Merchant Navy Day

[Robbo]

Ron (Steve) and All
At last a little more acknowledgement of you lads service during the war.
Yesterday 3/9 there was a service at the Shrine Of Remembrance (Melb) and a wreath laid.
It is to be annually now at 1300 hrs on Sept 3rd. As well they will be flying the Red Ensign once a week on the forecourt, no set day as it depends on what is on at the Shrine, but it wiil be up there weekly.
I am away next week to Scotland for the BI bash (mainly to keep an eye on GTin Oz)
but when we are back I'll contact you to see what headway, if any you are making with our "illustrious"pollies re MN day.
Cheers
Robbo

[Ron (Steve) Wylie]

Ahoy Robbo. You're heading for "Bonnie Scotland". Half your luck, bit cold just now,
Your mail is good news, for recognition of IMND 3Sep.
The indication of a Proclamation from the Prime Minister (Hon John Howard) is not on.
We are discussing at present to proceed with the campaign as is Proclamation only.
We have enough recognition as Statistics show Website and Forum (700 daily visits) so we decide to continue as in the past manner, or accept recognition only.
National Secretary Viet Nam Vets (Lon Tan battle) are somewhat cranky as they have only received recognition for Nam Vets. No Proclamation.
The PM's Statement to me does not hold water.
Holidays in Australia Subject by Proclamation on full pay
Bank Holidays, Picnic Days, Canberra, 8 hour Day, Foundation Day etc. !4
Public Holidays, Easter (4days), Anzac Day, Queens Birthday, May Day 7 Total 21.
Thousands on the payroll for what.
All from previous Governments Legislated.
Considering that all Merchant Seamen during Wartime Pay the responsibility of Government, Shipping Companies, etc. was absolved. All Articles of Agreement ceased and merchant seamen were declared DBS, Destitute British Seamen. Before the vessel settled on the Bottom. (Find your own way home Sallies, Red Cross)
I have penned an ode to those Merchant Seamen who made the Supreme Sacrifice WW2 I would appreciate any reaction from GtinOZ HeatherLand or others
.
"Australia's Merchant MarinersWW2"

They need no dirge, For time and tide fills
All things with tribute unto them;
The warmth of a Summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea,
The comforting arm of night,
The generous soul of nature, The power of the sea birds flight.

Blow golden trumpets blow mournfully,
For all the golden youth that be,.
For all the shattered dreams that lie,
Where God has lain His quiet dead
For all the world to see, beneath some Alien Ocean Bed.

Bon Voyage Keep in touch Ron(S).the

[GtinOz]

Ron , Keep at them, Now that Don Chip has passed over the bar we need somebody to 'keep the bastards honest'. Will be meeting with Robbo in Scotland. Came across the following on shipsnostalgia:
The Sailors Requiem.

There are no roses on sailor’s graves,

Nor wreaths upon the storm tossed waves,

No last post from the Royals band,

So far away from their native land,

No heartbroken words carved on stone,

Just shipmates bodies there alone,

The only tributes are the seagull’s sweeps,

And the teardrop when a loved one weeps

Amen.

Regards, George.

[GtinOz]

Ron, as I said earlier I was to attend a meeting with our Federal MP John Forrest, I did have a chat with him and presented him with some of the figures re war losses etc. He has now written to me and stated that he has 'made a representation' to the Minister For Veterans' Affairs, The Hon Bruce Bilston, on my behalf, regarding a National Day Of Commemoration. He will advise me when a reply is received from the Ministers office. Every little helps. George.

[Ron (Steve) Wylie]

Ahoy George. Thanks for the follow up, interested your reply from your MP. We here in Sydney town and all over the wide brown country, are still chipping away at our Federal Pollies, plus the leader the Hon John Winston Howard. The standard reply usually from some side kick "We recognise your IMND3Sep but this Government will not make a Proclamation" this is not good enough for the quite amazing amount of traffic and statistics world wide available internationally (visits and pages website and Forum amazing) we have the figures, will announce shortly, more later.
Look old mate I personally find it hard to remain intemperate at my age when being subjected to such insular people when reading the replies from the Canberra Beureaucrats, displaying perhaps, no intestinal fortitude to step up to the plate and be counted.
Sincerely hope your bloke comes up with the goods.
Keep chipping away my friend. Regards Ron (S).

[Billy McGee]

Part I

ALLISON, Third Engineer Officer, ROBERT, S.S. Southern Empress (Keith). Merchant Navy. 13th October 1942. Age 29. Son of David Andrew Allison, and of Rachel Elizabeth Allison, of Subiaco, Western Australia. Panel 99.

ANDERSON, Chief Engineer Officer, BRUCE, S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne). Australian Merchant Navy. 31st January 1942. Age 38. Son of George Thomas Anderson and Lavinia Augusta Anderson; husband of Dorothy Eleanor Anderson, of Croydon, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 130.

ARMSTRONG, Fifth Engineer Officer, ANDREW JOHN, S.S. Ceramic (Southampton). Merchant Navy. 7th December 1942. Age 24. Son of George and Alice Sarah Armstrong, of Waverley, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 25.

BALDWIN, Third Officer, VERNON CHARLES, S.S. W. C. Teagle. Merchant Navy. 16th October 1941. Age 21. Son of the Revd. P. W. Baldwin and Mrs. E. Baldwin, of Melbourne, Australia. Panel 115.

BECKETT, Fifth Engineer Officer, ALBERT JOHN, M.V. Zealandic (Southampton). Merchant Navy. 17th January 1941. Age 37. Son of James Thornton Beckett and Lavinia Beckett; husband of Alice Mary Beckett, of Kirribilli, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 120.

BENNETT, Chief Officer, JAMES WILLIAM, M.V. Anshun (London). Merchant Navy. 10th December 1941. Age 39. Son of James Ellis Bennett and Elizabeth Jane Bennett; husband of Mary Elizabeth Bennett, of North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 9.

BENTLEY, Steward, CHARLES JOHN, S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne). Australian Merchant Navy. 2nd February 1942. Age 54. Son of William George and Rebecca Bentley; husband of Emily Olive Bentley, of Albert Park, Victoria, Australia. Panel 130.

BERKS, Able Seaman, JOHN PHILIP, S.S. Fort Athabaska (London). Merchant Navy. 2nd December 1943. Age 28. Son of Philip and Dorothy Berks, of Darlington, Western Australia; husband of Violet Berks. Panel 49.

BOARD, Third Officer, EDWIN JOHN, S.S. Tulagi (Hong Kong). Australian Merchant Navy. 19th May 1944. Husband of Gladys Joyce Board, of Dee Why, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 130.

BOGGS, Master, LAURENCE STANLEY, M B E, M.V. Pinto (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 8th September 1944. Age 59. Son of Stanley Alexander Boggs and Mildred Boggs, of Lindfield, New South Wales, Australia; husband of Ann Katherine Boggs, of Lindfield. Panel 81.

BOYLE, Assistant Baker, JAMES WALTER, S.S. Slamat (Netherlands). Merchant Navy. 27th April 1941. Age 31. Son of Rose Boyle; husband of Edna Lillian Boyle, of Glebe, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 98.

BRADLEY, Trimmer, ROBERT J., S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne). Australian Merchant Navy. 31st January 1942. Panel 130.

BROWN, Cadet Officer, JOHN DAVID, S.S. Tulagi (Hong Kong). Australian Merchant Navy. 19th May 1944. Son of John Wallace Brown, of Manly, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 130.

BROWN, Trimmer, WILLIAM HENRY MATTHEW, S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne). Australian Merchant Navy. 31st January 1942. Age 28. Son of Alfred and Janet Brown; husband of Pearl Brown, of Balmain, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 130.
BROWNE, Apprentice, BRYAN HARDING, S.S. Nellore (Greenock). Australian Merchant Navy. 29th June 1944. Son of Mrs. E. Browne, of North Adelaide. South Australia. Panel 130.

BUCKENARA, Fourth Engineer Officer, FRANCIS VERDUN, S.S. Ascot (London). Merchant Navy. 29th February 1944. Age 27. Son of Thomas and Margaret Buckenara; husband of Audrey Mary Buckenara, of Subiaco, Western Australia. Panel 10.

CASEY, Assistant Steward, REGINALD PATRICK, S.S. Opawa (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 6th February 1942. Age 24. Son of Dennis and Mary Brosner Casey, of Townsville, Queensland, Australia; husband of E. M. Casey, of Moorooka, Queensland. Panel 76.

CHRISTIANSON, Chief Butcher, OLAF RUPERT MATTHEW, S.S. Slamat (Netherlands). Merchant Navy. 27th April 1941. Age 53. Son of James Olaf and Mary Anne Christianson; husband of Louisa Mary Christianson, of Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 98.

CLUNAS, First Radio Officer, ROBERT KITCHENER, M.V. Clea (London). Merchant Navy. 13th February 1941. Age 24. Son of John Clark Clunas and Ivy Louisa Clunas, of Marylands, Western Australia. Panel 31.

COLEMAN, Fifth Engineer Officer, LESLIE PERCIVAL, M.V. Doryssa (London). Merchant Navy. 25th April 1943. Age 23. Son of Percival and Catherine Mary Coleman, of South Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Panel 36.

COLVIN, Master, FREDERICK OLIVER, S.S. Nellore (Greenock). Australian Merchant Navy. 29th June 1944. Husband of Mrs. A. M. Colvin, of Mosman, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 130.

COOPER, Apprentice, MILES DE BEAWOIR, M.V. Empire Gem (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 24th January 1942. Age 18. Son of Ashley James Cooper and Caryll Cooper, of Greenwich Point, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 41.

CORBY, Able Seaman, JOSEPH, S.S. Rhexenor (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 13th February 1943. Age 21. Son of Joseph Corby, and of Mabel Corby, of Balgownie, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 87.

COULTHARD, Greaser, ALEC, M.V. Melbourne Star (London). Merchant Navy. 2nd April 1943. Age 22. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Coulthard, of Gladstone, Queensland, Australia. Panel 69.

CURRY, Second Radio Officer, NOEL ROBERT, S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne). Australian Merchant Navy. 31st January 1942. Age 28. Son of John Thomas Curry and Mary Curry, of Bronte, New South Wales. Australia. Panel 130.

DAVIDSON, Second Officer, JAMES FERGUSON, S.S. Jumna (London). Merchant Navy. 25th December 1940. Age 31. Son of Alexander Cullen Davidson and Ida Beatrice Davidson; husband of Euphemia Davidson, of Ashfield, Sydney, New South Wales. Australia. Panel 59.

DENT, Master, PHILIP, S.S. Empire Cromwell (Sunderland). Merchant Navy. 28th November 1942. Age 39. Husband of Mary Elizabeth Dent, of Lochleys, South Australia. Panel 39.

DICK, Engineer Officer (Sixth), DONALD CAMPBELL, S.S. Clan Campbell (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 23rd March 1942. Age 25. Son of William and Margaret Dick, of Glasgow; husband of Enid Dick, of Artarmon, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 30.

DONALD, Engineer Officer (Sixth), ALAN, M.V. Zealandic (Southampton). Merchant Navy. 17th January 1941. Age 23. Son of George Donald, Master, S.S. Myrtle Branch, M.N. (lost at sea by enemy action, 11th April, 1918), and of Gertrude Donald, of Dulwich, Adelaide, South Australia. Panel 120.

DOWN, Electrician, ARTHUR, Merchant Navy. Lost in S.S. Ceramic (Southampton) 7th December 1942. Age 21. Son of Percival and Martha Down, of Punchbowl, New South Wales, Australia Panel 26.

DUFFIELD, Master, BERNARD EDWIN, S.S. Empire Caribou (London). Merchant Navy. 10th May 1941. Age 44. Son of Edwin and Emily Duffield; husband of Elizabeth Duffield, of Perth, Western Australia. Panel 38.

DUNCOMBE, Assistant Storekeeper, A, S.S. Slamat (Netherlands). Merchant Navy. 27th April 1941. Age 39. Son of Albert and Eliza Duncombe; husband of Agnes Duncombe, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 98.

EDWARDS, Second Radio Officer, GEORGE JAMES, M.V. Opawa (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 6th February 1942. Age 29. Son of George and Mary Edwards, of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 76.

EVANS, Able Seaman, DOUGLAS, S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne). Australian Merchant Navy. 2nd February 1942. Age 25. Son of William Henry and Cecilia Catherine Evans, of North Bondi, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 130.

EVANS, Shipwright, IDWAL BERTRAM, S.S. Clarissa Radcliffe (London). Merchant Navy. 9th March 1943. Age 21. Son of Captain Evan Idwal Evans, M.N., and of Henrietta May Evans, of Mosman Park, Western Australia. Panel 31.

FERGUSON, Ninth Engineer Officer, LACHLAN ALEXANDER, M.V. Oratio (Plymouth). Merchant Navy. 28th August 1941. Age 23. Son of James and Margaret May Ferguson, of Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 77.

FLATTERY, Fireman, JAMES JOSEPH, Merchant Navy. Lost in S.S. Ceramic (Southampton) 7th December 1942. Age 23. Son of Veronica Flattery, of Stanmore, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 26.

FORD, Ordinary Seaman, GEOFFREY JOHN, S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne). Australian Merchant Navy. 31st January 1942. Age 21. Son of John Alexander Ford and Winnifred Elvir Ford; stepson of Mrs. I.O.A. Ford, of Williamstown, Victoria, Australia. Panel 130.

GANNON, Fireman, PATRICK, S.S. Mareeba (Melbourne). Australian Merchant Navy. 2nd February 1942. Age 61. Son of William and Sarah Gannon; husband of Jeannie Gannon, of Bootle, Liverpool. Panel 130.

GIBSON, Chief Officer, WILLIAM INGLIS, S.S. Rose Schiaffino (Cardiff). Merchant Navy. 3rd November 1941. Age 23. Son of Thomas Fleming Gibson and Blanche Alice Gibson, of Largs Bay, South Australia. Panel 88.

GILL, Second Officer, SIDNEY JAMES, S.S. Mavis (London). Merchant Navy. 20th May 1940. Age 41. King's Commendation for Brave Conduct. Son of Hermon and Alice Gill; husband of Gladys Ellen Gill, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Panel 69.

GLAZIER, Butcher, PERCY JOHN, S.S. Orcades (London). Merchant Navy. 10th October 1942. Age 40. Son of William George and Mary Elizabeth Glazier; husband of Ethel Lillian Glazier, of Blackheath, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 76.

GOODSON, Third Engineer Officer, EDWIN, S.S. Viceroy of India (Glasgow). Merchant Navy. 11th November 1942. Age 44. Son of Thomas and Florence Goodson; husband of Pearl P. Goodson, of South Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia. Panel 114.

[doug durham]

Check mail from doug durham or check mercantile marine site for new postsor mail me direct on douglas.arnold@sky.com for info re S Rippon from the Melbopurne Star

[Ron (Steve) Wylie]

Hi Andysite.
MND3Sep or International IMND3Sep The same difference.
The announcement by Prime Minister John Curtin and the truth and exodus from Darwin was described as "Australia's Day Of Shame."
My present research is to record a figure of the Aboriginal Merchant Seamen listed on Articles Some killed aboard HMAHS Manunda Darwin or serving in the Forces particularly to our North (Curtins Cowboys)and the part played across Australia's North in the event of an invasion.
Our Web/Forum/Pedia has good coverage I would appreciate any personal account or listing of events of Aboriginal Merchant Seamen or Sevicemen during WW2 for leads or the record.
Regards Ron(S) Two good sites.
(!)Hospital Ship 2/1 HMAHS Manunda.
(2) HMAHS Manunda History.
Both Google uo OK. Thanks.(R)