HISTORY OF MERCHANT NAVY DAY

Merchant Navy Day is observed in the U.K. on September 3. The day commemorates an event in 1939 during World War II when the first U.K. merchant ship, “SS Athenia,” was torpedoed and sunk by Germany with a loss of over 120 passengers and crew. Merchant Navy Day raises public awareness of the country’s ongoing dependence on merchant seafarers. The Seafarers’ Charity (formerly Seafarers U.K.) started the Fly the Red Ensign for the Merchant Navy Day campaign in 2015 to address ‘sea blindness,’ providing an opportunity to pay tribute to merchant seafarers. Merchant Navy Day became an official day of remembrance in 2000.

The Merchant Navy was the title coined by King George V to recognize the sacrifice of merchant seafarers in World War I, and several other nations have adopted the title since. During wartime, the Merchant Navy became an essential part of the support to carry servicemen and their supplies overseas. Around 185,000 people, civilians, and volunteers served in the Merchant Navy at the time. They were involved in the Battle of the Atlantic, struggling to deliver food, fuel, equipment, and raw materials. Over 14,000 people died in World War I, and more than 30,000 in World War II.

The Merchant Navy kept Britain afloat during both World Wars and is now responsible for delivering more than 90% of the U.K.’s imports and exports. The Merchant Navy consists of commercial and trading ships and their crews, and the ships fly the Red Ensign. The day is an opportunity to honour the brave men and women of the merchant seafarers for their service and sacrifice.

Each year, Merchant Navy Day is celebrated with a service on the Hythe in Maldon at 11am on the nearest Sunday after the 3 September.  

This year we will be joining the community from 1030am on wards.

The service is co-ordinated by Maldon Town Council and all queries should be directed to the Town Clerk.  The email is townclerk@maldontowncouncil.gov.uk