Post by Administrator on Dec 2, 2015 22:21:35 GMT
"To "British & allied Merchant Ships", All areas.
The following is a gracious message from HM the King addressed to the British Merchant Navy & Fishing Fleets - Buckingham Palace -
Today is Christmas Day, the festival of peace & home, but most of you to whom I send this message, the officers and men of the Merchant Navy & Fishing Fleets, are spending it far from your own folk. It is to them that your thoughts are turning as you stand your watch on the bridge, or at gunstation, in the engineroom, or stokehold, and they too, you may be sure, are thinking of you with gratitude & pride. In that, the whole nation joins them, for there is scarcely one of us on shore who does not know the extent to which the safety of our common heritage of hearth & home depends on you. At this festival of peace, in the midst of a world at war, I send you greetings & pray in the old familiar words that you & the ships in which you serve may return in safety to enjoy the blessing of the land & the fruits of your labours.
George RI"
An original December 25th 1939 dated Naval Message to ALL BRITISH MERCHANT SHIPS from H.M. THE KING............... message reads as follows.............
IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SEND A CHRISTMAS CARD TO EACH
MEMBER OF THE BRITISH MERCHANT NAVY AND FISHING FLEETS AS I HAVE
DONE TO MEMBERS OF THE FIGHTING FORCES,BECAUSE OUR SHIPS ARE SO
WIDELY SCATTERED OVER THE SEVEN SEAS. INSTEAD I SEND TO EACH OF YOU
THIS PERSONAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF GOOD WILL AND GOOD CHEER.
YOU ARE FACING THE SPECIAL PERILS WHICH IN THESE DAYS SURROUND
THE SEAMEN, WITH A COOLNESS, COURAGE AND FORTITUDE WHICH ARE THE
ADMIRATION OF US ALL AT HOME AND I KNOW THAT I SPEAK NOT ONLY FOR
MYSELF BUT FOR ALL YOUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, WHEN I WISH YOU A HAPPY
XMAS AND A GOOD LANDFALL.
GEORGE R.I.
25th December 1939