Merchant Navy Day - held on the 3rd September since 2000.

Over 14,661 Merchant Navy Men where lost during World War One.

Over 30,000 men of the British Merchant Navy were lost between 1939-1945.

For our Merchant sailors there was no phony war that the people of Britain lived through in those early days.

On September 3rd 1939, a few hours after war had been declared against Germany, the first shipping casualty occurred with the sinking of the Donaldson Line passenger ship, Athenia, and the loss of 112 passengers and crew. For almost six years there was barely a day went by without the loss of merchant ships and their crews.

The gratitude owed to these men is finally being recognized with the introduction of the official 'Merchant Navy Day', designated the 3rd of September every year, the first one was held in September 2000.

We at mechantnavymemorial.com ask our visitors to take note of this date and take a moment of their time to remember the forgotten heroes of the Merchant Navies of all nationalities.

Note: The red ensign can be flown from all public buildings on that day.