Post by Administrator on Sept 5, 2023 0:10:03 GMT
The Annual Merchant Navy Day Service 2023.
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.
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.