Articles
The Merchant Navy
3 September is Merchant Navy Day, which was first officially commemorated in New Zealand in 2010. The date marks the sinking of the first Allied merchant ship in 1939, just hours after the Second World War began. This is the story of the 'fourth service' at war.
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Page 6 – Roll of Honour, 1939-45
This roll lists the names of seafarers who died while serving on New Zealand merchant ships and New Zealanders known to have been lost while sailing under the flags of other
D-Day
It was one of the largest amphibious landings in history. On 6 June 1944 a huge Allied military machine embarked on the invasion of German-occupied France. Thousands of New Zealand sailors and airmen were on active duty that day.
- Page 6 - New Zealanders at seaBy 1944 more than 4700 New Zealanders were based in the United Kingdom and were serving in Royal Navy ships.
War oral history programme
Information about the now completed From Memory oral history project, including advice on how to interview war veterans
- Page 12 - Notes and questions, merchant seafarersAdvice and suggested questions for seafarers from the Second World
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Main image: Merchant seamen on D-Day
A number of New Zealand merchant seamen served off the D-Day beaches on hospital ships and other support vessels. This image, taken off Omaha Beach, shows a landing craft alongside the British hospital ship Llandovery Castle, on which New Zealander Cliff Turner served as a baker.
