Seamen furious at Jubilee 'snub' (From Barry And District News)

Seamen furious at Jubilee 'snub'

BARRY'S Merchant Navy is gearing up for battle after being snubbed over the Queen's Jubilee Medal.

The mariners learned that of all the services and armed forces awarded in the Jubilee celebrations, the Merchant Navy has been overlooked. These include members of the Armed Forces, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, police, fire, ambulance, Coastguard, the RNLI and Mountain Rescue.

But the men who say they put their lives on the line to bring supplies during times of armed conflict are not to be recognised for their sacrifices.

Public Relations Officer for the Barry Branch of the Merchant Navy Association, John Wells said: "This is disrespectful and hurtful. During World War Two, whereas families of Royal Navy men lost at sea would receive a war pension, Merchant Navy families lost his pay once a man died."

But because the Merchant Navy are not classed as the armed forces, they are not eligible for the medal.

John countered: "We had a Royal Navy escort wherever we went, and the Germans would target us specifically because they knew we carried supplies. In 1941, guns were put on the back of our vessels. So in a way we were armed."

John Smith took up the cause of the seamen in the House of Commons. In a letter to the local MP, Minister for Sport Richard Caborn responded that "merchant seamen are not eligible to receive the Golden Jubilee Medal."

He added: "I appreciate the distribution of the medal is emotive and those excluded will be deeply disappointed. However, this decision should not imply any lack of appreciation of the sterling work of the Merchant Navy."

John Wells added: "Barry lost more men in proportion to its size than any other town in the country during World War Two.

"Just to show how much our sacrifices meant, we would appreciate one medal to display in each branch.

"There is an element of injustice here, and we are not happy."