MN Day Barry.

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MN Day 2022 Saturday 03rd September at the MN monument, Civic Offices Barry.

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THE MERCHANT NAVY WAS THERE EVERY DAY.

Seafarers’ Service September the 3rd, at Barry.



The Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry branch would like to announce that a Seafarers’ Service and flag raising will be held on Saturday September 3rd, this year.
The local service is open to all organisations and others. It is hoped that family members of serving members and former members of the Merchant Navy, relatives and friends of not only the MN but, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Navy, RNLI, Coast Guard / Watch, 11th Barry Sea Scout Group and others will also attend.
The Service will be held at the Merchant Navy, Monument, Barry. In holding a Seafarers’ Service, we acknowledge the vital role played by both the RAF and RN in Convoy duties. The presence of all branch and organisations standards will be appreciated. The Church and all that have assisted are thanked in advance. 10 45 AM: Assemble: for the 11am Service.
A Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry branch wreath will be laid during the service at the Merchant Navy Monument, all other organisations are welcome to lay wreaths at this event. We hope that all will continue to support and assist us in helping us to ensure that we: “Remember Them”. The MN Monument in Barry, records and tributes all those lost from the Vale.

MERCHANT NAVY DAY
September 3rd Every Year.

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Possible Press Release:

MERCHANT NAVY DAY
September 3rd Every Year.

THE MERCHANT NAVY WAS THERE EVERY DAY.

In wartime, Britain depended on civilian cargo ships to import food and raw materials, as well as transport soldiers overseas, and keep them supplied. The title 'Merchant Navy' was granted by King George V after the First World War to recognise the contribution made by merchant sailors.
Britain’s merchant fleet was the largest in the world during both World Wars. In 1939 a third of the world’s merchant ships were British, and there were some 200,000 sailors.
Many 'British' Merchant Seamen came from parts of the British Empire, such as India, Hong Kong and West African countries. Women also sometimes served at sea in the Merchant Navy.
During both world wars, Germany operated a policy of 'unrestricted submarine warfare', or sinking merchant vessels on sight. By the end of WW1, more than 3,000 British flagged merchant and fishing vessels had been sunk and nearly 15,000 Merchant Seamen had died. During the Second World War, 4,700 British-flagged ships were sunk and more than 29,000 Merchant Seamen died. Since the Second World War, the British Merchant Navy has become steadily smaller, but has continued to help in wartime, notably during the Falklands War.
3 September marks Merchant Navy Day, when we honour the brave men and women who made many sacrifices to keep Britain alive during both World Wars, and appreciate the UK’s modern day seafarers who are responsible for transporting most of our everyday items, including such as food and fuel. In wartime, Britain depended on civilian cargo ships to import not only food and raw materials but, the munitions of war as well as transport soldiers overseas, and keep them supplied. The title 'Merchant Navy' was granted by King George V after the First World War to recognise the contribution made by merchant sailors.
Following many years of lobbying to bring about official recognition of the sacrifices made by merchant seafarers in two world wars and since, Merchant Navy Day became an official day of remembrance on 3 September 2000. On this day the Red Ensign, the official Merchant Navy flag, is flown across0 the UK.
Every year Seafarers UK promotes the Red Ensign, the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag, to be flown on 3rd September on civic buildings and landmark flagpoles. Parish, community, town, city, district and borough cou0ncils were all invited to take part, along with higher-tier local authorities and governments.
Seafarers’ Service September the 3rd, at Barry.
The Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry branch would like to announce that a Seafarers’ Service and flag raising will be held on Saturday September 3rd, this year. (11AM Service.)
The local service is open to all organisations and others. It is hoped that family members of serving members and former members of the Merchant Navy, relatives and friends of not only the MN but, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Navy, RNLI, Coast Guard / Watch, 11th Barry Sea Scout Group and others will also attend.
The Service will be held at the Merchant Navy, Monument, Barry. In holding a Seafarers’ Service, we acknowledge the vital role played by both the RAF and RN in Convoy duties. The presence of all branch and organisations standards will be appreciated. The Church and all that have assisted are thanked in advance. 10 45 AM: Assemble: for the 11am Service.
A Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry branch wreath will be laid during the service at the Merchant Navy Monument, all other organisations are welcome to lay wreaths at this event. We hope that all will continue to support and assist us in helping us to ensure that we: “Remember Them”. The MN Monument in Barry, records and tributes all those lost from the Vale.

The Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry branch.

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The Forgotten Service...still forgotten.
Barry and her docks have often been called a former Merchant Navy town.

At the end of the Second World War a "Victory Parade" for servicemen was organised by the council in Barry and sponsored by the Mayor. Objections were received from a number of councillors because Merchant Seamen were going to be included in the Parade. These councillors stated that the Merchant Navy were not entitled to march, as the parade was for personnel from the three services, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force only.

A greater insult to the people of Barry could not have been made, most families having lost a member, a relation, or a near neighbour at sea during the war. These men, some as young as 15, and others as old as 68, were unsung heroes, and only through their efforts and sacrifice was Britain fed and armed, to enable it to keep fighting. Most Barry servicemen had relatives or friends who had served in the Merchant Navy, and refused to march unless the Merchant Navy were included. It was a situation reminiscent of the Luton Riots, and if the parade went ahead without these men the same action might take place. The council backed down and quickly took another vote and included the Merchant Navy in the parade. Tom. Clemett.

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A SERVICE commemorating the Merchant Navy is to be held in Barry this weekend.

The Seafarers' Service and flag raising, organised by the Merchant Navy Association (Wales) Barry branch, is open to all and will acknowledge the vital role played by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Royal Navy, when it is held at Barry's Merchant Navy monument on Saturday, September 3 at 11am.

The importance of the role played by the Merchant Navy was acknowledged in July 1941 by then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who said: “The Merchant Navy, with Allied comrades, night and day, in weather fair or foul, faces not only the ordinary perils on the sea, but the sudden assaults of war from beneath the waters or from the sky.

“But for the Merchant Navy who bring us the food and munitions of war, Britain would be in a perilous state and ... the Army, Navy, and Air Force could not operate.”

The service will take place at 11am on Saturday, September 3, at Barry's Merchant Navy monument, outside the Vale of Glamorgan council offices.

Barry and Diistrict News:

LINK

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Keep the “LIFE LINES OPEN”

No cross of Iron, just of wood, I cast of the Old Head,
a simple tribute as I could to the “Glorious dead”
Three remembrances on the day, I penned each cross with ink,
Each bore a reference to a ship and a lost relative in the brink.
No Shamrock or the clover, if put upon the sea,
could represent Kinsale men, that helped keep our Country free.
My ancestors were all Irish, U-boats ensured we would never meet,
They bravely served a Nation, ensuring no defeat.
These men did hail from Kinsale, from the Emerald Island many more:
Putting the troubles behind them, they attempted to help settle the score.
They joined in to keep the “LIFE LINES OPEN” and helped to win in a war,
No shamrocks or clover to thank them, but then again who foresaw
the many brave Irish, not coming back to his Celtic shore:

K.

Tribute Old Head of Kinsale: Thomas, James and James Joseph:
Day Break, Tregenna and Dudley Rose:
Amongst the many and more.

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Barry Event – September Seafarers’ Service September the 3rd, at Barry. (10 45 AM: Assemble: for the 11am Service.)

MNA THE PULSE:

MNA CIRCULAR - 25th Aug 2022:

LINK

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Seafarers’ Service September the 3rd, at Barry:

Glamorgan Voluntary Services:

LINK

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Merchant Navy memorial, Barry

This memorial was created in 1996 to commemorate the merchant seamen of Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan who died in the First and Second World Wars.

LINK

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The Annual Merchant Navy Day Service 2023 at Barry representing the Vale of Glamorgan was this year held on Saturday 2nd of September. On the day there was a pause and remembrance for the significant contribution British seafarers’ have made to the United Kingdom´s security and economic success. Every year in September, the Merchant Navy remember those that have “Crossed the Bar”. Commemorating the MN war dead for "Merchant Navy Day" designated 3rd September every year, to coincide with Britain's entry into WWII with the first casualty being the British ship S.S. Athenia sunk by a U-boat a few hours after war was declared.

This year’s annual service was conducted again by Rev Chris Seaton, himself an ex Merchant Seaman and the Honorary Chaplain of the Barry Branch of the Merchant Navy Association (Wales). Standards for MNA (Wales) Barry, Barry RNLI and Barry Coastguard were present.

The readings were by a number of ex Seafarers’. The Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan Councillor Mrs Julie Aviet was present and read the Introduction and the Kohima Epitaph.

There was good turnout by MNA Wales members, Ex Merchant Seafarers’, members of other Services and members of the public. Sound/Bugler was provided by JPL of Barry.

ITV Wales filmed the event for the first time and Katie Lewis attended and a well presented short clip including interviews and newsreel footage were aired on Saturday television on the Welsh evening news.

Apart from MN Day itself “Flying the Red Ensign” is an annual campaign, proudly run by The Seafarers’ Charity, to honour the brave men and women who kept the UK afloat during both World Wars and celebrate our dependence on modern-day merchant seafarers who are responsible for more than 90% of the UK’s imports. On Sunday 3.

The charity Chief Executive, Deborah Layde, laid a wreath at Trinity Square Gardens (London) to commemorate the many seafarers and fishers who gave their lives during both World Wars, paying special tribute to the 26,500 Merchant seamen & fishermen and 23,000 Royal Navy who lost their lives during The Battle of the Atlantic, which marks its 80th anniversary this year, particularly the young lives lost with seafarers’ as young as 14 serving in the Merchant Navy during the wars. Who were proud to sail under the Red Ensign!

We must remember them. The merchant navy was also called upon to serve during the Falklands War and provided forty vessels, including transports, tankers and other vessels, with a total of 500,000 grt. The merchant ship SS Atlantic Conveyor, being used to ferry Harrier fighters and other aircraft to the South Atlantic, was lost during the conflict after being struck by an air-launched Exocet missile. The ship's captain, Ian North, and 11 other crew members died in the attack which constituted the first loss of a British merchant navy ship to an armed attack since the Second World War.

Our veterans protected a future for us then, we should not forget them now.