09
Oct
Ripon centenarian nominated for honorary membership of Merchant Navy Association
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With his 101st birthday just over a month away, Ripon resident Bill Donovan is being nominated to become an honorary member of the Merchant Navy Association.
Bill, who lives at Lister House, the Royal British Legion care home, served his country in World War Two aboard merchant ships on the Atlantic and Mediterranean convoys that carried cargos essential to Britain's war effort.
The vessels were priority targets for German U-boats and enemy aircraft. During the conflict, 4,700 British-flagged ships were sunk with the loss of more than 29,000 merchant seamen.
While aboard one of the Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships, the young Royal Navy gunner assisted in bringing down a German aircraft that was attacking his convoy.
Unfortunately, however, Bill was invalided out of the Navy after losing three fingers on his right hand when a live grenade he was attempting to throw into the sea exploded.
The young Royal Navy gunner pictured in 1944.
Following a visit to meet Bill at Lister House, retired Captain John Clarry, who was accompanied by former Electrical Engineer Officer Dan O'Brien, told the Stray Ferret:
It was a pleasure to see him and hear about has service as a young Royal Navy gunner on merchant convoy ships.
Becuase of his war service, in which he protected the lives of sailors on merchant ships, we will be nominating Bill to become an honorary member of the association.
We also look forward to more meetings with him at Lister House, where we can share our stories of life on the ocean wave.
Armed merchant ships played a crucial role during World War Two
About the Merchant Navy Association
Captain Clarry, a veteran of the 1982 Falklands War, in which Cunard's merchant vessel SS Atlantic Conveyor was sunk by two Exocet missiles, added:
The Merchant Navy Association is open to anyone who has served/serving in the Merchant Navy at any Rank or Rating.
The Harrogate branch meets on the first Sunday of each month at the Park View Club (Conservative Club).
We are a small group of retired seafarers, who absorbed members from the local Royal Naval Association as their branch closed due to lack of members.
We are always looking to attract new members, but there are not many seafarers in Harrogate.
Bill Donovan served as a Royal Navy gunner on armed merchant ships such as this
Acts of Remembrance
Members of the association will be present at the November 6 Remembrance Festival in Harrogate and will also join the parade on Remembrance Sunday at the town's War Memorial on November 9.
The most important act of Remembrance for the seafarers is Merchant Navy Day, which is observed on September 3 each year. It's the day when World War Two was declared and within hours of that declaration the British ship the SS Athenia was sunk by a German U-boat, with great loss of life.
Any serving or retired merchant seaman wanting to find out more can find branch details at mna.org.uk.
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