Re: War veterans
 

Everybody mentions the armed forces but we all forget the Merchant Marine. They went to sea in the sure knowledge that at least half of them would not be coming back. And those that did come back, went out again and again until they too went to Davy Jones’ locker. Why? To make sure that we had enough to eat and enough weapons to fight with yet they ‘fought’ their war without any weapons to fight back with.

The courage of the civilian sailors in the Merchant Marine is beyond reproach.

If you ever get the chance read The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monserrat or watch the film and read the book HMS Ulysses by Alistair MacLean, do so. It may be fiction but both books gave an accurate representation of what war at sea was like in WWII. It’s a pity that they never made a film of HMS Ulysses but then I doubt if it would have got past the censor.

Re: War veterans
 

The Cruel Sea ... one of my favorite books and movies of all time ... HMS Compass Rose ... Indeed, it did bring it all home. I still have a Penguin edition of the book, bought it in Accy more years ago than I care to count.:)

Re: War veterans
 

people seem to forget the northern ireland conflicts,not really a war but a lot of servicemen have died over there,i was lucky only got shot once but did 3 months and it was like hell, then to old for the falklands but put on reserve as i was in the t.a. but all war veterans no matter where they served and fought should be honoured,i got my purple ribbon whilst over in n.ireland,it did,nt do me any good in getting a job when i came out of the army, but i was proud to serve my country
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