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We invite you to join us in commemorating those who served and lost their lives in the Merchant Navy.
Each year the Maritime Museum commemorates those who served and lost their lives in the Merchant Navy during both World Wars. This is a one-hour public service which includes the laying of the wreath at the museum’s Merchant Navy Memorial Plaque.
In 2010 the New Zealand Government announced that they would join Britain and other Commonwealth countries to commemorate those who served in the Merchant Navy during war time. The date chosen was 3rd September as this observes the sinking of the first British merchant ship in 1939, just hours after WWII was declared. 2024 marks the 85th anniversary.
Several thousand New Zealanders have served in the Merchant Navy since WWI. These civilian volunteers sailed the ships that delivered troops, military equipment and vital cargoes of food, fuel and raw materials across the world's oceans. This work was so essential to the Allies' effort in WWII that the Merchant Navy was effectively regarded as the fourth service alongside the army, navy and air force.
Work on the ships was tough – but also full of adventure. Merchant seafarers often found themselves in the front lines of the war at sea. Many ships were torpedoed or bombed; survivors sometimes spent days or weeks in lifeboats before being rescued. More than 140 New Zealand merchant seafarers lost their lives during WWII, and a similar number were taken prisoner. No other group of New Zealand civilians faced such risks during wartime.
Source: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/the-merchant-navy
Able Seaman Gratton Gray was taken as a prisoner of war when his ship was captured by Japanese forces in World War II. Read about his story and view some of his correspondence with loved ones back home in Wellington.
Teenager Elliston Dunn was onboard MV Springbank a few months before the outbreak of World War II, which resulted in the death of about 60,000 seafarers serving in Allied or neutral merchant ships. Conservatively, 140 were New Zealanders. Dunn was one.
