers wife, going postal 2019. From countless interviews with survivors he has succeeded in portraying, what it was really like to serve under the red ensign in every theatre of the war. Daily accounts including details of voyages, weather conditions and operations are recorded in the official log books for royal navy ships and submarines or. At all costs has the perfect mix of romance, adventure, and handsome american heroes, in a brilliantlytold story of a critical battle of world war ii. See more ideas about merchant marine, merchants, marine. Jews in the merchant navy in the second world war is published by vallentine mitchell. Ignoring the merchant mariners who perished during wwii is especially unfortunate. May 27, 2016 the merchant marine suffered a higher casualty rate than any branch of the military, losing 9,300 men, with most of the losses occurring in 1942, when most merchant ships sailed u.

Merchant navy jobs mainly involve working on a variety of ships as officers, engineers, or ratings. The real cruel sea is the story of the merchant cargo vessels which kept great britain alive and in the fight against the germans during wwii. World war ii navy documents, armed guard officer reports for ships in which tom bowerman served. I have never contributed to any articles here before but would like to tell the story of the merchant navy boy not just because he was my father but because some stories just need to be told. Crew lists and agreements and log books of merchant ships after. The author of a number of novels, his historical studies include ar ctic convoys 19411945, malta convoys 1941943, the real cruel sea. Aug 19, 2010 the book is a great collection of individual stories of allied merchant mariners during world war 2. Around the world in the royal navy a photo album 33 stories icon for story with photo. Merchant seamens campaign medal records 19391945 the. The entries include novels, novellas, and short stories, but exclude poetry, theater. Merchant navy, second world war the term merchant navy refers to a nations commercial shipping and crews. Because many of his wartime journeys were to america and canada he received the atlantic star, and because many of these were liberty ships and he was billeted with us families waiting for these, he had a real respect for the yanks. He was born to a family of four in a small thameside village which at the time was almost completely rural sheep and pigs at the end of the lane and. The british merchant navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war.

David mcrobbie is the author of many bestselling books for children and. I could see young men and women joining the armed forces and going off to war to fight for their country. We all had to have ration cards to buy most groceries and gasoline. The canadian merchant navy and the second world war april 9, 2018 when envisioning those who served in the second world war, many picture the brave men and women, standing tall and proud in their uniforms. Ww2 canadian the corvette navy true stories canadas atlantic war reference book. Both the civilian mariners and the merchant vessels are managed by a combination of the government and private sectors, and engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the united states. Kenneth more, dana wynter, carl mohner, laurence naismith. There are 47,000 stories in the ww2 peoples war archive. The roll of honour of the merchant navy and fishing fleets 19391945, 3 vols london. Those who served without uniform, specifically, those who answered the call as part of the canadian merchant navy, however, are often forgotten. Poetry about merchant mariners revolution to world war ii. By selecting the stories across the years and in a variety of locations it gives some background information on the balance of naval power during the war and of major events such as the invasion of sicily. I would encourage anyone, of any religion and indeed no religion to read their stories of service and survival in some of the worlds harshest seas.