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Home: Recollections |
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Welcome to the Website Since building the Benjidog website, I have come across many ex-seamen with fascinating stories to tell. Of special interest are the accounts of those who served in the Merchant Navy during WW2. More and more people, particularly those of the Baby Boomer generation, are tracing their family history and trying to understand the lives of their parents and grandparents and how they were affected by the war. A common theme from people who have contacted me is “If only I had asked Dad/Granddad/Uncle Jack more while he was still with us ... but it’s too late now he has gone!” Well Dad/Granddad/Uncle Jack - if you are still alive and reading this - here is an offer to you. Write down your memories of that special period in your life and contact me via the email address below - or get someone to do it for you. If you have some interesting tales to tell - let’s hear them. If you need help in putting your notes in order, I would be happy to do so and will publish them here on this site so that other people can access them. As my friend Stan Mayes said recently “Don’t take your memories with you to the grave”. The offer extends to family members who find accounts left by their relatives who have already passed on - some have already done so. I have no doubt that you will find these accounts of great interest and, if it helps to improve the understanding of the sacrifices made by our relatives during the war, and the debt we owe the Merchant Navy in particular, my efforts will have been worthwhile. There are no catches - this is my hobby and a small way of giving something back. I started the site with the recollections of the late Fred Knaggs in December 2008 and am gradually expanding it as further material becomes available. New contributions are always welcome.
Brian Watson 20 December 2009 Copyright Warning For further information about the copyright position please see: Legal and Copyright.
Other parts of the Benjidog Website: |
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To contact us:
E-mail: brian@benjidog.co.uk |
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If you have an interest in shipping you are invited to investigate SeaTheShips - a free to use website run on a non-commercial basis by shipping enthusiasts Although only open for a few months, the site already has extensive discussion forums and a substantial gallery of high quality photos and maritime artwork. The ethos of SeaTheShips: The Sea is a powerful friend, and all of us are at its mercy and also in its debt; for it teaches, it protects and it gives us life – sadly it also takes it away, but just as there can be no black without white, or love without loss, so it is something truly special and worthy of a special place in our hearts.
Click HERE to join or to get further information. |
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Content |
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Over 5,000 nautical photographs collected by a father and son over a period of 60 years. |
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The history of Court Line ships including factual information, career highlights, service history (including details of service in WW1 and WW2) and ultimate fate. |
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Personal accounts by members of the Merchant Navy and others especially during WW2 with numerous contemporary photographs. |
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Histories of various ships of interest - particularly ones referred to in the Recollections section. |
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The history of the passenger ship sunk on the first day of WW2 and the aftermath through to the Nuremburg War Crime trials. |
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Histories of these fighting ships written by Steve Woodward. |
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Photos of the site, close ups of the plaques and brief background information for each ship recorded. An ongoing project. |
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Links to nautical websites and various research resources. |