Tribute to Merchant Seamen

“Cardiff born, Cardiff bred, Cardiff sailors, Cardiff dead.” – Jack Sullivan

Jack Sullivan painted this as a tribute to all the ships and men who sailed from Cardiff, especially those who gave their lives, never to return home.

The young boy depicted in the upper right-hand corner represents the youths of Cardiff who served in the merchant navy. Raymond and Kenneth Lewis were two brothers from Cardiff, aged just 15 and 14 when they lost their lives on the S.S. Fiscus when it was torpedoed by a U-boat on the 18^th of October 1940. They were believed to have forged a letter from their father granting them permission to serve on board the ship.

“My father John C Sullivan sailed all through World War One in Minesweepers and I am proud of him!” – Jack Sullivan