Details

Details

Details

I
AUGUST, 1940
hill,
The Merchant Navy
ine on-Tyne. 1940.
The Bulletin of the
AWARD
COMPUNITY
and the
BRITISH SHIP ADOPTION
MERCHANT NAVY'S
76
SOCIETY
COMFORT SERVICE
Editor : H. E. HANCOCK (Journal of Commerce and Shipping Telegraph).
he Broadcast
THIS is the first issue of our Bulletin
the United States. There is hardly a single
dealing with the activities of the
item constituting our food and other
ross, M.P.,
British Ship Adoption Society and the
requirements for which we are not
Merchant Navy Comforts Service. It is
dependent upon men of the Merchant
hoped to publish the Bulletin monthly or as
Navy.
sting reading.
frequently as may be necessary, the object
being to present to the schools which have
In these days, when censorship of news
adopted merchant ships and the thousands
is so strict and it is essential that no
he Manager of
of willing helpers who assist us so gener-
information should be divulged which
ously in supplying comforts for the men of
would be of advantage to the enemy, the
the Merchant Navy, a résumé of the work
work of the Ship Adoption Society has
ding work done
which we are thus enabled to accomplish.
naturally been restricted, and it is not
Those who give so much of their time to
possible for the masters and officers of the
knitting garments or collecting comforts
ships which have been adopted by the
om Dunkirk, whi
for our seamen would feel that their work
schools to write letters so frequently as in
and kindly thought were well rewarded
the past respecting their activities or
experiences.
if they could see the many letters of
I Shipping.
appreciation which we receive from the men
The use of the wireless installation
who are so nobly carrying on the great
is prohibited except when absolutely
traditions of the sea.
necessary, in order that enemy submarines
r to each of +
We are an island people, dependent upon
or surface raiders shall be unable to gather
the sea for the greater proportion of our
information respecting any vessel's posi-
food supplies, and the raw materials of
tion. Ships are being diverted from their
industry, and, as Mr. Ronald Cross,
regular trades. In one case only one
Minister of Shipping, has said, recent
cable was received from a ship for over
events have brought home to us perhaps
six months and that was to say she had
more than ever how great is the debt we
arrived at her destination in a port in
owe to the men of the Merchant Navy.
New Zealand. One other message was
They are risking their lives daily in order
received by her owners and that was to
that the British people and armed forces
the effect that she would arrive in this
shall be fed and the supplies which are
country in 48 hours, but that the actual
necessary for our armament factories
berth and port of arrival would be advised
brought from overseas.
by the Admiralty. Another master has told.
Those of us who are associated with
us that during the whole of the time his
shipping know and realise to the full our
vessel was absent from this country only
dependence upon ships and those who man
three mails were received by the ship and
them. We see this as we go through our
each of these was from the British Ship
daily meals. Our breakfast mainly comes
Adoption Society. But for this they would
to us from overseas-bacon and eggs from
have been without news from home
Canada and elsewhere, butter from far-
throughout the whole time they were away.
away New Zealand, bread made of flour
It is hoped, however, from time to time
from grain brought from the River Plate,
to reproduce in the Bulletin some of the
tea from the Far East, and sugar from
letters we have received from our Merchant
Cuba, etc. For our clothing, wool is
Navy officers as well as interviews with
brought to us from Australia, cotton from
some of those who call at our headquarters.
4000
aiv.
and
the
tide was ebb, it being about 2½ hours after high water.
When I arrived in Dunkerque Roads there were a large
number of other vessels in the vicinity, both large and small.
There was some confusion owing to the heavy bombardment
from the shore and the activity of hostile aircraft.
Just after 11 p.m. I heard the sound of a heavy
collision close to my vessel.
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