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Full Ahead

MERCHANT NAVY ASSOCIATION MAGAZINEYour

The Merchant Navy Associationfrom ship to shore, from past to present

Full AheadAutumn 2017. £2.50

Registered Charity

No. 1135661

FullAhead

3 Foreword

3 Cover Story

4 Book Reviews

5 Laying up the Standard

6 Mercantile Marine and Fishing Fleets 1914-

1918: a National Service of Commemoration

6 Falklands Campaign & Charity Day

7 Archibald Bissett Smith

8 Armed Forces Day, Liverpool

10 News

12 Postbag

14 Crossed The Bar

14 Heroes (Poem)

ContentsFullAhead

EditorAny correspondence should be directed to theeditor: John Rix, ‘Crows Nest’, 16 Home FarmPark, Ilminster, Somerset, TA19 9BZTel: 01460 53079, E-mail: john.rix@talktalk.netMembership SecretaryRoy Glencross, 3 The Maples, Old Main Road,Fleet Hargate, Spalding, PE12 8NT. Tel: 01406425527 E-Mail: membership@mna.org.uk National SecretaryNigel Whitaker, 51, Penswick Avenue,Thornton, Clevelys, FY5 3BHE-mail: mna.nat.sec@gmail.com

Front cover: see Cover Story article ���

Painted by Ossie Jones, 135 Ashbourne Road, Liverpool L17 9QQ. Tel: 0151-727 3661, E-mail ossie_jones@talktalk.netCommissions invited.

Cover prints available from thepublishers:

Clarke Design & Media Ltd, Wisteria House,Stump Cross Lane, Swineshead, Lincs. PE20 3JJ.email: sales@clarke-media.co.uk

Advertising, design, print and distribution by Clarke Design & Media Ltd.

Contact Nigel on Tel: 0845 388 0281 Fax: 0845 388 0283 or

e-mail nigel@clarke-media.co.uk web: www.clarke-media.co.uk

MNA

Foreword

3

Cover Story10 March 1917: THE SECOND MERCHANT

NAVY VC

The ss OTAKI (New Zealand Shipping Co.)was heading for New York and emerged from arain squall. There was another ship a mile awayand Captain Archibald Bissett Smith ordered achange of course away from the challengingvessel with an increase of speed. The other ship- the German raider MOWE - opened fire. OTAKI returned fire with her stern 4.7 inch gun.The whole action only took twenty minutes, OTAKI sinking with the loss of seven lives. Thecaptain went down with his ship after securing the safety of his crew, who were picked upby the raider.

The MOWE had fired thirty-five 5.9 inch shells, thirty-four 4.1 inch shells and threetorpedoes. But the MOWE was herself in danger of sinking from OTAKI's three hits. It tookthree days to extinguish a fire in her bunkers, right next to the magazine. She managed toget back to Germany on 22 March but her raiding career was over.

This was the only instance in World War One of a British merchantman striking an enemywarship. Archibald Bissett Smith was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. His medalwas displayed on board subsequent ships bearing the name OTAKI. Ironically, MOWE - asthe German OLDENBURG - was sunk by British bombing in April 1945.

OTAKI is featured in the current ‘Abandon Ship’ exhibition onboard HQS Wellington.

Cheers,

Ossie

Greetings Shipmates.

Well this weekend is going to be a busy one - as you all know, it is Merchant Navy Day thiscoming Sunday 3rd Sept and once we are all there, after travelling from far and wide, it willbe well worth the effort just to see all our old friends again, it certainly doesn't seem a yearhas passed since we were all together last year at Tower Hill. Let's hope the weather is kind.

Now, in this edition there are interesting stories, both old and new.

The epic tale of the SS Otaki and the story of her battle with the German raider Mowe justa hundred years ago, resulting in Capt. Archibald Bisset Smith being awarded the VictoriaCross posthumously. I think Ossie our artist has painted an absolutely stunning painting forthe Autumn edition. Thank you Ossie.

There is a report from our President Viv Foster, laying up the old National Standard,following many years of service, in All Saints church North Ferriby, Yorkshire. The ArmedForces Day photograph's are very impressive too, and I would like to thank Bill Anderson forsending them to me, for use in the magazine.

Well that's all from me this time, please do keep sending items to me, but I would ask if itwould be possible to have them typed/printed out as it is getting very difficult understandinghandwritten copy - it would help me a lot!

Enjoy.

See you all next time.

John Rix Editor

NoticeAt the National Councillors’ meeting held on 8 July, it was agreed that the 2018

membership subscription rates should remain unchanged:

£8.00 - United Kingdom, £13.00 - Overseas with a 50% reduction if joining after 1July. Joining fee £4.00.

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Book Reviews

4

Maritime Royalty The Queen Mary and the Cunard Queens

By William H. Miller

A grand salute to the great Queen Mary on the occasion of her80th anniversary of her maiden crossing

• A beautiful yet forgotten tale of a bygone era

• Superbly illustrated with many unpublished photographs

• Written by Maritime’s biggest star – William H. Miller

2016 is the eightieth anniversary of the Queen Mary’s maidenvoyage.

Constructed in the 1930s, she sailed until 1967 and lives on as amuseum and hotel in California. One of the most famous oceanliners of all time, the Queen Mary was also heroic, serving valiantly inwartime, and crossed the Atlantic more than 1,000 times. She was anocean-going treasure and idolised by passengers, crew andHollywood stars. She possessed an undefinable chemistry:‘Something in the woodwork that embraced everyone,’ one staffmember remarked. She was also part of Cunard, perhaps the mostfamous shipping line on the Atlantic. Along with the history of theQueen Mary, Maritime Royalty: The Queen Mary and the CunardQueens will look at her companion, the Queen Elizabeth, as well asthe subsequent Queens – the QE2 and the current day Queen Mary2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Beautifully illustrated withcolour and mono photographs, this is a fitting tribute to the QueenMary as well as the great Queens and Cunard.

* Being an ex Cunard employee this book is a joy to behold.

I sailed on the refrigerated cargo/passenger ships of Port Line, backin the '60's & '70's bringing food to the UK from Australia & NewZealand.

I too was part of the celebrations in my home town - Liverpool -for the 175 anniversary - and what a sight it was, a great day for all.

Cunard was one of the reasons I went to sea, as week after weekas a youngster, I gazed upon their beautiful ships coming and going, inthe River Mersey and always pristine in their appearance. My Auntsailed on the Media on her maiden voyage back in '47

This book is a trip down Memory Lane for me and I hope you too,the photo's are terrific, many of which I have never seen, and arenumerous, the narrative concise, interesting and to the point.

Highly recommended.

Happy Days. Ed.

RMS Queen Mary- The Final Voyage

This is the story of theQueen Mary's finalvoyage to Long Beach,California. After 31 yearsin operation on theNorth Atlantic routes forCunard, the famous linerwas sold in 1967.TheClydeside built-ship hasnow been a floating hotelin America longer thanshe was in active service.Following her sale sheembarked on an epic finalvoyage from the UK viaCape Horn to LongBeach which is describedby Captain Treasure

Jones, his crew and passengers, as the Queen Mary journeyed intonew waters that she had never sailed in as a commercial liner.

This book also includes a brief history of the vessel, including herpart in the Second World War, and features over 200 photographsand interesting archive material and memorabilia, much of it notpreviously published. Edited by Richard Tennant, Michael Gallagherand Miles Cowsill.

* This is a very comprehensive and interesting account of all aspectsof her final voyage through unfamiliar waters, viewed from Captain,Officers, passengers and crew with a huge amount of photographs,many of which have never been seen before. I found this book to bea delight to read and thoroughly recommend it to all our members,particularly if you have fond memories of this icon of Britishshipbuilding, operated, maintained and for most of her life 'the'flagship of our British Merchant Navy. So sadly missed. Ed.

Published by Lily Publications, PO Box 33, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM994LP Tel: 01624 898446

Hardback - 288 pages Size - 8.5 in by 6.00 in Photo's - Colour &Black / White.

Price - £24.95 available from www.ferrypubs.co.uk

Author: Richard Tennant CV

A native of Southampton, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant at21 and then made a career with the Dutch electronics multinational,Philips. With my family, we lived abroad from 1973, until retiring backto the UK in 2002.

Apart from 20 years based in Eindhoven, the family also hadpostings in Taiwan, Nigeria and Greece.

In 1965, when Capt Treasure Jones took command of the RMSQueen Mary, he moved his family home from Haverfordwest toSouthampton, since it was no longer practical to commute back andforth during the short turnarounds of the ship. It was then that I gotto know his daughter and we were married in 1968; uniquely, thewedding reception was held aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth.

The captain died in 1993 but it was not until 2004 that wediscovered the typed manuscript of his autobiography. In 2008 I hadthis published under his choice of title Tramp to Queen*. In this newbook, RMS Queen Mary - The Final Voyage, I have used extractsfrom chapter 6 of the autobiography.

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It is hard to believe that it is 17 years since the dedication of theMNA's second standard. What an amazing life it has had representingthe Merchant Navy at so many important occasions all over GreatBritain and Europe. For most of its life it has been carried withincredible dignity and empathy by 'Wings' Barry our NationalStandard bearer. It would take up several pages to list the events atwhich it was paraded but includes the 60th Anniversary of WW11,where it was the lead marker for the parade of 728 standards andwas placed on the Drumhead with our fighting forces standards inthe presence of HM the Queen, 25th Anniversary of the Falklandsconflict, the commemorations of the Battle of the Atlantic inLiverpool, parading down Whitehall with the Burma Star veterans,the 'D Day' remembrances at Aromanches, Caen, and the USA

Memorial at Omaha beach. As always was in attendance at the manymemorial dedications, including two Aromanches and Dover withWinston Churchill's grandson paying tribute to the contribution of theMerchant Navy in wars and conflicts, not to mention the manyfreedoms of the city and remembrance events especially our ownevent at Tower Hill commemorating September 3rd Merchant NavyDay every year, and so many more! A very distinguished life indeed.

Our very first Standard was laid to rest at the National Arboritum ,Alrewas where there is a convoy of trees representing those shipslost in WW11. Our second standard is being laid to rest at

All Saints church North Ferriby, for a very special reason. When itwas dedicated in part it was to enhance that 'special breed of men',our merchant seafarers. My family had 3 such men. My father whowas awarded the Lloyds Medal and the MBE for rescuing 13 menafter his ship was bombed, his youngest brother Stanley who was loston his second trip in the Atlantic convoys and Uncle Colin who alsowas awarded the Lloyds Medal and the George Cross . His was oneof the greatest sea survival stories of WW11. He survived 50 days ona raft off the West African coast after his ship was torpedoed and thelifeboats rammed by the German u boat. It is an incredible story andonly two of the 14 men on that raft survived that ordeal. As a tributeto him we will rest our second standard in the church where he isburied and where the 3 brothers spent their childhood beforededicating their lives to the sea. Its presence in the church willhighlight the recognition due to the contribution paid by MerchantNavy seafarers not only in times of conflict but also to the history ,heritage and survival of our island nation surrounded as we are bysea.

Vivien Foster (President)

Laying up of the Standard

6

A National Service of Commemoration for all who served in theMercantile Marine and Fishing Fleets during the First World War willbe held at 2.30pm on Tuesday, 17th October 2017. This will takeplace at the Merchant Navy Memorial on Tower Hill, London, in the

presence of HerRoyal HighnessThe PrincessRoyal.

The service willmark thecentenary of theintroduction ofthe convoysystem whichchanged theoutcome of the

First World War. The Princess Royal’s attendance affords theMercantile Marine the same honour as the Royal Navy at the Battle

of Jutland centenary commemorations in Orkney last year.

The service has been organised by the Honourable Company ofMaster Mariners; Maritime Skills Alliance; Merchant Navy Association;Seafarers UK; Seavision; Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society; TrinityHouse; UK Chamber of Shipping and Wellington Trust together withthe Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Royal Navy.

A limited number of invitations to attend receptions before andafter the service is on offer. Those interested are asked to submitdetails as soon as possible including: Name, Address, Postcode,Telephone No., Email address to:

Capt, Malcolm Mathison, National Vice Chairman, The MerchantNavy Association 296 Laceby Road, GRIMSBY, NE Lincs, DN34 5LW

Tel: 01472 277 266 Mob: 07831 622 312 Email: R546060@aol.com

For those not lucky enough to receive an invitation, it is hoped thatMNA members will wish anyway to join the members of the publicattending this unique occasion.

FullAheadMercantile Marine and Fishing Fleets 1914-1918:

a National Service of Commemoration

1982 thirty-five years ago, Britain was at war. The biggestBritish task force since WWII were heading towards the FalklandIslands. Thirty nine of Britain’s finest Royal Navy warships andsubmarines prepared for war, supported by forty Merchant shipsof various kinds amassed, nicknamed STUFT ships (Ships TakenUp From Trade). These were the troop ships, hospital ships,ammunition and store carriers, tankers full of aviation spirit,petrol, FFO (Fuel furnace oil for the Royal Navy), food,medicine, salvage tugs and even water carriers in case theArgentinians had poisoned the local water. Alongside these shipswere a further twenty-two ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary(RFA) manned by personnel from the MN, RN and RAF. TheArgentinian Government did not believe Britain would fight for theseIslands, but fight they did and by the 14th June 1982 the Argentineforces had surrendered. 255 British servicepersonnel and three Falkland Island civilianshad paid the ultimate price for freedom.

To mark the 35th Anniversary between April-June 2017, myself and the owner of theStockton-on-Tees Don War Memorial Bar JulieCooper set up our own Falklandscommemorative corner in the bar and had thenames and photos of the 258 casualties placedon individual crosses for a permanent display. Ialso contacted the Falklands charity SAMA82to organise a collection for them in anFalklands Day campaign event held the nearestSunday to the surrender date of June 14th,which Julie and I organised in her bar. I alsoreceived permission from the local Tesco nearwhere I live to have a collection day forSAMA82. Both days were really successful anda total of £819.30 was raised and handed tothe SAMA82 North-East representative AlanBurgess, himself a Merchant Navy FalklandsVeteran.

SAMA82 would also like to pass on information to members, thatthe South Atlantic Medal criteria for recipients had also beenextended up until 21st October 1982 in the Falklands Campaign and

there are many former Merchant Seamen orpossibly still serving at sea who are unaware oftheir entitlement, who served on the followingships as crew or as their relief crews coveringthe extended period. Astronomer, AvelonaStar, Cederbank G.A. Walker, Laertes,Mymidon, Rangitara, Sandshore, Sapele, St.Brandon, St. Helena, Stena Inspector andStrathewe. Information can be found on thefollowing Government website for eligibilityhttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility It needsto be noted you would need a copy of yourDischarge Book to prove eligibility as the MCAin Cardiff do not hold individual service CRS-10 files covering this period. It may be possiblethat copies Crew Agreements are stillavailable, but I have yet to check this at thepresent time.

Rgds

Billy McGee MNM (MNA Archivist)

Falklands Campaign & Charity Day

Archibald Bisset Smith VC(19 December 1878 – 10March 1917) was a Scottishrecipient of the VictoriaCross, the highest and mostprestigious award for gallantryin the face of the enemy thatcan be awarded to British andCommonwealth forces.

Smith aged 38 yearsreceived this award for hisaction as Master of the NewZealand Shipping Companyship SS Otaki, It was the 10thof March 1917, and their ship,the S.S. Otaki, was in theMid-Atlantic when CaptainBisset Smith VC sighted theGerman raider the ‘Moewe,’

(Seagull) (sometimes spelled Mowe). Smith gave orders to try andoutrun the Moewe, who earlier that day had sunk another BritishMerchant Navy ship.

However, the modern and fast Moewe closed the gap betweenthe two ships, and Korvettenkapitan Niklaus Graf und Burgraf duDonna-Schlodien called upon Smith’s S.S. Otaki to stop. CaptainSmith refused. The Moewe struck her ensign as a sign she ould openfire. Yet in the face of this direct threat from the German captain,Smith still refused, and fired a shot toward the Moewe. The battlebetween the Otaki and the Moewe had begun ………..

The Moewe had been built in 1914, armed with four 5.9 inch guns,one 4.1inch gun, two 22 Pounder and two torpedo tubes. Thesearmaments were manned by a 235 strong German trained navalcrew. The Otaki, in comparison, had been built in 1907, armed withone 4.7inch gun – manned by two Royal Navy trained gunners, whoworked with a crew of 71 civilians.

These bare facts show that Smith and his Otaki were not going toemerge victorious from the fire fight. Yet the Otaki, in the 20 minutebattle, scored seven critical hits – one causing a fire which lastedthree days. The Otaki took 29 hits from the Moewe before it beganto sink. Smith ordered for the lifeboats to be lowered, and scuttledhis ship, forcing his own 17 year old stepson Alfred Smith off theOtaki. The Chief Officer and the ships Carpenter were the last tojump from the Otaki, they presuming Smith was following behind.Smith, however, had remained on the Otaki, who a moment laterhad her bow pointing towards the sky as she quietly fell to the oceanfloor with her colours still flying. Another young Aberdonian died thatday, William Esson Martin, the Otaki’s Midshipman.

Martin had left school in Aberdeen only two weeks before he diedat sea. Smith and William Esson Martins bodies were both lost at sea.

Only weeks before his first, and last, voyage at sea, the youngMartin had written home from London to his sweetheart Annabelle.He finished his letter with ‘You need not write here for I will beleaving on Monday or Tuesday ….. I will write again and tell you ofmy address. The name of the ship is Otaki.’ Yet he had refused theorder to abandon ship, not as an act of mutiny, but in order to stay athis post defending the Otaki, her crew and the country she

represented until the end. At the tender age of just 14, William EssonMartin became a statistic of a British fatality at sea.

Captain Dohna-Scholeiden described the battle as ‘a duel as gallantas Naval history can relate’ in his Captains log, after anxiously waitingfor Captain Smith’s arrival on the Moewe. The Moewe had 5 killed,and 40 wounded, the Otaki had 6 killed and nine wounded. Theremainder of the Otaki’s crew were added to the Moewe’s 442prisoners, who were then spread across Germany in internmentcamps for the remainder of the war after the Moewe docked at Kiel.

Memories of Aberdeen’s heroes remain to this day. Martin iscommemorated in a plaque at Auchindour Church, placed there byhis parents. The plaque lies inside the now ruined church, as a silentand symbolic reminder to the modern world of the sacrifice that hasbeen made to keep those things we hold dear. Bisset-Smith likewiseis commemorated on his family grave in Rhynie. Both bodies remaincommitted to the deep, and both are remembered nationally at theTower Hill Memorial to the Mercantile Marine.

The Otaki Scholarship stands as a living breathing war memorial toArchibald Bisset Smith and the crew of the Otaki that fought until thebitter end against the Moewe. William Esson Martins parents donatedtheir own prize to Robert Gordon’s College for English Literatureand Modern Languages, this award is still given today and thegenerations of pupils after Martin realise they have a heavy duty totake out to commemorate his name.

As a merchant seamanArchibald Bisset Smith couldnot receive the VC at thattime. In 1919 he wasposthumously promoted atemporary Lieutenant in theRoyal Naval Reserve and wasthen entitled to receive theVC posthumously.

His citation reads:

For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when incommand of the S.S. “Otaki”, on the 10th March, 1917. “At about2.30 p.m. on 10th March, 1917, the S.S.”Otaki”, whose armamentconsisted of one 4.7 in. gun for defensive purposes, sighted thedisguised German raider “Moewe”, which was armed with four 5.9in., one 4.1 in. and two 22 pdr. guns, and two torpedo tubes.

The “Moewe” kept the “Otaki” under observation for some timeand finally called upon her to stop. This Lieutenant Smith refused todo, and a duel ensued at ranges of 1,900 - 2,000 yards, and lasted forabout 20 minutes. During this action the “Otaki” scored several hitson the “Moewe”, causing considerable damage, and starting a firewhich lasted for three days. She sustained several casualties andreceived much damage herself, and was heavily on fire.Lieutenant Smith, therefore, gave orders for the boats to belowered to allow the crew to be rescued.

He remained on the ship himself and went down with her whenshe sank with the British colours still flying, after what was describedin an enemy account as a duel as gallant as naval history can relate.

With thanks to SEQ Newsletter

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Archibald Bisset Smith Recipient of the Victoria Cross

8

FullAheadArmed Forces Day, Liverpool

9

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Russian Arctic Convoy Project - Loch Ewe 75Memorial - 07 05 2017

Subsequent to the above event and in my attending it over the6th/7th May, I am pleased to include a photograph (Below) asdepicted at the Memorial Stone above Cove/Loch Ewe where theMemorial Service was conducted for 75 Arctic Convoys which tookplace in 1941/43 in memory of the lost members of crew and ships.

I attended this event at the invitation of Mr George Milne,Chairman of the Project Trust.

I met and associated with members of the Wester Cross M.NAssociation Branch, together with Russian Sea Cadets and severalRussian Arctic Veterans.

Yours Sincerely,John TurvillMem No. 0556

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10

NewsBlackpool Branch Sea Sunday, Fleetwood

Annual Merchant Navy Remembrance Service &Parade Saturday 18th November 2017

You are cordially invited to the Merchant Navy Association, City ofNewport Branch Parade and Service to commemorate andremember those Merchant Navy personnel who have been lost inconflict at it’s Memorial on Mariners Green, Cardiff Road on Saturday18th November 2017

The parade will form up in Queens Street (NP20 2EB) at 11.15 hrsmoving off at 11.30 hrs for the short March across to our monumentwhere a service of remembrance including and the laying of wreathswill take place.Following the parade light refreshments will beprovided at the Royal British Legion Club,12 Queen Street NewportNP20 2EB.

All Branches of Ex Service and Youth organisations and theirStandard Bearers are being asked to support this event.

Please respond by post or email or telephone and if possible (in thecase of old comrade organisations) stating contact details and theapproximate numbers attending

Wreath required

Wreaths with your ‘organisations’ insignia insert can be purchasedby email, letter or telephone through:-

Peter Vickers 131 Gaer Park Road, Newport. NP20 3NU Tel.01633 782306 email

petervickers4@hotmail comPlease ensure you order is in bySeptember 30th 2017. Wreaths will be available for collection on theday of the parade from 10.30 hours

Yours very truly,

Alan R Speight IEng IMarEng MIMarEST B.Sc.

Chair Newport City Branch MNA

Kent Branch

Dover Harbour Board wish to remove some of the Goodwin Sandsto provide infill as part of a Dover Harbour development scheme,despite other options being available and DHB being extremelywealthy. A so-called non-profit making organisation, they have tospend their money on all sorts of odd things to get rid of it!Incidentally, very little goes to the ancient Cinque Port and Town ofDover, despite the port having been 'stolen' from the town by KingJames I in 1606.

Many thousands of ships have been lost on the notorious 'Shippe-Swallower' over the centuries and the sands contain the graves ofcountless seamen and others from very many countries. Not onlymerchant ships and warships and their crews, but also lifeboatmenand others trying to rescue them have perished, notably the crew ofthe South Goodwin Lightship which came to grief in the Great Galeof 1953. Many airmen of the combatant nations were also lost overthe Goodwin Sands in the Second World War, and the location ofmany graves are unknown.

Many people living locally are appalled by the proposed desecrationof what should be considered akin to a War Grave. Such actionswould be, at the least, disrespectful to all the brave men who havedied there.

A petition exists to try to stop all this. It can be found on

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/goodwin-sands-sos-stop-the-dredge

I think that it is a very worthwhile campaign! I hope that you do, aswell, so I urge you to sign up!

Regards and Thanks.

Peter (Jim) Green, Secretary of the Merchant Navy Association,Kent Branch.

Armed Forces Day - Ramsgate

Like many around the country we participated again in the "ArmedForces Day" parade in Ramsgate, Kent to represent not only our"Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent" Association (the M.N. ratingstraining ship) but also the M.N.A. Many of my members aremembers of both so I thought I'd send you this report.

The event was held in good weather but slightly breezy with a fewunavoidable hiccups which were overcome. The band of the"Princess of Wales Royal Regiment" was slightly depleted in numbersdue to their coach breaking down at the barracks so those that could

had to travel by cars with their equipment to Ramsgate. I haveattached a selection of photos received and of our Standard onparade representing our two associations which you may use as youwish.

Regards,

Phil Hughes, (Secretary / Standard Bearer),

Independent Vindicatrix of East Kent Assoc;

MNA No; 0143.

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News

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PostbagGood day All,

Recently in Pornic, France we discovered thatthere was a CWC War Cemetery where manyof those who perished in 'Lancastria' are buried,and which the locals refer to as the 'LancastriaCemetery.

We walked there in the morning, see photos.

The next day on passage to Pornichet weplanned to once again stop over the wreck andpay our respects.

Best wishes,

Gareth Peaston

Good day John,

I have noticed that tankers do not appearon the front cover very often, I haveattached a photograph of a painting I did ofone of my commands "Matco Avon".

She was an interesting ship, originally a50,000 tons, turbine driven tanker built inBremen in1964 as the Mobil Valiant for Mobilshipping Company's German operatorsunder the German Flag.

In 1975 she was jumboized to 78,000 DWTand converted to operate as a shuttle tankerto serve the Beryl "A" field in the North Sea,sailing under the Red Ensign with full Britishcrew.

I was in command from September 1982until October 1985 when I returned to theinternational fleet. I enjoyed every trip onthe vessel, sometimes it was challenging inthe Northern North Sea. I managed tomoor on the loading tower in force 9 andstay on for three hours. We loaded enoughoil so that the field would not have to shutdown.

She continued her North sea operationsuntil 1995 when she was sold for scrap. Shestill had one more trick up her sleeve. Afterbeing taken over by the run crew shemanaged to run aground in the Solent, wasrefloated and went to China for scrap.

Apologies for the lengthy epistle, I thoughtyou might find it an interesting back groundto the painting.

Best regards,

Keith

Captain Keith J. Beverley. MN rtd. MNAMembership 2513 (Taunton)

Mobile: 044 (0)7799065597Phone: +44(0) 1747 228278

Dear Mr. Rix,

I am an amateur historian and associatemember of the MNA who has for someyears been researching the story of CaptainCharles Algernon Fryatt, who, as master ofthe British Great Eastern Railway Company'ssteamer 'Brussels' during the Great War,attempted to ram a U-boat and who, forthis, was captured by the German ImperialNavy, interned briefly at the Ruhlebenconcentration camp, then, at a court martial,was sentenced to death, executed andburied in Bruges. As July last year markedthe centenary of his death, I produced aspecial exhibition - entitled 'Captain Fryatt -The Martyr of Bruges' - in his home town ofHarwich which told the whole story througha display of the many related artefacts that Ihad collected. I then, at the request ofMalcolm Mathison, took the exhibition to AllHallows by the Tower Church for the

Merchant Navy Memorial service lastSeptember at which Captain Fryatt wasremembered. Fryatt was born and spent hisearly school years in Southampton and so abranch of his family that still lives in the areaare planning to erect a memorial to him inthe City in September. To coincide with thisevent, I am planning to take my specialexhibition to Southampton so the peopleseeing the memorial can understand aboutits background. The exhibition will be opento the public on from 10am to 5pm onSaturday and Sunday, 2nd and 3rdSeptember, in the Masonic Hall, Albion Place,Southampton.

I feel that this special exhibition issomething that would be of interest to MNAmembers, especially those who were unableto get along to Harwich or Tower Hill lastyear, so I was wondering if it would bepossible please for you to include an itemabout the special exhibition in the nextedition of Full Ahead. If it would, then Iwould be grateful if you could let me knowplease the deadline for the submission ofcontributions for the forthcoming edition aswell as any restrictions or requirementsregarding the content.

Please feel free to contact me, however, ifyou have any questions about this.

Yours sincerely,

Mark P. BakerMNA Member 273207711-894188mark.p.baker@btinternet.com

Dear John,

(Re Cover painting on Full Ahead, SummerEdition 2017)

Concerning the piece about the

Brocklebank steamer MAHSEER transitingthe Suez Canal in 1967, the scene is familiarto me. But my experience of it was in 1956leading up to the British and French actionagainst the Egyptian seizure of the canal. Iwell remember the Egyptian army guardscoming on board, the armaments on thecanal banks and MiG's buzzing the ships.

When the invasion came the Egyptiansretaliated by sinking vessels in various partsof the canal resulting in quite a number ofships being marooned in the Bitter Lakes.

During the time the canal was closed wetravelled via the Cape, stopping for bunkersat Dakar. When the canal was reopened (late1957?) I was on a large (for its time) tankerand I remember we came very close to thebottom in a few places. As far as I canremember the canal remained open fromthat time.

So, back to the MAHSEER, could thepainting depict the 1956 scene and not the1967 one?

PS. Dear John,

Further to my last email about the SuezCanal closure as a result of the 1956 affair, Ihave since done a bit of research - which Ishould have done in the first place - andfound that the Suez was indeed closed againas a result of the Egyptian/Israeli punch up in1967.

I'd come ashore by that time so it hadslipped my memory; as so many things have.

Kind regards,

Tom Currie.Mittagong, NSW, Australia.

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Postbag

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Crossed the Bar .Peter Reginald Clarke

It is with great sadness that I write to announce the death of myyounger brother, Peter Reginald Clarke, who passed away onSaturday 25 March aged 74 after a brave fight against the terribledisease of cancer.

Peter was born in Coventry on 3 June 1942 and trained as a deckrating at T.S. Vindicatrix from June to September 1958.

His ships were all Port Line; Port Quebec, Port Launceston, PortPhillip, Port Dunedin and Port Melbourne.

Peter was a member of the T.S.Vindicatrix Association, theMerchant Navy Association and the Port Line Association.

He was a founder member of the Wolverhampton Branch MNA andserved the branch as Treasurer until his illness prevented him fromattending meetings.

Peter was also very well known for his encyclopaedical knowledgeof British merchant ships and shipping companies and had many emailcontacts all over the world.

He was able to solve many mysteries regarding shipping movementsand sometimes was able to reunite old shipmates who had lost touchwith each other, often with the help of his huge collection of

reference books built up over the years.

Peter returned to Coventry following the death of our mother andworked as a maintenance engineer firstly at Jaguar Cars and then atStandard Triumph. He then worked for many years for Desoutter,firstly on air tools, and then on robotics, where he travelledextensively world wide advising on installations for many Internationalmotor manufacturers and engineering companies.

He moved to Shifnal, Shropshire more than 30 years ago, where hemade new friends, lived a fairly quiet life following a quadruple heartbypass in 2002 and kept in touch with many of his old shipmates viahis somewhat unusual email address “deckboy@blueyonder”.

Peter’s funeral was attended by family, friends and members ofWolverhampton branch MNA, who then went to his favourite pub,“The Brewery” to bid him “Bon Voyage” for his last trip.

He is greatly missed by all who knew him and I know he would bepleased that I am donating his collection of reference books to theMerchant Navy Association so that they may be put to further use.

Tony Clarke, MNA membership no. 0834.

Don’t speak to me of heroes until you’ve heard the tale

of Britain’s merchant seamen who sailed through

storm and gale

to keep the lifelines open in our nation’s hour of need,

when a tyrant cast a shaadow across our island breed.

Captains, greasers, cabin boys, mates and engineers

heard the call to duty and cast aside their fears.

They stoked those hungry boilers and stood behind

the wheel

whilst cooks and stewards manned the guns on coffins

made of steel.

They moved in icy convoys from Scapa to Murmansk

and crossed the western ocean, never seeking thanks.

They sailed the South Atlantic where raiders lay in wait

and kept the food lines open from Malta to the Cape.

Tracked by silent Uboats which hunted from below,

shelled by mighty cannons and fighters flying low,

they clung to burning lifeboats where the sea had

turned to flame

and watched their shipmates disappear to

everlasting fame.

I speak not of a handful but thirty thousand plus,

some whose names we’ll never know, in whom we

placed our trust.

They never knew the honour of medals on their chests

or marching bands and victory or glory and the rest.

The ocean is their resting place, their tombstone

is the wind,

the seabirds’ cry their last goodbye to family and friend.

Freighters, troopships, liners, and tankers by the score,

fishing boats and coasters, two thousand ships and more

flew that proud Red Duster as they sank beneath

the waves

and took those countless heroes to lonely ocean graves.

Their legacy is freedom to those who hold it dear,

to walk with clear horizons and never hide in fear.

So when you speak of heroes, remember those at sea,

From Britain’s Merchant Navy, who died to keep us free.

David Partridge, October 2002

Heroes

The Ossie Jones Cover Collection PrintsWe have made the cover artwork from the Full Ahead Ossie Jones series available as prints.High quality re-productions of the unique Watercolour cover artworks are available to all. These fantastic imageswere commissioned by the Merchant Navy Association for the covers of the Full Ahead magazine. Ossie willalso take direct commissions if required - see contact details on page 3.

These images are available in one size 330mm x 240mm printed on a 420mm x 297mm sheet to allow for future framingrequirements or trimmed to size if required.

To order: Please send your name, address and telephone number with your requirements and a cheque payableto: Clarke Design & Media Ltd, Wisteria House, Stump Cross Lane, Swineshead, Lincolnshire PE20 3JJ.

Prices: 1 print £19.99, any 2 for £16.50 each, buy any 3 to 5 prints for £15 each, 6 or more for £12.50 eachPostage & Packaging - UK P&P FREE - Overseas (exc. Australia) add £2 P&P or for Australia add £3 P&P

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A unique collection of prints commissioned for Full Ahead Covers

Pictured Vessels:

1: SS Lanarkshire

2: Hemitrochus

3: Bristolian

4: Port Nicholson

5: Patricia

6: Bamenda Palm

7: ShipwreckedMariners

8: SS Robin

9: SS Great Britain

10: Hindlea +Edmund & MaryLifeboat

11: DominionMonarch

12: Ross Eagle &Ellerman Wilson

13: Nicolas Bowater

14: Titanic

15: AtlanticConveyor

16: Shieldhall with a“J”, The Solent2012

17: “See the Linersfrom the Line” inc.Empress of Scotland

18: Yorkshire Coast

19: The AtlanticCharter - Churchill

20: Kenrix on theriver

21: AtlanticChallenge

22: Caesarea

23: Grimsby Town

24: Evelyn

All covers availableeven if not shown

here

Commissionsavailable from

Ossie Jones direct -Call: 0151 727 3661

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