Joining the Merchant Navy
Heroes Remember
Joining the Merchant Navy
Transcript
Description
Mr. Kenny recalls how he felt compelled to do something when the war began. He was underage when he joined the Merchant Navy, therefore he didn’t really have any idea what it was.
Gil Kenny
Gil Kenny was born in Saint Rose, New Brunswick in December of 1923. His father worked as a blacksmith. Mr. Kenny was 16 when the war started and joined the Merchant Navy, because he was too young for the other services. During one of his crossings, his ship was torpedoed and he was adrift for 72 hours in the Atlantic. After being rescued, he returned to service on the HMS Sheffield.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 01:48
- Person Interviewed:
- Gil Kenny
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- North America
- Branch:
- Merchant Navy
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Everyone Panicked - The War Had Started
Mr. Kenny talks about where he was born, and how he felt about the war as it came on. Although underage, he tried to enlist.
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Mr. Kenny talks about his first weeks on merchant ships. He sailed on British, Norwegian and Danish ships because of the lack of Canadian ships.
Becoming a Cook
Mr. Kenny describes how he ended up being designated at the ship's “Cookie”. He also described travelling across the Atlantic in a convoy.
‘A Matter of Surviving’
Mr. Kenny talks about the crew onboard the merchantman. He made 22 trips across the ocean.
72 Hours on a Raft in the North Atlantic
Mr. Kenny recalls a time in April of 1943, when his ship was hit and he spent 72 hours alone on a raft in the North Atlantic.
Back into Service on HMS Sheffield
Mr. Gill describes getting right back into the service and winding up in England, where he was assigned to HMS Sheffield, an RN battleship.
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