Merchant Navy Day.

No, not the Merchant Navy you were thinking! Today 3rd September is Merchant Navy Day marking 100 years of the Merchant Navy. Fittingly 35006 was suitably adorned at Toddington to appear at a service, paying respects to those who lost their lives in the course of their duty. Not sure how long these will stay on, I’m hoping for a few days. I’ll try and find out. Photo credit d.wigg/I.crowder

 

As a serving MN Officer, and grandson of a wartime MN Master, thanks for the tribute.

 

It always annoys me that despite huge losses in two world wars, there is nowhere near the same level of support for Merchant Seamen that ex servicemen get,neither is there any recognition of its vital role both now & in the past in the defence of the nation

 

Although 'annoyed' would be putting it strongly, I feel similarly about that often overlooked section of the RAF, Coastal Command (which provided air cover for the shipping convoys), in which my late father (a 'regular' 1937-47) served through the war years as a navigator.

 

We are fortunate to have a WWII MN member still amongst us at my local RAFA Branch. (His son is ex-RAF.) He was one of many who revisited the Normandy beaches earlier this year on board the Boudicca. (See photo) His sprightliness belies his age. We like to think that our Branch does indeed support these brave people.