John Armstrong Prize Winner 2024

Posted: Tuesday 13th January 2026

The John Armstrong Prize for a paper published in 2024 has been awarded by the British Commission for Maritime History to Bjorn Tore Rosendahl for his paper ‘Semi-militarised in war and lack of recognition in peace: Norwegian and other Allied Seafarers in the Second World War.’  1JMH 2024 36 (3) 229-647

This paper uses evidence from Norwegian and other Allied merchant navies to consider the blurred distinction for merchant seamen in wartime between their civilian status and their role in conducting the war. These issues include the seafarer’s use of weaponry during an attack on a ship and extend to, for instance their treatment as prisoners of war, and especially in Norway to the grudging recognition of their status as ‘veterans’ in peacetime. The BCMH panel felt this was a thought-provoking contribution to the literature and it emerged as a clear winner in the estimation of the judging panel.

Professor John Armstrong, who died in February 2017, left a legacy to the British Commission for Maritime History. In discussion with John’s widow, Pamela, the BCMH decided to use the legacy to establish an annual prize currently worth £250 in his memory. The John Armstrong Prize is awarded for the best article in the field of maritime economic history published in English in any peer-reviewed scholarly journal the previous year. In judging entries, particular note is taken of John’s interests, which encompassed coastal shipping, coastal trade and the rise and importance of steam navigation. In judging the nominations importance is given to originality and coverage of important but otherwise neglected subjects.

The next award of the John Armstrong Prize will be for an article published in 2025. Nominations are invited from journal editors, individual, authors and members of the BCMH.  An electronic copy of the submitted article must be received by the BCMH Treasurer, Dr Roy Fenton, roy@rfenton.co.uk no later than August 2026.