Some very moving poems about the Merchant Navy on this page (though not all exlusively about wae service). Most highlight the fact that that this service is forgotten: Poem_Board I particularly liked A Merchant Seaman and Song of the Merchant Navy in Wartime
Apart from the obvious choices, I was never really in to poetry. Thanks to all of you for opening up yet another new pleasure for me. So much to catch up on now! The Flanders Field and The Sailor's Requiem were my favourites.
Hi badlest, Is this about the war at sea with the Merchant Navy ??????? A translation into English would be nice. Cheers Keith
I've always like this one The Merchant Navy Man [TABLE="width: 70%"] [TR] [TD]This was found in an old magazine, which said it was written by an unknown Englishman early in the war, probably 1941/'42. I've since been told by a visitor to my site that in Bill Linskey's book "No Longer Required" there is a very similar version of the poem, credited to an Alfred Benjamin, of Newfoundland, Canadian able seaman deceased 1941.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] You have seen him in the street, staggering on groggy feet, you have seen him clutch the pavement for support. You have seen him arm in arm with a maid of doubtful charm who was leading Johnny "safely" into port. You have shuddered in disgust as he grovelled in the dust, you have shuddered when you saw him on the spree. BUT - you haven't seen the rip of his lonely dismal ship ploughing furrows through a mine infested sea. You have cheered our naval lads in their stately iron-clads, you have spared a cheer for Tommy Atkins too. You have shuddered in a punk when you read: Big Mail Boat Sunk", but you never cared a damn about the crew. You mourned the loss of every steamer, and the cost it made you brood, but you never said: Well Done, Sailor" to the man who brought you food. He brings your wounded home through a mine infested zone, he ferries all your troops across at night. He belongs to no brigade, he is neglected, underpaid, BUT he's always in the thickest of the fight. He fights the lurking Hun with his eighteen pounder gun, he will ruin Adolf Hitler's little plan. He is a HERO - He is a NUT, he is a blinding limit - BUT he is just a MERCHANT NAVY SAILORMAN.
