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Post by Administrator on Nov 6, 2015 21:27:32 GMT
Seafarers protest over Remembrance festival ban Nautilus International has protested over a decision to prevent Merchant Navy Second World War veterans from taking part in this year’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. Nautilus said the move was ‘a kick in the teeth’ to civilian seafarers who had played a pivotal role in the conflict – and who suffered a higher proportion of deaths than any of the armed forces. MN veterans have been taking part in the Muster and Parade at the event for more than 20 years, but this year the Royal British Legion withdrew the invitation for their participation. No formal explanation for the decision has been given, although there are concerns that the format has been changed to be more 'entertainment-focussed'. LINK
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Post by Administrator on Nov 6, 2015 21:30:58 GMT
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Keith At Tregenna: I would like to know what fully happened re: The reports that the Merchant Navy were not allowed representation at the Festival of Remembrance and who made what appears to be an error ? An error by whom ? I was disgusted at the earlier reports and require clarification please. The Merchant Navy were there every day in all conflicts.
David Gerrard: The Royal British Legion would like to assure you that the Merchant Navy Veterans have not been barred from the Festival of Remembrance.
The Legion has offered free tickets to the Festival to 5 Merchant Navy veterans, and there will be serving Merchant Navy representation in the Muster.
Please note, the Muster has always been for Serving personnel, not for veterans – in the same way that the Cenotaph march past is for veterans, not Serving personnel.
As was the case last year, the important and valuable role of the Merchant Navy in times of conflict is acknowledged in the narrative of the Festival of Remembrance.
The Royal British Legion has written to the Merchant Navy Association on the matter.
With kind regards
Royal British Legion”
Keith At Tregenna: Thank you for your prompt response, but I did read this earlier. It does help to know that something has been done to rectify what ever occurred, but does not answer what actually happened. Many Merchant Seamen, family and groups were hurt at the news that broke and I would like to give them fuller information. Regards Keith.
David Gerrard: Keith At Tregenna I don’t have any more information as I am not directly involved. I suspect that someone at the MNA got their wires crossed.
David was kind to answer as above, as he is not directly involved. He suspects that someone at the MNA got their wires crossed ?
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Post by Administrator on Nov 6, 2015 21:32:59 GMT
The Royal British Legion (RBL) bars Merchant Navy Veterans from attending the Muster and Parade at this year’s festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. Earlier in July those administering and managing the RBL agreed that four Merchant Navy Veterans could take part as they had in previous years. In August, however, this offer was withdrawn and a number of written appeals to both Mr Purdey who is organising the event and Mr Simpkins, Director General of RBL, have not received a reply. No explanation for their exclusion from this part of the event has been received. Frankly that is an insult to all those who gave their lives for their Country, in what both Winston Churchill and King George VI called the “Fourth Service”. The Merchant Navy Red Ensign has flown permanently on the Cenotaph in London since 1919. It is grossly insensitive and wholly disrespectful of the critical and often strategic role of the Merchant Navy and its seafarers in times of both war and conflict…every war and every conflict. There would have been very little fuel for those wonderful pilots engaged in the Battle of Britain, there would have been very little fuel for the Royal Navy and there would have been NO fuel for Field Marshall Montgomery without the Ohio arriving in Malta. That fuel also allowed the RAF to fly another sortie that destroyed the two tankers on course to re-fuel Field Marshall Rommel. In addition 80% of the planes built during WWII were made of wood and 80% of that wood arrived in ships of the Merchant Navy as well as the ingots that were turned into screws for the Spitfire wings. The longest battle of the war was the Battle of the Atlantic and the most severe conditions were experienced during the Arctic Convoys and if they had failed the Eastern Front would have failed and the consequences would have been catastrophic. No Merchant ship was ever left behind for want of a crew and their contribution to the peace has often been undervalued and unacknowledged. In recent years much has been achieved but all this seems to have been totally and utterly disregarded by those managing and administering the Royal British Legion. One in four Merchant Seafarers lost their lives during WWII and over 3,000 merchant seafarers were awarded the South Atlantic Medal after the Falklands Conflict…it simply could not have been attempted without the Merchant Navy ships and their crews. This lack of acknowledgement for the dedication, courage and commitment of Merchant seafarers appears endemic within the Executive of the RBL. Merchant Navy Veterans have certainly always been recognised and acknowledged by members of HM Armed Forces and we are honoured that our MNA Patron is Admiral The Right Honourable The Lord West of Spithead. Lord West has spoken on a range of issues dealing with appropriate recognition for Merchant Navy seafarers both past and present. Wider awareness of this appalling exclusion may turn the tide of disapproval with the RBL Executive and allow Merchant Navy Veterans to march alongside their comrades who served in HM Forces.
Yours aye
Captain J M R Sail MNM MNI
MNA National Chairman
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