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The Second World War
The Merchant Navy  - Serving with the Merchant Navy

During the Second World War, Canadian and Allied merchant mariners faced the constant hard work of operating and maintaining their ships, the threat of enemy attack, and the dangers of accidents and storms.

Port of New York Identity Card, Ernest Shackleton
Port of New York Identity Card, Ernest Shackleton

This Port of New York identification card was issued to Ernest Shackleton, a Canadian merchant mariner who escaped from German imprisonment.

During the Second World War, New York was a busy port for Allied merchant shipping, and cards like this were issued to identify sailors like Shackleton, whose name has been misspelled. In February 1941, Shackleton was among those rescued and captured by the German battlecruiser Gneisenau after it sank the Canadian freighter A.D. Huff. Brought to occupied France, Shackleton and Percy Coe, another A.D. Huff sailor, escaped and reached Britain via neutral Spain. The remainder of the Huff's crew remained prisoners until April 1945.

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 19990204-004





Merchant Navy War Service Badge, Somer Oscar James
Painting a Life Raft, SS Temagami Park
Engine Room, SS Kelowna Park (CAN)
Shaft Tunnel, SS Kelowna Park (CAN)
Merchant Navy Uniform, Clovis Ira Bordeleau
Balaclava, Clovis Ira Bordeleau
Christmas Card, SS Lady Rodney
Identity Bracelet, Robert Bush
Torpedoed, North Atlantic
Burning Oil Tanker
Torpedo Damage, SS Samtucky
Torpedo Damage, MS Kronprinsen
Storm Damage, SS Joel R. Poinsett
MV Nipiwan Park
Memorial Cross, Third Engineer Alfred Henry Perry, SS Fort Longueuil
Rescuing Survivors
HMCS Longueuil Rescues Survivors
Port of New York Identity Card, Ernest Shackleton
Ordinary Seaman Somer Oscar James
Telegram, Percy Kelly, SS Lady Hawkins
Chief Officer Percy Kelly