Allied Merchant Seamen Memorial

"This memorial has been erected to honour and remember our fellow Merchant Mariners who paid the supreme sacrifice during the many conflicts in which they were involved" "Australian and Allied Merchant ships sunk in Australian, PNG, NZ and Naurian waters during WWII Neptuna, Zealandia, British Motorist, Meigs, Centaur, Mauna Loa, Tulagi, Namutu, Nankin, Nellore, Kalingo, Iron Knight, Iron Chieftain, Iron Crown, Star King, Kowarra, Limerick, Lydia Childs, Wollongbar, Fingal, Portmar, Macumba, Robert J. Walker, Triona, Triadic, Triaster, Komata, Nimbin, Don Isidoru, Florence D, Koolama, Macdhui, Manutu, Anshun, Dureenbee, city of Ranville, Vinni Nor, Niagara and Cambridge" "T.S. Vindcatrix Association Western Australian Inc Heroes. Don't speak to me of heroes until you've heard the tale of all those merchant seaman who sailed through storm and gale to keep the lifelines open in freedom's hour of need. When a tyrant cast a shadow over every nation's creed, Captains, greaser, cabin boys, mates and engineers heard the call to duty and cast aside their fears. They stoked those hungry boilers and stood behind the wheel , whilst cooks and stewards manned the guns on coffins made of steel. They moved in icy convoys from Scapa to Murmansk and crossed the wildest oceans, never seeking thanks. They sailed the South Atlantic where raiders laid in wait and kept the food lines open to Malta and the Cape. Tracked by silent U-boats which hunted below. Shelled by mighty cannons and fighters flying low, they clung to burning lifeboats where the sea had turned to flame and watched their shipmates disappear to everlasting fame. I speak not of a handful, but forty thousand plus, some whose names we'll never know in whom we placed our trust. They never knew the honour of medals on their chests or marching bands and victory and glory and the rest. The ocean is their resting place, their tombstone is the wind, the seabird's cry their last goodbye to family and friend. Freighters, troopships, liners and tankers by the score fishing boats and coasters, four thousand ships or more, flew their countries ensign as they sank beneath the waves and took those countless heroes to lonely ocean graves. Their legacy is freedom to those who hold it dear, to walk with clear horizons and never hide in fear. So when you speak of heroes, remember those at sea and thank those Merchant seaman who died to keep us free. David Partridge October 2002"