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      Merchant Navy Day commemorations 2023

      5 September 2023

      Image:Nautilus at UK Merchant Navy Day events. L-R: Nautilus assistant general secretary Olu Tunde in London, and a Red Ensign flag-raising ceremony at Nautilus Mariners' Park in Wallasey. Images: Nautilus International
      Nautilus at UK Merchant Navy Day events. L-R: Nautilus assistant general secretary Olu Tunde in London, and a Red Ensign flag-raising ceremony at Nautilus Mariners' Park in Wallasey. Images: Nautilus International

      Nautilus members and officials proudly supported the annual UK Merchant Navy Day (MND) commemorations at services across the UK. These aim to recognise the sacrifices of veterans in global conflict as well as Merchant Navy seafarers' ongoing contributions to the global economy.

      London

       

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      Nautilus assistant general secretary Olu Tunde

      Nautilus assistant general secretary Olu Tunde laid a wreath at the Merchant Navy Memorial on London's Tower Hill.

      The Merchant Navy Association (MNA) welcomed guests to a reception at Trinity House opposite the memorial before the service and reunion.

      After the gathering there was a parade which included Merchant Navy veterans. The focus of the Tower Hill event this year was on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.

      Guests invited from across the UK included many representatives of shipping-related industries and associations and Merchant Navy veterans.

      Wallasey

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      Care Home service. Image: Nautilus International

      Nautilus Care Home residents enjoyed a service for Merchant Navy Day at the retired seafarers' complex in Mariners' Park, Wallasey.

      Other Mariners' Park residents and staff also attended a flag raising and wreath-laying ceremony and service at the Atlantic Stone outside the Trinity House Hub, and afterwards attended a celebration at the Hub.

      After the last post the Red Ensign was lowered by park residents and raised again for the reveille. The ceremony was followed by a minute's silence for seafarers who have given their lives for their country. During the ceremony a wreath was also laid.

      Image:Nautilus Mariners' Park. (L-R) Bernard Smith, secretary of Wirral MNA raising the flag; Robert Parson, standard bearer, and Arthur Speed, chair of Wirral MNA (foreground). Image: Nautilus International
      Nautilus Mariners' Park. (L-R) Bernard Smith, secretary of Wirral MNA raising the flag; Robert Parson, standard bearer, and Arthur Speed, chair of Wirral MNA (foreground). Image: Nautilus International
      Image:Nautilus Mariners' Park: Wreath-laying at the Atlantic Stone outside the Trinity House Hub, where a MND service was held as well as one in the Nautilus Care Home. Image: Nautilus International
      Nautilus Mariners' Park: Wreath-laying at the Atlantic Stone outside the Trinity House Hub, where a MND service was held as well as one in the Nautilus Care Home. Image: Nautilus International

      Glasgow

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      Nautilus executive officer Martyn Gray (5th from right) attended a service at the Glasgow Cenotaph in George Square where he laid a wreath from the Union.  Image: Nautilus International

      Events in Glasgow were presided over by the Rt Hon Lord Provost Cllr Jaqueline McLaren, while Cllr Alex Wilson (Armed Forces & Veterans Champion) read the poem In Waters Deep by Eileen Mahone. The Roll of Honour was read by cadets from the City of Glasgow College with College principal and CEO Paul Little leading the remembrance pledge.

      Liverpool

      Image:Nautilus head of welfare and care Andrew Jones at Pier Head, Liverpool. Image: Nautilus International
      Nautilus head of welfare and care Andrew Jones at Pier Head, Liverpool. Image: Nautilus International
      Image:Veterans also laid wreaths at the Liverpool commemorations. Image: Nautilus International
      Veterans also laid wreaths at the Liverpool commemorations. Image: Nautilus International

      Edinburgh and Argyll

      Image:To ensure Edinburgh had a flag to fly this year and in the future, the new Edinburgh and Forth branch of the Merchant Navy Association (MNA) presented the Edinburgh City Council Chambers with a Red Ensign on Saturday 2 September 2023. Image: Ned Kelly/MNA
      To ensure Edinburgh had a flag to fly this year and in the future, the new Edinburgh and Forth branch of the Merchant Navy Association (MNA) presented the Edinburgh City Council Chambers with a Red Ensign on Saturday 2 September 2023. Image: Ned Kelly/MNA
      Image:At the war memorial near Tarbert on Loch Fyne, Argyll, Scotland. L-R: John Hunt (piper), Kevin MacKaveney (who performed the Reveille), and Aggie Dennis who related the history of and sacrifices by the Merchant Navy and who read the Kohima Epitaph. Image: Kevin MacKaveney
      At the war memorial near Tarbert on Loch Fyne, Argyll, Scotland. L-R: John Hunt (piper), Kevin MacKaveney (who performed the Reveille), and Aggie Dennis who related the history of and sacrifices by the Merchant Navy and who read the Kohima Epitaph. Image: Kevin MacKaveney

      Kingston upon Hull

      Image:Cadets attended a turnout at Minerva Pier in Kingston upon Hull organised by Hull Independent Merchant Navy Association (IMNA), also attended by Nautilus Welfare Fund caseworker John Norris. Image: Mr R.R.Binks
      Cadets attended a turnout at Minerva Pier in Kingston upon Hull organised by Hull Independent Merchant Navy Association (IMNA), also attended by Nautilus Welfare Fund caseworker John Norris. Image: Mr R.R.Binks
      Image:Flagbearers at the turnout in Kingston upon Hull organised by Hull Independent Merchant Navy Association (IMNA), also attended by Nautilus Welfare Fund caseworker John Norris. Image: Mr R.R.Binks
      Flagbearers at the turnout in Kingston upon Hull organised by Hull Independent Merchant Navy Association (IMNA), also attended by Nautilus Welfare Fund caseworker John Norris. Image: Mr R.R.Binks

      Wales

      Image:Captain Ian Hodge, chairman of the National Merchant Navy Association, reading the King's letter from Buckingham Palace at the Merchant Navy Day ceremony in Llandudno. Image: Scott Lennon/North Wales MNA
      Captain Ian Hodge, chairman of the National Merchant Navy Association, reading the King's letter from Buckingham Palace at the Merchant Navy Day ceremony in Llandudno. Image: Scott Lennon/North Wales MNA

      Dover

      Image:The Merchant Navy Day commemoration in Dover was held at the MN Memorial. Image: Dover District Council
      The Merchant Navy Day commemoration in Dover was held at the MN Memorial. Image: Dover District Council

      Members reflect

      Image:Nautilus retired member Ian Burrell, a former hotel manager/director who served with Cunard, and on QE2 during the Falklands campaign, flew the Red Ensign at his home in rural South Lincolnshire during a quiet respectful recognition of the day. Image: Mr Burrell.
      Nautilus retired member Ian Burrell, a former hotel manager/director who served with Cunard, and on QE2 during the Falklands campaign, flew the Red Ensign at his home in rural South Lincolnshire during a quiet respectful recognition of the day. Image: Mr Burrell.
      Image:The Red Ensign flown by Falklands Merchant Navy veteran and MN Medal recipient Keith Thompson who helped organise the combined Hull Drumhead service for the Battle of the Atlantic and the Atlantic Conveyor from the Falklands conflict in May. Image: Mr Thompson.
      The Red Ensign flown by Falklands Merchant Navy veteran and MN Medal recipient Keith Thompson who helped organise the combined Hull Drumhead service for the Battle of the Atlantic and the Atlantic Conveyor from the Falklands conflict in May. Image: Mr Thompson.

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