Thursday the 3rd of September was Merchant Navy Day. It commemorates the sacrifices by seamen serving in the Merchant Navy during the wars of the last century.
During the Second World War, the death rate for Merchant Navy sailors was even higher than for members of the Royal Navy.
During the Falklands War, some of the sailors on requisitioned ships found themselves going south and a few found themselves manning guns. One even allegedly shot down an attacking aircraft!
Merchant Navy Day is the day when the public remembers the sacrifices of these seamen.
At the Rushden War Memorial, David Hawker (a former Merchant Navy sailor) led the Merchant Navy Day tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He ended with:
“When you go home, tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow, we gave our today.”
