Wales, the Mercantile Marine and the First World War

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Highlights the work of Welsh merchant mariners during World War I. From the outbreak of war in 1914 to the creation of the Mercantile Marine Reserve and the eventual introduction o f convoys in 1917, this book charts the experiences, contributions, and sacrifices made by merchant mariners from Wales during the First World War. Merchant crew faced the dangers of mines, U-boats, and commerce raiders in the course of moving the goods, men, and materials that were vital for victory. The outcomes of such encounters are examined within a broader context of the diversity of vessels, trades, and prevailing working conditions. This study also includes important insights into the participation of both women and minority-group seafarers in the mercantile marine. Using a wide range of evidence drawn from contemporary newspaper reports, ships' crew agreements, and official papers, the multi-faceted world of civilian mariners caught up in the war at s Show more