Having read the article about UK defence on your website [Government must secure the future of maritime to meet defence ambitions, warns Nautilus], I thought it was spot on about needing to secure the future of the Merchant Navy if the government wants a defence capability.
Can you imagine a UK-flagged ship being taken up from trade, only to find that none of the crew were from the UK and didn't fancy facing a war on minimum wages? STUFT indeed.
Rose King
- Read more about the role of the Merchant Navy in wartime in our feature Home truths about international defence
More letters
Catch up with old Clan Line colleagues
The annual Clan Line reunion will take place this year at the Liner Hotel in Liverpool on Wednesday 1 October 2025.
Britain's WW2 government acknowledged Merchant Navy sacrifice
As you will know, this year marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day. I enclose a copy of a transmission, sent by telegraphy in May 1945, from the Admiralty to 'all ships', expressing the victory message to the Merchant Navy, from the minister of war transport.
Warm QM2 welcome for Cunard war veteran
Knowing that we would be marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day this year, I was honoured recently to welcome onboard a Merchant Navy and Cunard veteran of the Second World War.