The MN Commemorative Service & Reunion:2014:

[Administrator]

The Merchant Navy Day Commemorative Service & Reunion:

Trinity Gardens, London, Sunday 7th September 2014


The following is a copy of a letter posted to MNA Branches and other individuals to give information about this year’s annual service at Tower Hill.

Dear xxxxxxxx,

The annual Merchant Navy Day Commemorative Service and Reunion at Trinity Gardens, Tower Hill, London is to be held on Sunday 7th September 2014. This year we shall especially be remembering the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 and the 70th anniversary of D Day.

We anticipate that Trinity Square Gardens will be opened to the public at about 1130 hours, after the police have completed their “sweep” of the area. The parade will assemble at 1215 hrs. in the vicinity of Muscovy Street/Trinity Square and will “Step off” at 1230 hours. Those not marching are asked to assemble in upper area of Trinity Gardens, leaving the Sunken Garden free for the parade, Standards and infirm veterans. Please note that infirm Merchant Navy personnel & their carers should be given preference for the seating in the lower garden prior to and during the Service.

[Administrator]

LAST YEAR:

Merchant sailors honoured by Royal Navy at annual service in London

10/09/2013

The Royal Navy paid its respects to the men it did its utmost to protect during two world wars: the Merchant Navy. High-ranking officers from the Senior Service joined veterans of the Red Ensign for the annual Merchant Navy Day remembrance ceremony in London’s Tower Hill.

Heads of the Navy past and present stood side by side as they paid tribute to the men who kept the supplies flowing into Britain during two terrible 20th Century global conflagrations.

Britain’s ranking sailor, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas, former holder of the office (2002-06) Lord West, and the head of the RFA Cdre Bill Walworth joined serving and veteran sailors at the annual Merchant Navy Service in the capital.

The ceremony is held on the Sunday closest to September 3 – the anniversary of Britain’s declaration of war against Germany in 1939 – at the monument to all those who died under the Red Ensign in action.

The memorial at Trinity Gardens in Tower Hill is to the Merchant Navy what the imposing monuments at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth are to the Royal Navy.

Here are honoured 36,000 men who have no known grave but the sea – 12,000 dead from the Great War, twice that many from the second.

LINK