William (Bill) Andrews came from Swanley Orphans Home, which was run by the Navy, to RHS in 1940.

 

After leaving RHS, Bill spent 45 years in the British and Australian Merchant Navies.  Now retired, Bill is dedicated to elevating the status of the Merchant Navy to that of the armed forces.  To that end, in 2000, he decided to write a book about the industry he had served for so many years.

 

Bill has taken the unusual step of moving away from a traditional biography by writing about “the life of John Ward, a fictional character, based on the real life stories of Australian and New Zealand Merchant seaman.”

 

 

The clip above was recorded by Channel 31 TV Station for the MUA (Maritime Union of Australia) where Bill was a member for over forty years. It was filmed on the River Yarra on board one of the Melbourne Tugs; Bill was on the Tugs at Western Port for over 25 years.

 

It was RHS that impressed upon him that the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy were one brotherhood - they worked and died together.  Thanks to the dedication of many, they are no longer the "forgotten service” and their place in history is now guaranteed. 

 

You can buy a copy of Bill's book at: