The RHF Veterans Forum

[Sandy]

UK MERCHANT SEAFARING VETERANS
AN AGREED DEFINITION

Introduction
The Merchant Navy and UK fishing fleets have always been called upon to provide support to both the
UK Armed Forces and the Nation during wartime, other hostilities and military operations. These
actions, together with seafarers’ personnel records of the ships in which they served, are well
documented. There is already a broad consensus from all parties, including the MOD, that such
seafarers should be regarded as veterans within the Armed Forces Community. However, the terms
‘Merchant Navy Veteran’ and ‘Merchant Seafaring Veteran’ continue to be used without understanding or
a single clear definition. Consequently those civilian seafarers who are entitled to be regarded as
veterans and therefore part of the Armed Forces Community occasionally have their status challenged or
ignored altogether. It is considered that an officially endorsed definition would bring greater clarity to this
sometimes confused area, as well as greater recognition to this often overlooked section of the UK
seafaring community.
Aim
The aim of this paper is to provide a common, agreed and endorsed definition of UK Merchant Seafarers
who form part of the Armed Forces Community.
The Armed Forces Community
The Armed Forces Community, as currently defined by the MOD, comprises individuals currently serving
as members of HM Armed Forces, including the UK Reserve Forces; their families; widows/widowers;
veterans and their dependants.
Qualification Criteria
Qualification by Conflict
World Wars I & II. Although there are no known merchant seafarers now alive from World War I, their
retrospective status as veterans may still be appreciated by their descendants. All merchant seafarers
and fishermen serving aboard any UK vessel between the first and last day of World War II were
deemed to be serving “Under Admiralty Charter” throughout the conflict. While their actual conditions of
service differed, these personnel faced the same dangers and should, in terms of recognition, be treated
as if they were Royal Navy personnel during the period of this service. WWII began on 3 September
1939 (when the first vessel SS “Athena” was sunk) and ended on VJ Day on 15 August 1945. During
the conflict a large number of merchant seafarers and fishermen found themselves onboard ships that
were requisitioned by the Royal Navy. Many of these men volunteered to remain onboard as crew,
working alongside Royal Navy personnel. While they remained on their civilian pay and leave
conditions, they were required to sign T124X or T124T agreements which placed them under the Naval
Discipline Act and strengthened their case for similar recognition to their RN colleagues.
Other Conflicts post 1945. Those legally defined military operations recognised by the UK Government
as those in which the Merchant fleet supported the military included, but are not limited to, Korea (1950-
53), Suez (1956), South Atlantic (1982), Gulf (Kuwait Crisis) (1990-91) and Gulf (Iraq Invasion) (2003).
Significantly all Merchant Navy seafarers who served in these zones are entitled to receive campaign
medals following certain periods in theatre: for example, over 5000 such medals were awarded for the
Falklands campaign alone. Under the Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA), two merchant vessels
(Storaa and Atlantic Conveyor) have so far been designated as protected places, in recognition of their
status in supporting UK military operations.
Non UK Conflicts. A significant number of British merchant seafarers, in going about their lawful
business, were required to sail into war zones not involving the UK. These include places such as
Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf during the Iran/Iraq war. These were warlike areas and a number of
British merchant seafarers were killed or injured as a result of armed actions. More recently, the
concept of war zones and areas of warlike operations has been extended to include piracy hotspots with
such areas being designated as “high risk” e.g. the UK Warlike Operations Area Committee has recently
declared an area in the Gulf of Aden as “high risk”. Nonetheless, it is not intended to pursue official
veteran status, which implies some form of service to the Nation, for these personnel, and they are not
considered to be part of the Armed Forces Community.
Proof of Service
While mercantile marine records are not comparable with those held on behalf of the UK Armed Forces,
British merchant seafarers normally have Discharge Books which contain details of the vessels in which
they served including the dates. The names and dates of those ships that sailed into the operational
zones are retained in the records held by the MCA’s Registry of Shipping and Seamen. The Royal
Naval Historical Archive holds online records, and the Merchant Navy Association and the Federation of
Merchant Mariners also keep an expanding database of those qualifying personnel who have been
awarded the Merchant Navy Veterans badge. Ships’ Articles, crew lists and discharge books can also
provide supporting evidence. Thus, proof of service is based on confirmation of the individual’s ship
discharge record and that ship’s service in support of UK military operations.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
RFA personnel are merchant seafarers employed by MOD (Navy) entirely to support the UK Armed
Forces. All those with RFA service are already considered as HM Armed Forces Veterans in accordance
with existing arrangements and as such will continue to apply to the Service Personnel and Veterans
Agency for the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge.
Conclusion
It is therefore concluded that, exceptionally, those civilians forming part of the veterans element of the
Armed Forces Community are those who have served in commercial vessels supporting the UK Armed
Forces on legally defined military operations. The actual size of this community is presently unknown,
but further studies will be undertaken by MN organisations to establish numbers more accurately. Given
that the definition of an Armed Forces veteran is any person who has served in the Forces of the Crown
and includes those with RFA service, it follows that a comparable definition for a UK civilian seafarer
from either the Merchant Navy or the fishing fleets who is considered to be an Armed Forces veteran
should be:
‘Anyone who has served on a commercial vessel at a time when it was operated to facilitate legally
defined UK military operations by HM Armed Forces’.
and these personnel be called “UK Merchant Seafaring Veterans”.
Recommendation
The COBSEO Executive has agreed the above definition of a UK Merchant Seafaring Veteran,
recognising that subsequent work is needed to identify the numbers of qualified seafarers entitled to
such definition. It is recommended that the Ministry of Defence accepts that definition and endorses its
official use.
Mike Bray
Secretary COBSEO
1st December 2009
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Sandy
Admin