I have to acknowledge that the government did a good thing in formally recognising (today) September 3 as Merchant Navy Day. I’m presuming there were discussions during Labour’s tenure in office, but it was the NACTs who got the remembrance day over the line.
I’ve been to a few Merchant Navy commemorations, and seen the huge memorial in Sydney Harbour. Merchant Seamen played a critical role during wartime, transporting troops, food, military equipment and vital cargo around the world, under the constant threat of enemy raids. But their remembrance days have been quiet affairs, compared to Anzac Day.
These seamen put their lives on the line and faced enormous risk. Their work was so essential to the war effort that the Merchant Navy became known as the fourth service, alongside the army, navy and airforce.
At least 130 New Zealand merchant seaman lost their lives during the Second World War and around 140 were taken prisoner. Internationally, around 80,000 merchant seamen lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic, which lasted 2074 from 3 September 1939 to 7 May 1945, when Germany finally capitulated.
These are untold stories that must be told to our children and grandchildren. Even if it means I have to say something nice about the NACTs, these sailors need to be remembered.
The Navy is cool, here’s an oldie but a goodie dedicated to them.
What’ll we do with a drunken sailor,
What’ll we do with a drunken sailor,
What’ll we do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-aye in the morning?
Chorus:
Way hay and up she rises
Patent blocks o’ diff’rent sizes,
Way hay and up she rises
Earl-aye in the morning
1. Sling him in the long boat till he’s sober,
2. Keep him there and make ‘im bale ‘er.
3. Pull out the plug and wet him all over,
4. Take ‘im and shake ‘im, try an’ wake ‘im.
5. Trice him up in a runnin’ bowline.
6. Give ‘im a taste of the bosun’s rope-end.
7. Give ‘im a dose of salt and water.
8. Stick on ‘is back a mustard plaster.
9. Shave his belly with a rusty razor.
10. Send him up the crow’s nest till he falls down,
11. Tie him to the taffrail when she’s yardarm under,
12. Put him in the scuppers with a hose-pipe on him.
13. Soak ‘im in oil till he sprouts flippers.
14. Put him in the guard room till he’s sober.
15. Put him in bed with the captain’s daughter*).
16. Take the Baby and call it Bo’sun.
17. Turn him over and drive him windward.
18. Put him in the scuffs until the horse bites on him.
19. Heave him by the leg and with a rung console him.
20. That’s what we’ll do with the drunken sailor.
Good on ya darien
(Hate to say this) but agreed – good on the Nats. My only question is why was nothing like this done sooner?
Nice song Spud
Thanks Ella
What’ll we do with John Key,
What’ll we do with John Key
What’ll we do with John Key
Earl-aye in the morning
Chorus:
Way hay we’re uprising
Way hay we’re uprising
Way hay we’re uprising
Earl-aye in the morning
Come on Spud – give me some lines and tell me what to do with John Key.
2,Gather us up a great big crowd
3,Send him the message nice and loud
4,Sing and chant til the sun goes down
5,Write him up ten thousand letters
6,Bring the case to all the medias
7,Picket work support the unions
8,Pick him up and spin the clown
9,Drop him down a great big well
10, When he’s dunk then kick him out
Hope this suffices
Thanks Spud = excellent!
A bit of a sick joke really as they have killed the merchant navy. Only a few new Zealand flagged ships left, immigration just allowed unlimited importation of ships Officers because Kiwi officers don’t stay on third world wages and overseas ships take most of the coastal cargo while doing pretend overseas voyages.
kjt… who’s “they”. i have extensive family connections to the seamans union, and all the impetus for change has come from overseas. ships that are almost completely automated have been getting built for over twenty years now. in fact, it was only unions forcing the issues that have companies carrying skeleton crews on board. (safety)etc. the new zealand steamship co has never been large enough, or powerful enough to buck those trends. they would have had to be able to build their own ships to dictate terms regarding crewing policy.
so who are “they” again. and let us not forget, the memorials struck are to the sacrifice made during times of conflict where merchant traders kept people fed and armed at great personal and financial risk. selfless heroism.