Chug, quite true. After my father escaped from Java, being neither military or female they were not a priority, he landed in Oz where he alternated jobs with one of the other officers alternately sewing mail bags (blistered hands) or treading grapes (blistered feet). Once he reached the USA things improved and they were well looked after before he managed to get a passage home. I was born 9 months later.
On that World at War episode dealing with the Battle of the Atlantic there was one episode tacked on at the end which dealt with merchant seamen. In one scene there are a crowd of sailors clamouring for a ship - it might have been in Halifax NS. Suddenly, like the parting of the seas, my father entered, head and shoulders under everyone else but wearing his uniform cap. He was only 5ft 6in but there he was unmistakable. My elder daughter, aged about 7, looked up and said "that's my granddad".
I wonder if that series is available in the net or to buy?