Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Unofficially known as the “Fourth Arm of the Services,” the Merchant Navy endured serious threats from mines, aircraft, surface raiders, and a particularly vicious German U-boat blockade, all while having a limited means of self-defense. In this new Memory Project video, two Merchant Navy veterans share their stories of crossing the Atlantic to deliver vital goods to the war effort and the long fight to get their proper recognition.
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Version française: youtu.be/ET-3H8MvD0o
During the Second World War, Canadian merchant vessels made 25,343 voyages from North America to Britain, carrying nearly 165 million tons of military and civilian supplies. Canadian Rear Admiral Leonard Murray, who commanded the Canadian Northwest Atlantic theatre during the war, said “the Battle of the Atlantic was not won by any navy or air force, it was won by the courage, fortitude and determination of the British and Allied Merchant Navy.” Since 2003, September 3 has been recognized as Merchant Navy Veterans Day by the federal government.
This video provides educators an opportunity to present oral history as a valuable source and incorporate firsthand accounts into classroom activities and discussions.
This video is produced by The Memory Project, a program of Historica Canada. For more stories of service, visit thememoryproject.com.
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Further reading/resources:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/merchant-navy-of-canada
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-the-atlantic
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-the-st-lawrence
historicacanada.ca/productions/guides/second-world-war-education-guide
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/second-world-war
thememoryproject.com/book-a-speaker
More educational content at:
historicacanada.ca
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
Credits:
Illustrations by Jessie Durham @jessieeedurham
Featuring:
Captain Earle Wagner
Chief Steward Percival Smith
Stephanie Zidel (Narrator)
OCPMJYNV5NJLB2FV
Unofficially known as the “Fourth Arm of the Services,” the Merchant Navy endured serious threats from mines, aircraft, surface raiders, and a particularly vicious German U-boat blockade, all while having a limited means of self-defense. In this new Memory Project video, two Merchant Navy veterans share their stories of crossing the Atlantic to deliver vital goods to the war effort and the long fight to get their proper recognition.
Join our mailing list: histori.ca/email
SUBSCRIBE to learn more about Canada:
youtube.com/c/HistoricaCanada
Version française: youtu.be/ET-3H8MvD0o
During the Second World War, Canadian merchant vessels made 25,343 voyages from North America to Britain, carrying nearly 165 million tons of military and civilian supplies. Canadian Rear Admiral Leonard Murray, who commanded the Canadian Northwest Atlantic theatre during the war, said “the Battle of the Atlantic was not won by any navy or air force, it was won by the courage, fortitude and determination of the British and Allied Merchant Navy.” Since 2003, September 3 has been recognized as Merchant Navy Veterans Day by the federal government.
This video provides educators an opportunity to present oral history as a valuable source and incorporate firsthand accounts into classroom activities and discussions.
This video is produced by The Memory Project, a program of Historica Canada. For more stories of service, visit thememoryproject.com.
FOLLOW HISTORICA CANADA!
Instagram: instagram.com/historicacanada/
X: twitter.com/HistoricaCanada
TikTok: tiktok.com/@historicacanada
Facebook: facebook.com/Historica.Canada/
Pinterest: pinterest.ca/historicac/_saved/
Further reading/resources:
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/merchant-navy-of-canada
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-the-atlantic
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-the-st-lawrence
historicacanada.ca/productions/guides/second-world-war-education-guide
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/collection/second-world-war
thememoryproject.com/book-a-speaker
More educational content at:
historicacanada.ca
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
Credits:
Illustrations by Jessie Durham @jessieeedurham
Featuring:
Captain Earle Wagner
Chief Steward Percival Smith
Stephanie Zidel (Narrator)
OCPMJYNV5NJLB2FV
