It's Not Just The Wrecked Ship Which Is A Disaster... It's The Wrecked
Lives...
Welcome to the Shipwrecked Mariners' website, I hope you find your visit interesting. Since we were founded in 1839 our aim has been the same, to relieve distress among the seafaring and ex-seafaring community. Thankfully, shipwrecks are fewer but they still occur bringing tragedy in their wake, and then there are those who have left the sea, through accident, ill-health or on retirement and their dependants who are living on meagre incomes and in need of assistance. Please feel free to contact us should you require further information about any aspect of our work. Your support is much appreciated. Thank you.
Malcolm Williams
Chief Executive
The Society was founded as a result of the tragic
loss of a fleet of fishing boats on the north Devon coast the previous
year. A month later, Her Majesty Queen Victoria graciously announced
herself Patron of the Society and since then it has been honoured
by Royal Patronage. Our first President was Admiral Sir James Cockburn
who was responsible for attacking and burning Washington, including
the White House, in 1814 and for taking Napoleon to St Helena. In
1850, the Society was incorporated by an act of Parliament, on which
the Rules and Regulations of the Society are still based.
Message from the Chief Executive
Today, the Society still gives help in the event of shipwreck,
but our main purpose is to provide financial support to retired
seafarers and their widows in cases of need. Over 2,000 people receive
regular six-monthly grants; others receive a special grant to meet
a particular need. The Society receives several hundred applications
for assistance each year. To be eligible, an applicant must be able
to prove low net income and normally a minimum of 10 years' sea
service, although in certain circumstances less will be accepted.
Regular grants are not normally given to those under 60 years of
age. If you would like to learn more about the types of grants that
we provide, or if you would like to apply for assistance, please click here.
The Society is a member of The Merchant
Navy Welfare Board and co-operates closely with other member
charities to ensure that resources are distributed as fairly as
possible where there is the greatest need.
The annual Christmas Card Appeal has for some years been our main
fundraising activity - click here to find
out more.
Shipwrecked Marines and the First World War
November marks the 90th Anniversary of the end of the First World War. From our archives some idea of the impact of the war at sea can be gauged from the fact that between August 1914 and December 1918 the Society assisted 2,433 widows, 4,633 orphans, 1,100 aged parents and 50,753 mariners and fishermen, disbursing a total of £125,000, equivalent in today's prices to over £4 million ! But mines were no respectors of peace and by June 1919 those figures had increased even further.
