The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Ruel Nathan Lawrence - Warrior Wednesday - Jan. 29th, 2003

http://w1.852.telia.com/~u85208262/1942.htm ^

[facedown]

One man's journey to remember a merchant navy massacre.

By Charlie Morton, Defence Reporter, Plymouth Herald, June 26, 2001.

FOR 59 years the code has been engraved in the minds of every sailor who chanced the waters of the Arctic Circle during World War Two. PQ17.

On June 26, 1942, the largest merchant convoy ever assembled at Reykjavik in Iceland set sail for ports in Russia, loaded with supplies to feed the war effort.

What followed was one of the grimmest tragedies in the history of the merchant navy as, scattered by the threat of a German battleship, the ships were an easy target for U-boat skippers who picked them off one by one, sinking 23 in all.

The horror of the event has haunted retired Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bruty for six decades.

He has sailed from the UK on a journey back to where it all happened, to drop a wreath in the sea in memory of those who died.

In Memory of PQ17 June-July 1942.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Cote. Good tribute to the Merchant Marine.

[SAMWolf]

This shows that not every warrior wields a spear. And it also shows that men can be humane even in war.

Worth repeating.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for a most unusual "Classic Ship" today, aomagrat

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for finding and posting that article Facedown.

[SAMWolf]

The cruisers H.M.S. Belfast, H.M.S. Dido and H.M.S. Scylla in heavy seas as an Arctic convoy Ocean Escort during World War Two.

[SAMWolf]

The ice-encrusted 6-inch guns of HMS Belfast during convoy duties in Arctic waters, 1943

The ammunition ship Mary Luckenback explodes during an air attack on Arctic Convoy PQ18, 14 September 1942 (IWM neg a 12271)

[SAMWolf]

In tribute to those served so valiantly in the Merchant Marine Service and the naval gunners of the Navy’s Armed Guard I want to share this poem with you. It was written by an unknown author:

THIS CARGO’S COMING THROUGH

The night is like a gaping hole,
The ocean’s dark as slop,
I cannot tell where skies begin
Or where the waters stop.
My ship is drifting like a ghost
With every porthole dead
But locked within her silent hull
Waits hot and living lead.
My ship is counting on me --
Old gal I’m tell you
I’m gonna keep you sailing
This cargo’s coming through


You thought you had me Adolf,
You thought you had me beat.
You thought I’d never feel again
That deck beneath my feet.
You cracked my ship wide open,
You got her in the heart.
I felt the old gal shutter
When she began to break apart.
The oil was thick as mud,
The cargo of our wounded ship
Was slimy with our blood.
I was the Bos’un when he jumped,
I heard him when he fell.


Oh, there’s something fierce that
Happens, to a sailor’s bloomin’ brain
When he sees his shipmates dying
When he hears them yell with pain.
And I shook my fist and shouted,
Oh, I’m going to see you dead.
We’ll get you Mr. Hitler,
And I’m going to ship the lead.
Yes, I’ll ship another cargo,
I’ll make another trip
And that Star Spangled Banner
Will be flying from my ship.

UnKnown

A rare breed, indeed. To the merchant seaman who delivered the tools of war and to the naval gunners, of the Armed Guard, who fought in frigid weather, against enemy submarines and planes, I extend a hearty "Well Done!, Shipmates, Well Done! Hand -- SALUTE!"

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[firewalk]

Good morning AntiJen (-:

thanks for the ping, here's a bttt

[Pippin]

Uh, OH!

[larryjohnson]

Sam,I am curious about the telia.com link for this story. What else is on this site? Some of my Swedish cousins have Telia as their ISP. Who is Telia and where is she?(a poem,Blanche?)

[SAMWolf]

Hunter Killer

Here's the link for the site I got the article from.

[Republic]

Good Morning Sam and all,

Just a note, off topic but still pertinent, about the group called grassfire.net. (Email-alert@grassfire.net)

I received an email from this organization today (this is the group sending the petition to Washington, with the goal of 200,000 signatures, supporting our President and troops) saying that they are fundraising by sending out yard signs that say Support our TROOPS with a picture of the historical flag raising so famous to all of us.

I am sending a check for two. One for my yard, one for my parents' yard. They are the standard yard signs (with metal supporting posts). I loved the idea and sent an email to um requesting that they make bumper stickers, too. Who knows if they will.

Point is-I think it is a great idea, especially when ya consider that many wonderful veterans as well as those who are currently serving our nation will surely be heartened upon seeing um.

Oh well....just thought some folks who love this thread might be especially interested.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Republic, I'm on their E-mail List and have signed their petition.

[larryjohnson]

I searched for Telia,com and got:
TeliaSonera(a more poetic name,Blanche)
http://www.teliasonera.com/bvo/com/ts_first_page.jsp?OID=ts_en_first_page

[GailA]

Today's graphic

[larryjohnson]

About Us
 
 
This is an international online organisation in it`s humble beginnings for wargamers and naval sim enthusiasts using Silent Hunter II,Destroyer Command and Fighting Steel to simulate the naval warfare during World War II.
 
The intention is to create a meeting place for people who have a serious interest in this hobby as well as  the historical/technical aspects of naval warfare. That`s why this site also contains a lot of historical information. The parts concerning the fleets, operations and the introduction to the pages about Kriegsmarine and  Royal Navy destroyers have been written by Lawrence Paterson and edited by me. I have added parts that has been missing, completed the destroyers pages and have written the pages about the german uboat arm.
 
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