A True Survivor

by John Martin

It is perhaps true to say that Maritime historians have not as yet paid much attention to the huge effort that was required to re-configure the British Merchant Navy from that of serving in a wartime support role to that of the peacetime one at the conclusion of World War II. Perhaps this is understandable, given the earth-shaking events of the previous 6 years and the wholesale destruction of ships and port infrastructure on virtually a worldwide basis. But it is worth considering the enormous headaches that shipowners faced in 1945, as they attempted to relocate their far flung vessels from wartime locations and convoy duties, and to re-establish their traditional worldwide routes and liner ‘timetables’, for both cargo and passenger roles.