Many good points, and thanks for the input. However, many merch ships from many countries were in fact sunk. Canada saw over 1600 seamen lost. My dad could easily have been among them. According the bbc.co.uk 30,248 merchant seamen lost their lives during World War Two, a death rate that was higher proportionately than in any of the armed forces.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a6652091.shtml

And high or low, I'm not sure percentages would really carry much weight with you when you're at sea during wartime, standing on a deck looking over the ocean, and you know there are giant metal torpedo-spitting sharks out there looking to ruin your day.

Allow me the one point of feeling lucky to be alive to have a favorite constellation.