ON Monday I watched the Brisbane ANZAC Day March on the ABC.

The march really was great and the comments made by the team were informative and at times funny.

However there was a point I thought needed mentioning.

As the march progressed there suddenly were a few men with the Merchant Navy sign and the commentators hardly acknowledged them.

So may I put a few facts to these gentlemen.

The men of the Merchant Navy sailed in convoys themselves unarmed and with scant protection.

Many ships and lives were lost. An oil tanker on its way to Australia was torpedoed and some of the men were picked up, my father the ships engineer one of them.

After hospitalisation of a short period they all fronted up to sail again saying that supplies must get through.

My late husband , ex RAN who served on Australia, Shropshire, Ping Wo, Vengeance, Sydney and Melbourne used to say that the Merchant Marine were greatly ignored and deserved some Kudos.

So commentators, before next years march how about boning up on the Merchant Navy exploits and giving them a word of thanks.

It seems to me that they are the true Silent Service.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED Boonah

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