Martin Moore (far right) accepts the ‘Cruel Sea’ reminiscences on behalf of Manx National Heritage. © MNH

Manx National Heritage has taken into their collection the recorded reminiscences of Merchant Navy veterans on the Isle of Man who served aboard British ships during the dark days of World War Two.

In front of a packed invited audience on June 19 2007 Douglas Cannell, Harry Crawley, Geoffrey Harrison, Gerry Tierney and George Thompson formally presented a bound copy of their ‘Cruel Sea’ reminiscences to Martin Moore, Chairman of the Trustees of Manx National Heritage.

The reminiscences will be permanently preserved in the national collection for the benefit of present and future generations.

A Merchant Navy seaman rescued following the sinking of his ship. © Imperial War Museum

“It gave me enormous pleasure to receive these reminiscences,” said Mr Moore. “They are tremendously important because they record the experiences of local Merchant Navy seamen who displayed great courage when facing terrible conditions at sea during wartime enemy actions.”

“The Merchant fleet doggedly shipped vitally important supplies of food and materials which enabled Britain to endure, at a time when defeat and not victory seemed almost inevitable.”

More than 8,000 Merchant seamen from across the British Empire lost their lives on merchant ships between 1939 and 1945. Over 3,000 merchant ships were sunk, yet despite these losses the Merchant Navy continued to bring home food and raw materials from around the world.

Cruel Sea began as a reminiscence project, recording the memories of wartime Merchant Navy veterans right across the United Kingdom. The aim of the project was to document the wide-ranging experiences and recollections of local men who served in the British Merchant Navy during the Second War, for preservation in local and national maritime museums.

Pupils from St Ninian’s High School, Douglas, were among the guests, along with Hector Duff, World War Two Veteran. © MNH

During 2006, with the help of the Isle of Man Arts Council in collaboration with Manx National Heritage, the project was extended to the Isle of Man. Rebecca Ross and Jacqueline Skinner of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, who had been involved in a similar project in Liverpool, recorded the reminiscences of Manx veterans.

“There can be no doubt that Merchant ships and seamen kept the country alive at an appalling cost in ships sunk and lives lost,” added Mr Moore. “This was an astonishing feat which should never be forgotten.”

The Cruel Sea document may be consulted on request from the National Heritage Library at the Manx Museum, between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday.