Welcome to The Watch Ashore

The organisation was formed in 1933 for the specific purpose of allowing its members, wives/partners, mothers, sisters, girlfriends of Merchant Navy Officers, to get to know each other and to provide support and friendship, while working to the same end of lobbying the public for reforms to the Merchant Navy.

In 1933 the Watch Ashore lobbied for reforms and today, in 2011 the reforms we are lobbying for are remarkably similar - better conditions for the Merchant Navy, better safety, better training.

Full membership is open to the wives, widows, mothers, sisters and daughters of all Merchant Navy officers and anyone with an interest in matters to do with the Merchant Navy. Country membership is open to all in the United Kingdom even if they are not near a branch.

16 Branches have been formed since 1933 but sadly with the demise of the British Merchant Navy we only have 6 branches left; Plymouth, Southampton, Glasgow, London, Edinburgh and Hull.

Branches meet fortnightly or monthly in their areas and there are annual AGM's and also Triennial meetings, which are chaired by the National Chairman.