The Norwegians Needed Crew

Heroes Remember

The Norwegians Needed Crew

Transcript

I wanted to get involved because my other three brothers was in the service. So I worked for a Mont Steading company, a Norwegian shipping company and he came one day and asked me would I want to join a ship in the harbour and it was called the Sirehei loading some newsprint and that was on Wednesday and they shipped me right down to Tobin Street. There was a Norwegian council and a doctor there examined me for medical reasons. Norwegians were hard up for crew and they made an exception as I was too young, because I tried to join the Canadian Merchant Navy, but I was too young. They wouldn’t take me. So I got the opportunity to go and I did. So I went home. I bought a suitcase. Went home and I told my mother and she started the crying. She said, "my baby's going to war". So, I wanted to be part of the war effort, but not for patriotic reasons, just becaus I was a kid and like many times people ask me, why did you join so young? and they say, well you was some brave. No I wasn't brave. I was adventurous and I was a daydreamer. So I wanted to become part of it.

Description

Mr. Tanner describes being turned down, because of his age, for service in the Canadian Merchant Navy and joining the Norwegian fleet, whose hiring age was younger.

Allen Tanner

Allen Tanner was born on December 1, 1925 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After finishing Grade Nine, he went to work for a Norwegian shipping firm on the Halifax dockyard. As a member of the Navy League, he served in an Honour Guard for the Queen when she visited Halifax in 1939. Too young to join the Canadian Merchant Navy, he joined a Norwegian ship, whose crew shortage made him a welcome addition. Mr. Tanner worked on board a freighter, but was lured to work on tankers due to the higher pay they offered.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 1:26
Person Interviewed:: Allen Tanner
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Atlantic Ocean
Battle/Campaign:: Battle of the Atlantic
Branch:: Merchant Navy
Occupation:: Steward

Related Videos

A Steward’s Responsibilities

Mr. Tanner describes his duties as a steward, and offers high praise for the quality of food on Norwegian ships.

Ammunition Passer

Mr. Tanner discusses his other roles, particularly if under attack, and gets a dose of reality from a veteran sailor.

Convoy Structure

Mr. Tanner describes in detail the makeup of a convoy, the positioning of ships within it and ensuring the safety of surviving ships.

The Black Hole

Mr. Tanner describes the Black Hole, an area of the North Atlantic where U-boats launched their most devastating attacks. He also describes German strategies for attacking, and hiding from, Allied shipping.

Thoughts on Heroism

Mr. Tanner offers some general comments on heroism, and then discusses the extremes gone to survive twenty-four days in a life boat without food and water.

Praise for Corvettes and Crews

Mr. Tanner discusses the admiration he has for the seaworthiness of Canada’s Naval Corvettes, and the bravery of their crews.

Double Pay and Greater Security

Mr. Tanner describes switching to the tanker fleet because the pay doubled and the ships were better protected because of the value placed on fuel.

Date modified:: 2019-06-20