Post by Administrator on Aug 26, 2022 2:54:29 GMT
From an archived report.
Stamp of approval for the British Merchant Navy.
The Tower Hill memorial for World War 1 was unveiled in 1928 to mark the service and sacrifice of the merchant Marine in WW1. In 1928 King George V created the title 'Master of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets' and appointed the then Prince of Wales to that office..This is how the title 'Merchant Navy' came into being. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II holds the title of "Master of the Merchant Navy & Fishing Fleet", which was passed down by King George VI.
MERCHANT NAVY DAY – now occurs every year on September 3rd this would be a good date for a Merchant Navy set of stamps and an MN First Day Cover to be issued . In 1999, for the first time, members of the Merchant Navy were 'allowed' to take part in the national Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. They were not officially invited previously because they had not been, what is termed as, 'under command'. However, in that very significant year members of the MNA marched at the event and were proudly led by the MNA's National Chairman at that time. Perhaps it should be noted that had the armed services waited, as long for the Merchant Navy has done, for a signal to join them in their military gatherings in the North Atlantic, Western Approaches, Korea and the Falklands, there may very well have been no national service of remembrance to attend.
As I am certain you may be aware our Merchant Seamen, continue to aid and assist in conflict situations to date and are only of late receiving some of the recognition they deserve. It is up to the public to remember and ourselves to ensure all others at least know, We need all National organisations and Institutions to help in this.
September 6th 2009, Hundreds of people attended a memorial service in honour of members of the Merchant Navy who lost their lives at sea. The Queen and the Prime Minister both sent tributes to the service which was held at the Tower Hill Memorial in Trinity Gardens, London.
In his message, Gordon Brown praised the "the distinguished service by merchant seafarers over the years in support of military operations" and said attending veterans should be proud of their contribution.
Lord West, a former First Sea Lord and current Under-Secretary for Security and Counter-terrorism, was guest of honour at the event. He said: "The public today does not comprehend the debt it owes to those of the Merchant Marine.
"In the Second World War some 30,000 merchant seamen were lost with 5,140 ships", Today some 34,000 UK seafarers continue to ensure our wealth and survival transporting over 95% of our trade. "As with their forefathers, they come from a proud tradition as can be seen by the names on the roll of honour at the memorial at Tower Hill."
'But for the Merchant Navy who bring us the food and munitions of war, Britain would be in a perilous state and indeed, without them, the Army, Navy and Air Force could not operate'. Winston Churchill.
Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten". How much better can a nation remember, than with a commemorative postage stamp, dedicated by her Majesties Royal Mail. “Lest we Forget”
A Stamp of approval for the British Merchant Navy, please - I ask for them “Lest We Forget”
Keith Greenway
Stamp of approval for the British Merchant Navy.
The Tower Hill memorial for World War 1 was unveiled in 1928 to mark the service and sacrifice of the merchant Marine in WW1. In 1928 King George V created the title 'Master of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets' and appointed the then Prince of Wales to that office..This is how the title 'Merchant Navy' came into being. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II holds the title of "Master of the Merchant Navy & Fishing Fleet", which was passed down by King George VI.
MERCHANT NAVY DAY – now occurs every year on September 3rd this would be a good date for a Merchant Navy set of stamps and an MN First Day Cover to be issued . In 1999, for the first time, members of the Merchant Navy were 'allowed' to take part in the national Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. They were not officially invited previously because they had not been, what is termed as, 'under command'. However, in that very significant year members of the MNA marched at the event and were proudly led by the MNA's National Chairman at that time. Perhaps it should be noted that had the armed services waited, as long for the Merchant Navy has done, for a signal to join them in their military gatherings in the North Atlantic, Western Approaches, Korea and the Falklands, there may very well have been no national service of remembrance to attend.
As I am certain you may be aware our Merchant Seamen, continue to aid and assist in conflict situations to date and are only of late receiving some of the recognition they deserve. It is up to the public to remember and ourselves to ensure all others at least know, We need all National organisations and Institutions to help in this.
September 6th 2009, Hundreds of people attended a memorial service in honour of members of the Merchant Navy who lost their lives at sea. The Queen and the Prime Minister both sent tributes to the service which was held at the Tower Hill Memorial in Trinity Gardens, London.
In his message, Gordon Brown praised the "the distinguished service by merchant seafarers over the years in support of military operations" and said attending veterans should be proud of their contribution.
Lord West, a former First Sea Lord and current Under-Secretary for Security and Counter-terrorism, was guest of honour at the event. He said: "The public today does not comprehend the debt it owes to those of the Merchant Marine.
"In the Second World War some 30,000 merchant seamen were lost with 5,140 ships", Today some 34,000 UK seafarers continue to ensure our wealth and survival transporting over 95% of our trade. "As with their forefathers, they come from a proud tradition as can be seen by the names on the roll of honour at the memorial at Tower Hill."
'But for the Merchant Navy who bring us the food and munitions of war, Britain would be in a perilous state and indeed, without them, the Army, Navy and Air Force could not operate'. Winston Churchill.
Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten". How much better can a nation remember, than with a commemorative postage stamp, dedicated by her Majesties Royal Mail. “Lest we Forget”
A Stamp of approval for the British Merchant Navy, please - I ask for them “Lest We Forget”
Keith Greenway