If you’ve driven past the Overton Memorial Institute this week, you may have noticed a different flag flying over the building.
Today (Sunday 3rd September) is Merchant Navy Day. The day is marked annually with a Remembrance Service held at the MN National Memorial at Trinity Court, Tower Hill London on the Sunday closest to the date.
Following many years of lobbying to bring about official recognition of the sacrifices made by merchant seafarers in two world wars and since, Merchant Navy Day became an official day of remembrance on 3 September 2000.
Every year Seafarers UK promotes the Red Ensign, the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag, to be flown on 3rd September on civic buildings and landmark flagpoles. Parish, Community, Town, City, District and Borough Councils were all invited to take part, along with higher-tier local authorities and governments. This is also recognised across the World.
The First World War Memorial bears the names of 11,541 members of the Merchant Navy and fishing fleet for whom there is no grave but the sea, listed with the names of the 1,458 vessels from which they were lost.
Following the Second World War, the memorial was extended. The combined memorials commemorate some 35,755 named individuals who have no known grave but the sea.
With thanks to Overton resident Dave Traynor for telling us about this.
