Remembrance

[Administrator]

Remember with us, as we do. A WELSH (Barry- Home Town and Aylesbury-residence) BASED SITE, with its own tale, but with all lost souls remembered. A vested interest of all those lost in the Merchant Navy, but all lost remembered and a small place to grieve such a loss. On land or sea or air, we shall remember them. LEST WE FORGET.

Her Name Was Tregenna is a site created as a tribute to Captain Care of Barry and the men of one particular ship, though it now carries additional material.

www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/

www.ss-tregenna.co.uk

[e-mail]

I attempt generally to promote remembrance, rather than our own tribute site, but at “Remembrancetide” offer a tranquil space on the WWW, that may offer some space away from it all and both time and a space to remember. “Lest we forget”. KG.

[KG]

To John Alexander Haughton

You died when I was five years old
So I never got to know you
I only know what I’ve been told
By those I know who knew you

Some say that you were modest
Some say that you were shy
That is really not surprising
The truth is so am I

I can see you in my children
When I see your photograph
They have your hair they have your eyes
They even have your laugh

I talk to them about you
The little that I know
I know you played a mean guitar
My mother told me so

You never saw me go to school
You never saw me wed
You never saw your grandsons
Or tucked them up in bed

If it wasn’t for that dreadful War
You might still be here today
You were simply there to do your job
And you had a price to pay
Decima Haughton Watkins

[KG]

The Merchant Seamen

No poppies wave above our heads
Or mark the place where we must sleep

Below the oceans wild and wide
Our resting place is in the deep

Out of the night torpedoes came
To start the roar of flash and flame

The stink of burning oil and then
The cries of all the dying men

We ask you not to call us brave
For we volunteered 'tis true

We gave our lives so you could live
And asked no thanks from you

Armed forces from around the world
Put their lives upon the line

Just the same as we did
Having faith in the divine

The wolf packs now no longer roam
And peace then brought the heroes home

No poppies wave above our heads
But we are gone and long dead

So let us not forget the crew
Of merchant ships in battle too

The merchant seamen played their part
Remember them with all your heart

Brian G. Redding.

[A READER]

BARRY LATEST:


IT MAY just have been a slip of the tongue, but it is a very common one today.

I refer to the appeal by the Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, Councillor Williams, for the people of Barry to support this year's Poppy Appeal for the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces in two world wars.

The people of Barry, above all people, should remember that the vast majority of its citizens who died in those Wars were in the Merchant Navy, not in the Armed Forces.

It cannot be too often repeated, 'Lest We Forget', that the Merchant Service, in the Second World War, lost more men than were lost in any of the Armed Services.

The reasons why we do forget are simple - there are no Merchant Navy uniforms, no Merchant Navy bands, no Merchant Navy marches.

Remember, there are poppies on the Flander's Fields but none on the Atlantic Ocean; and there are white crosses on the Flander's Fields, but none on the oceans of the world. There is nothing to jog our memory.

On reflection, I must point out that Merchant ships were not completely un-armed.

On my first ship, we had a 12-pounder gun, it dated from the Boer War, 1899, actually. I was only 15, but I had earned a gunner's ticket - for which I got 6d a day extra!

We also had a Holman Projector, an Anti Aircraft G
un! Well it consisted, as I remember, of a 4ft steel pipe which was attached either to a compressed-air pipe or to a compressed-steam pipe.

It was used to fire hand-grenades against the Luftwaffe dive-bombers and was supposed to lob the grenade 100ft in the air. We used ours once on the East Coast: it went 10 feet in the air, fell on the deck and blew a hole in the scupper plate.

I remember that, after that, we did use it in port to fire spuds at other ships.

Let me be serious again though. The photograph is of a Merchant Navy fireman in his uniform, who was lucky enough to climb 40ft out of the stokehold and into the oil-covered sea.

I am sure that Mayor Williams and the people of Barry will spare a thought, this week, for all those Barry seamen who were not as lucky as he and I were.

David Simpson High Street Barry

www.barrymerchantseamen.org.uk

[KG]

Did you know ?

(Please, let our youth celebrate and lead our town in what should be a "Time of freedom")

Did you know that 2010 is the 70th Anniversary of Dunkirk

In the nine days from 27th May to 4th June 1940, 338,226 men escaped including 139,997 French, Polish and Belgian troops together with a small number of Dutch soldiers
aboard 861 vessels which 243 were sunk

Did you know that on the 8th May 2010 it will be the 65th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)

On the 8th May 1945: General Admiral Von Friedeburg,Field Marshal Keitel & General Oberst Stumpf signed the act of unconditional Military surrender of the German Armed Forces in Berlin

Also, that on the 15th August 2010 it will be the 65th Anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day)

On the 2nd September 1945 General Okamura Yasiyi submitted the surrender to Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz on board the battleship U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay

We do not have many veterans left, so do not let these dates go by, without sparing them a thought

Lest we forget

1946: Sunday 8th May, It was sanctioned by law for the celebration of victory in and by France, In 1982, after numerous debates, the commemoration was recognised as a national festival. This "day of freedom", a bank holiday and a day off, was to be widely introduced into schools and universities and the commemorations marking it were to become the subject of wide media coverage.

Thus the 8th May remains a symbolic date, celebrated by almost every community amongst our fellow European and fellow Celtic counterparts. Now a national commemoration, it gradually became like the 11th November, from which it borrowed a large number of its customs.

Nearing 11/11 ourselves, may Barrian’s also, further remember and lead the way. No wish to glorify war, but to remember those lost.

Could ? would ? will ? Barry continue to remember ? Three remarkable years of remembrance, have been led by Dr. Jonathan Hicks.

May we both ask him to continue and all assist in remembering. Follow France, although without an official holiday, lets have a festival of Remembrance, Barry led and hopefully country wide. School and College backed ? etc. Local bodies such as the Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry Branch and more I am certain would assist further.

Church led services, all local organisations involved, from Scouts to lifeboat, Town Council, and all local media - to shops and business. May a town without a museum, lead the way.

Looking towards the youth of the town to aid Dr. Hicks for a 2010 venue and all assistance in ensuring “ Barry Remembers” A local school could provide an ideal, all weather venue, parking, canteen services etc, plus the deserved help and assistance that Dr. J. Hicks deserves in return for all he has done and hopefully, will continue to do so.

A "Time of freedom", An event for Barry, anyone that may have attended a Memo event, should ask for no less, support your town’s heritage and history with both an - Festival of Freedom and an opportunity for our youth and local organisations etc, to aid Dr, Hicks and others in continuing to show us the way.

Back, to an interactive. Barry event and a 2010, Celebration of a “Time of Freedom” A Barry Summertime, fun filled but with remembrance, with our youth both capturing our past and promoting our future. A living event and local (Much Needed) open museum event.

Barry requires a museum, she will manage until then. a demise of a funfair, cannot spoil her coast, her history and her past.. Her History will secure and ensure her future. LEST WE FORGET.

KG.

[KC]

11.11.11

For relatives we may have never known or cannot know no, more: Loved ones lost in conflict, perishing in war.

To WEAR A POPPY

When we buy a poppy, approaching Remembrance Day
There’s a method we should sport it - in a special way
Don’t show it off too early - as politicians do
Or have it on your right side - that is quite wrong too

Place it on your left side so others will not mock
Make sure the leaf that’s with it - is eleven of the clock
I reckon it’s noteworthy to pin it on correct.
When donning this fine emblem, expressing your respect.

Of course it’s not compulsory but that`s the way I see
One reason why you`re wearing it - is because we`re free!

Joe Earl.

For all who have and are still fighting that we may be safe and free, the survivors and the injured and caring family: “We must remember them” KG

For their sake - wear a poppy, if you wear a poppy, wear it with pride. It is also simply asked that you wear a poppy to support the people that are currently undertaking the defence of our right to wear it, wherever they may be in world.

[KG]

CONVOYS 1939 – 45


Rolling Home in Convoys five miles wide or more,
Our hardy Merchant seamen await the night in store,
A crawling speed of eight knots from Halifax to home,
Escorts interweaving, darting through the foam.

The wolf pack will be lurking, waiting in advance,
To shoot a damn torpedo when they get a chance,
These men that run the gauntlet are wary all the time,
Hoping that their own ships avoid the firing line.

Keen to get the cargo through but sitting like a duck,
Trusting to the Navy boys and large amounts of luck,
Fearing of forsaken ships and fires that light the sky,
Foretelling of the danger as fine men sink and die.

Counter measures not so good against the U-boat’s tricks
Resulting in foul carnage and spreading oily slicks
Staunchly sailing on, through the weeks of dread
Keeping lifelines open while flying flags of red.

Some steaming back to Liverpool and also to the Clyde,
Freighters bound for Barry and Avonmouth`s big tide,
Tankers make for jetties all around our shores,
With extra miles zigzagging making wide detours.

Still they run the risk, of colliding with a mine,
Or bombing from a Kondor patrolling over brine,
Plus the usual hazards known to all seadogs,
Hurricanes and storms or blinding ghostly fogs.

When and if they sail through, after trips of trial,
Seamen don a brave face with grim or cheery smile,
They’ll endure the war, `till victory bells are rung,
Then carry on seafaring - bravery unsung.

J.S.Earl Oct.09

[KG]

MERCHANT NAVY STAMP

Defeat was mighty close in the second greatest war,
Five thousand ships with cargos sent to the ocean floor,
Merchant men were slaughtered sustaining our lifeline,
The Country issued ration books so desperate was the time.

A crisis at the Home Front, foodstuff very short,
Rations and provisions scarcely making port,
Convoys steaming steadfast under Red Ensigns,
Faced demise from U-boats, the bombers and the mines.

There were many heroes on land and sea and air,
And thirty thousand Seamen gave their lives out there,
Transporting reinforcements, resources and supplies,
And fuel to fly the spitfires fighting in the skies.

Perhaps we should commend them by illustrating stamps,
With the freighters and the liners, the tankers and the tramps,
It would be a special tribute, rather overdue,
To mariners who manned them and a way to say thank you.

J.S.Earl Nov. 2009

[KG]

Recieved today 11/11 Armistice 2009:

GB stamps – the “Forgotten Service”

Thank you for your e-mail dated 9th November 2009 in which you request Royal Mail give consideration to issuing a set of Special Stamps to celebrate the Merchant Navy.

Your suggestion is certainly an interesting one and I have included it on our list of potential subjects for 2013. I should mention however, that we can receive up to 2000 suggestions for the programme each year, and as the number of subjects we can include is limited to 10 or 11, you will appreciate that the final choice is a difficult one.

The subjects for the 2013 Special Stamp programme will be finalised early in 2012 and Royal Mail will contact you again at that time to let you know of our decision.

Thank you for your suggestion, and for the interest that you have shown in the Special Stamp programme.

regards

Stamps Product Manager
Stamps & Philatelic
Royal Mail Centre

"Fingers Crossed".