Project Background

Age Exchange began working with veterans from the wartime Merchant Navy in the Summer of 2003 with the objective of raising the profile of the service during the Year of the Sea in 2005.

During the last year the charity has carried out 53 interviews with veterans across England. The resulting material includes 1,800 pages of transcribed interviews as well as almost 100 hours of filmed interviews on DVD. When the project ends all material will be formed into a permanent archive and, in line with the veterans' wishes, given to major museums to hold in their archive for public use and for the education of future generations.

In order to illustrate the recorded memories and reach as wide an audience as possible, Age Exchange chose three key creative formats for the project, namely: a national touring exhibition, life size photographic three dimensional portraits of the veterans (by Tim Macmillan), and a national touring theatre production inspired by the veterans' experience, now being planned in association with the Liverpool Everyman Theatre Company.

The project has received much support and interest around the country. The veterans have given freely of their time in their determination to raise the profile of the Merchant Navy, and to honour their comrades who were lost at sea through enemy action.

As the exhibition begins to tour the country, many of the participating museums have set up a rich programme of associated events, including intergenerational workshops between veterans and schools, and visual arts and documentary work.

Funded by The Arts Council England
With support from The National Maritime Museum The British Empire & Commonwealth Museum

All images (unless otherwise stated) courtesy of the Veterans' themselves
or © The Imperial War Museum, London