1939 World War II Diary of British Merchant Navy Sailor Serving as an Apprentice on the M/V Willowbank and Sailing To Turkey

On offer is a fascinating diary kept by a teenaged British Merchant Navy sailor in WWII who turns 17 while serving aboard the M/V Willowbank. The author of this diary is one R. Bruggey. Our research has not turned up any biographical information about him. The diary covers the year 1939 and the first two days of 1940.

This frontline World War II  diary opens with an entry from 1938 noting that he was accepted into the Merchant Navy as an apprentice. He was 16 years old at the time. After Christmas at his home, he joined a coaster, the Dutch vessel SS Westlaan. On Jan 4th, he got his orders to report to M/V Willowbank. [The Willowbank was a motor merchant ship owned by Andrew Weir & Co. in London. On June 12, 1940, it was sunk in an attack by the German submarine U-46. All 51 on board at the time survived, our author was likely still on board at this time]. 

This young diarist was so delighted to be joining the war effort. He even draws small diagrams of the ships he is on as well as the ports he stops at. Some excerpts of his writing follows:

“On the 14th (Oct, 1938) I first joined the Shipping Federation. Nov 8th I was accepted for Andrew Weir’s waiting list. 1 week before Christmas, I purchased my uniform. On the 23rd Dec I received a letter from the A.W. Co stating I was to fill a vacancy in one of the apprenticeships aboard Willowbank just completing at doseford’s yard Sunderland. Had a very enjoyable Christmas. One of the best” [Memoranda 1938]. 

“I joined my ship the Willowbank. Everything very dirty. Signed on about 10:30 AM. No dinner. Had tea ashore. Mate told us to have bed and breakfast on shore. Back in morning to dinner in ship. Doseford’s Yard filthy. Sunderland is not a very nice place”  [Jan 7].

On January 10th, 1939, after workups, M/V Willowbank left Tyneside, UK bound for Turkey. His entries from this point detail shipboard routines, his work and studies and events that he experienced. Excerpts follow:

“The ship has nearly a full load! Her first cargo. It now remains to be seen what she’s like at sea when loaded. Worked all day putting a canvas “dodger” round the Monkey Island” [Feb 6].

“It is exactly 2 month since I first started out from home. Started caulking…Monkey island did about half in one day. Pitch not ready in the evening…Weather very hot. Worse shorts while working got legs terribly sore strong sunburn” [March 6]. 

“Sea high. High winds. Heavy spray on deck did not have breakfast lunch in my bunk asleep during dinner felt very ill got a cold” [Mar 13].

“Weather fair sea very nasty swell and a fair bit of wind…Apparently there has been 1 Canadian ship sunk – the Athenia with Americans on board. Germany has now to face Poland , Britain, France, Australia” [Sept 4].

“Weather fair choppy sea. 1 British ship sunk to day the Bosnia. Off Portugal getting nearer! All port holes painted black have to shut them at night now. Rooms very hot. Sat in the tire hatch all into evening…life boats cleared away for action. New Zealand and South Africa have declared for Britain. Planes bombed Kiel Canal!” [Sept 5]. 

"My birthday today - 17. Everything just the same. I wonder if anyone is thinking about me today? 1 German ship sunk last night. The French have broken through" [Sept 10].

"At N Guinea this morning. Into Pt Moresby at lunch time a fairly hilly place. Started loading at 2:00 PM ... Went into the Hotel and had a few drinks (mostly lemonade) beer is too costly" [Dec 8]. 

“Started cargo here this morning and got everything finished by 5-0 PM. Waited at anchor all night to get away in the early morning. 4th Engineer pinched a cake out of the store. We all agreed it was very nice! Just going ashore when we were told the launch we’re bound for Raboul so that knocked that on the head” [Dec 20]. 

“Had the day off today. Went for (crocodile) shooting up the little creeks in B.P. 6…got back in time for a lousy Christmas dinner. After dinner the lights went very low then flames started shoot out of the funnel after one terrific blast we heard horrible screams from the engine room. Mich and I ran for the doctor who came in 4 mins. 5 nigs badly burnt from a blow back in the boiler. Went to a lousy Christmas party” [Dec 25]. 

For a military or naval historian, this is an outstanding record of the day-to-day life of a merchant ship in the early days of WWII. There are references to other ships, to current events and descriptions of daily routines. It is one small part of the huge picture of Britain’s effort to survive in the dark days of WWII.

BIO NOTES ON THE US MERCHANT NAVY AND THE M/V WILLOWBANK: 

The British Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and comprises the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. The name was given by King George V who conferred the title of "Merchant Navy" on the British merchant shipping fleets following their service in the First World War;. The Merchant Navy dates back to the 17th century. The merchant fleet grew enormously over the following centuries as the British Empire expanded world-wide. Eventually, it became the largest merchant fleet in the world.

The British Merchant Navy kept the United Kingdom supplied with raw materials, arms, ammunition, fuel, food and all of the necessities of a nation at war throughout World War II, literally enabling the country to defend itself. In doing so, they sustained a much higher casualty rate than almost every other branch of the armed services and suffered great hardship. Seamen were aged from fourteen through to their late seventies

At the outbreak of the WWII, there were approximately 144,000 sailors in the British Merchant Navy. Throughout the war, a total of about 185,000 had served. They sustained a very high casualty rate of over 25%. It is estimated that 27% of the total number of Merchant Navy sailors were killed in the war. 

M/V Willowbank was a 5,000 ton merchant ship built by Wm. Doxford & Sons in Sunderland UK. She was a general purpose bulk carrier. She was built for Andrew Weir & Co, one of the largest shipping companies in the UK. During WWII, the company sustained heavy shipping losses but was able to successfully rebuild. Established in 1885, it is one of the widest ranging shipping companies in the world and is still trading successfully today

Five and a half months after this diary concludes, on June 12th, 1940, M/V Willowbank was torpedoed northwest of Spain. She was carrying a load of maise from South Africa to England when she was attacked by U-46 and sank. Bruggey was almost certainly on board. The entire crew was rescued with no loss of life. 

The diary measures 4.5 inches by 3.0 inches and contains 61 pages plus account pages. It is about 80% complete. The hard cover is in good condition as is the spine and the binding. The pages are in good condition as well and the handwriting is legible.