British Sailors' Society - Ladies City Auxiliary Christmas Appeal

« Prev Item Next Item »

British Sailors' Society

1941

Overview

Folded paper leaflet sold by the British Sailors' Society Ladies City Auxilliary to raise funds for their Christmas Appeal.
When folded, the visible area features official circular crest of the British Sailors' Society, surmounted by a British Naval crown. The inner ring reads 'IN SERVICE FOR THE SAILOR', while the banners extending from the sides state 'INCORPORATED/ ESTABLISHED 1818' on the left, and 'AT HOME / AND ABROAD' on the right.
The text is printed in red above and below the central crest. The top line reads 'Ladies City Auxiliary', and the bottom section 'Christmas Appeal for Merchant Seamen'.
When unfolded, it reveals a patriotic verse relating to merchant seamen, all printed in red.
The charity authorisation appears along the lower edge.

Historical information

The 'British Sailors' Society' was established to minister to the religious needs of seamen. It was originally founded in 1818 as the 'Port of London Society' and then after 1833, the 'British and Foreign Sailors Society'. In 1925, the name was changed to the 'British Sailors' Society'. It supports merchant navy seafarers and their families worldwide.
The Society formed affiliations with local Australian organisations such as the 'Port Adelaide Seamens' Mission', and from the 1930s raised substantial funds through badge/button appeals in South Australia.

This is one of two items relating to the Ladies or Lady's City Auxiliary of the 'British Sailors' Society'. Ladies City Auxiliaries typically operated as local volunteer and fundraising branches during the late 19th and mid-20th centuries, organising flag days, bazaars, and seasonal gift drives.

The 'Christmas Appeal for Merchant Seamen' was an annual initiative to raise funds to provide warm clothing, comfort packs, and holiday parcels to sailors spending the festive season away from home.

This leaflet was definitely sold in Australia, as 'Australian mothers' are asked to buy something from their stalls to support the families of the British seamen who lost their lives during World War Two.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW01122

Item type

Collectibles

Ephemera

Paper

Poetry

Themes

Defence > Navy

War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Ink

Paper

Width

91 mm

Height or length

61 mm

Inscriptions and markings

Text on folded section:

"Ladies City Auxiliary"

"Christmas Appeal for
Merchant Seamen"

On central crest:

"IN SERVICE FOR THE SAILOR"

"INCORPORATED/ ESTABLISHED 1818"

"AT HOME / AND ABROAD"

Transcripts

"OUR MERCHANT SEAMEN.
God bless our Merchant Seamen, on them we all depend,
They carry our munitions the Homeland to defend,
They speed the grand old navy, they feed the soldiers' guns,
The Merchantmen are heroes and they are British everyone;
Through the bravery of our sailors, Great Britain has been fed,
They sailed through German minefields, God gave their daily bread.
The Huns are dirty cowards, they stab them in the back,
They paint their ships like ours and fly the Union Jack;
Our sailors saw them coming and thought they were our sons,
And soon these gallant Merchantmen were slaughtered by their guns;
We British fight with clean hands, the Hun's are foul and red,
Thousands in Great Britain by their bombs are lying dead.
Now, good Australian mothers, don't pass our little stall,
Just give a little for those lads that gave for you their all;
They left their homes and mothers, no thought of worldly gain,
And when upon the sea were tossed their wives at home were slain;
A lonely sailor's daughter each night she kneels and prays,
For she has a sailor brother in the Homeland far away.
God bless our gallant sailors, wherever you may roam,
Lord, guide the hands that man our ships and bring them safely home".