MM and MMR

[pgis]

This might be a stupid question, but here goes anyway. In World War 1, what was the difference between the Mercantile Marine and the Mercantile Marine Reserve?

 

Paul.

[horatio2]

This is the best explanation I have found (source/reference not known):-  MERCANTILE MARINE RESERVE.pdf

Edited 7 June , 2019 by horatio2

[pgis]

Thanks Horatio, (I think). I will have to read the document a few more times to see if it will sink into my old grey matter.

 

Paul.

[Keith_history_buff]

Some interesting posts on here from Forum pal Joseph

 

[KizmeRD]

Essentially...

 

Mercantile Marine = All commercial trading ships and the men that crewed them (Ordinary civilian employment)

 

Mercantile Marine Reserve = British Mercantile Marine seamen who worked on ships bareboat chartered by the government in time of war. They agreed to be bound by the terms of the Naval Discipline Act, meaning that they were no longer free to do as they pleased and had to comply with orders given them by naval authorities. 

[Keith_history_buff]

9 hours ago, KizmeRD said:

Essentially...

 

Mercantile Marine = All commercial trading ships and the men that crewed them (Ordinary civilian employment)

 

Mercantile Marine Reserve = British Mercantile Marine seamen .... Naval Discipline Act

 

Many thanks for the above. This latter explanation now makes it clear to me why MM got their medals from BoT whereas the MMR got their medals from the Admiralty.