Chapter I: Front Matter

Merchantmen-at-Arms

Merchantmen-at-Arms

THE BRITISH MERCHANTS' SERVICE IN THE WAR

BY DAVID W. BONE

DRAWINGS BY MUIRHEAD BONE

LONDON: CHATTO & WINDUS
1919

_All rights reserved_

TO

ALGERNON C. F. HENDERSON

AS REPRESENTING A SYMPATHETIC AND UNDERSTANDING
GOVERNANCE IN AN IMPORTANT SECTION
OF THE BRITISH MERCHANTS'
SEA SERVICE

CONTENTS

PART I

PAGE
I THE MERCHANTS' SERVICE
OUR FOUNDATION 3
THE STRUCTURE 14

II OUR RELATIONS WITH THE NAVY
JOINING FORCES 21
AT SEA 26
OUR WAR STAFF 30

III THE LONGSHORE VIEW 44

IV CONNECTION WITH THE STATE
TRINITY HOUSE, OUR ALMA MATER 53
THE BOARD OF TRADE 61

V MANNING 67

PART II

VI THE COASTAL SERVICES
THE HOME TRADE 77
PILOTS 87
LIGHTSHIPS 91

VII 'THE PRICE O' FISH' 97

VIII THE RATE OF EXCHANGE 103

IX INDEPENDENT SAILINGS 110

X BATTLEDORE AND SHUTTLECOCK 116

XI ON SIGNALS AND WIRELESS 120

XII TRANSPORT SERVICES 125
INTERLUDE 132
'THE MAN-O'-WAR'S 'ER 'USBAND' 134

XIII THE SALVAGE SECTION
THE TIDEMASTERS 141
A DAY ON THE SHOALS 147
THE DRY DOCK 156

XIV ON CAMOUFLAGE--AND SHIPS' NAMES 163

XV FLAGS AND BROTHERHOOD OF THE SEA 169

PART III

XVI THE CONVOY SYSTEM 177

XVII OUTWARD BOUND 184

XVIII RENDEZVOUS 190

XIX CONFERENCE 198

XX THE SAILING
FOG, AND THE TURN OF THE TIDE 205
'IN EXECUTION OF PREVIOUS ORDERS' 212

XXI THE NORTH RIVER 217

XXII HOMEWARDS
THE ARGONAUTS 224
ON OCEAN PASSAGE 230
'ONE LIGHT ON ALL FACES' 236

XXIII 'DELIVERING THE GOODS' 244

XXIV CONCLUSION: 'M N' 252