The Merchant Navy

At the beginning of World War two, the British Merchant Navy was the largest in the world, they sailed Trade routes all over the world, the goods the brought to Britain became vital to the War effort.

The Merchant Seamen were civilians, who “Signed On” to sail with a shipping company on a voyage, at the end of the trip they “Signed Off”, they were then “paid off” and were then free to take unpaid leave or “sign” on to another ship or stay with the ship if required.

The Merchant Seamen were profesional seamen, who performed various dutys that they were trained for.

 The Ships Master or Captain, was employed by the Shipping company, he held a Master Mariner Certificate, and was responsible for every aspect of the ship, the cargo, the crew and the successful execution of the voyage.

Radio Officer ,
Every Merchant Ship had a Radio Officer, during the war there were up to 3 radio officers as communications were needed 24 hrs a day, and he was also in the event of the ship being attacked responsible for radioing the ships SOS.

The Deck Department was administered by the Chief Mate (Chief Officer), he was responsible to the ships Master for the cargo, ensuring it was stowed correctly and it was discharged at the correct ports. The Second Mate was next in the chain of command and depending on the size of the vessel you might have a 10th Mate .
The Boswain and Mates were responsible for the Deck Crew, this consisted of Able Seamen, experienced seamen and the Ordinary Seamen, the most Junior deck hand was the “Deck Boys” who were typically 14 or 15 years of age.
The ships Carpenter was also a senior deck rating.

The Engineering Department was run by the Chief Engineer who would hold a First Class Certificate in Steam and have extensive experience at sea.
Reporting to him was the Second Engineer, again depending on the size of the Vessel, there might be upto 10 engineers at Junior rank.
The senior Engineroom ratings were the Donkeyman and the Greaser, they were in charge of the other engineroom ratings including the “Black Gang”, named as they were always covered in coal soot from the coal fired boilers, they were made up of Firemen, charged with keeping the furnaces going ensuring a head of steam and Trimmers who carried the coal from the bunkers for the firemen, Trimmers also had to make sure the coal was kept level to stop the ship listing.

 Catering Department was managed by the Chief Steward, through his Assistant Stewards he was not only responsible for the catering but also for the cleaning of the officers cabins.Also reporting to him was the Chief Cook. The Chief Cook had assistants and a Galley Boy. Food quality was of paramount importance to the ship crews moral.

Women at Sea
Women work in the Merchant Navy, manly as Chief Strewardess, stewardess or assistant stewrdesses. A few were Radio officers and one or two as Engineering Officers.

India Nationals in the Merchant Navy, Lascars
 

Merchan Seaman’s Identity Card

The Mechant Seamen were not well payed concidering the long hours the worked, 64 hrs per week and the conditions they worked under, and during the early part of the war if their ship was sunk, the men were classed as not required by the Shipping Company and their pay was stopped on that date.
In 1943 the Merchant Seamans working week was reduced to 56 hrs .
The formation of the Ministry of War Transport brought the “Merchant Navy Reserve Pool Continuity of Employment, were the availability of the seamen were managed, when the seaman payed off he was told how much leave he was entitled to and on what date and port he had to report to when ready to return to sea.
Under the new rules any seaman who became a prisoner of war, he was to receive his pay in lieu during for duration of his captivity.

Certificate of Discharge
This was used to log the merchant seaman’s “Signing On and Off” it also shows the conduct of the seaman, a very good rating would help towards signing on to his next ship. the R number on the front is the seaman's reference number.

,
 As with the War in Europe, the focus of the Merchant Navy seems to be the UK - USA route, but the Merchant Navy were just as active in the Far East, South Atlantic, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
 At the beginning of the War the Germans operated not only U-Boat, they also operated Surface Raiders, disguised as neutral Merchant ships. These raiders were heavily armed with large caliber guns and torpedoes, they also had rudimentary radar and some were equipped with a float plane (This one was on the surface raider “Thor”) to enable them to locate and target merchant ships.
Merchant ships operating in these areas were unable to use the convoy system developed to protect the merchant ships because of the vast distances they traveled and the lack of escort vessels, therefore they were easy targets, sailing alone for the U-Boats and surface raiders at the beginning of the war..
Many of the crew from ships captured or sunk in the south Atlantic or Indian Ocean were taken on board the surface raiders or in the case of the U-Boats the Captain of the merchant ship was taken, they were then transfered to a German supply vessel and then handed over to the Japanese, here are two examples.
The SS Kirkpool. and 2nd Officer Alexander Smith Flett

 Although the merchant ships were slow compared to warships, they were sometimes armed with a surplus World War One 12 pounder gun and machine guns, gunnery courses were run at most of the main ports by Royal Navy of Royal Marine instructors.

The British merchant navy was so large the shipping companies could not man them fully without taking on sailors from other countries like China and India.
Other merchant fleets from countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Greece and Norway carried cargo, coal and oil as part of the allies war effort, and many men from theses countries lost their lives or became prisoners of war.

POW Location

Camps

Borneo

Borneo

China

Amoy

Canton

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Shamshuipo

Stanley

Japan

Fukuoka

Fukushima

Hakodate

Kawasaki

Osaka

Shinagawa

Tokyo

Tokyo No 2

Zentsuji

Java

Djawa

Java

Malaya

Malai

Malaya

Malaya No 1

Malaya No 2

Philippines

Battan

Iloilo

Los Banos, Manila

Military Camp, Manila

Philippine No 2

Santo Tomas, Manila

Shanghai

Civil Assembly Centre, Lunghwa

Civil Assembly Centre, Pootung

Civil Assembly Centre, Shanghai

Shanghai

Woosung

Yangchow

Siam

Bankok

Singapore

Changi

Sumatra

Nias Island

Sumatra

Dia Itchi

Thailand

Thai