Allied Merchant Seamen Memorial

"This memorial has been erected
to honour and remember
our fellow Merchant Mariners
who paid the supreme sacrifice
during the many conflicts
in which they were involved"

"Australian and Allied Merchant ships sunk in
Australian, PNG, NZ and Naurian waters during WWII
Neptuna, Zealandia, British Motorist, Meigs, Centaur, Mauna Loa, Tulagi, Namutu, Nankin, Nellore, Kalingo, Iron Knight, Iron Chieftain, Iron Crown, Star King, Kowarra, Limerick, Lydia Childs, Wollongbar, Fingal, Portmar, Macumba, Robert J. Walker, Triona, Triadic, Triaster, Komata, Nimbin, Don Isidoru, Florence D, Koolama, Macdhui, Manutu, Anshun, Dureenbee, city of Ranville, Vinni Nor, Niagara and Cambridge"

"T.S. Vindcatrix Association
Western Australian Inc
Heroes.
Don't speak to me of heroes until you've heard the tale
of all those merchant seaman who sailed through storm and gale
to keep the lifelines open in freedom's hour of need.
When a tyrant cast a shadow over every nation's creed,
Captains, greaser, cabin boys, mates and engineers
heard the call to duty and cast aside their fears.
They stoked those hungry boilers and stood behind the wheel ,
whilst cooks and stewards manned the guns on coffins made of steel.
They moved in icy convoys from Scapa to Murmansk
and crossed the wildest oceans, never seeking thanks.
They sailed the South Atlantic where raiders laid in wait
and kept the food lines open to Malta and the Cape.
Tracked by silent U-boats which hunted below.
Shelled by mighty cannons and fighters flying low,
they clung to burning lifeboats where the sea had turned to flame
and watched their shipmates disappear to everlasting fame.
I speak not of a handful, but forty thousand plus,
some whose names we'll never know in whom we placed our trust.
They never knew the honour of medals on their chests
or marching bands and victory and glory and the rest.
The ocean is their resting place, their tombstone is the wind,
the seabird's cry their last goodbye to family and friend.
Freighters, troopships, liners and tankers by the score
fishing boats and coasters, four thousand ships or more,
flew their countries ensign as they sank beneath the waves
and took those countless heroes to lonely ocean graves.
Their legacy is freedom to those who hold it dear,
to walk with clear horizons and never hide in fear.
So when you speak of heroes, remember those at sea
and thank those Merchant seaman who died to keep us free.
David Partridge October 2002"

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward (1), Anthony (Sharky) Ward (2, 3, 4, 5)