Branch Meetings on the Last Wednesday of the Month Venue: Stonehouse Sports & Leisure Centre Time: 12.30pm New Members Welcome
1987 the beginning of the Merchant Navy Association
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The 13,465-ton Donaldson Atlantic
passenger liner Athena was en route from the United Kingdom to Canada when she was
torpedoed by the submarine U-30 on the evening of September 3rd, 1939,
just a few hours after Britain had declared war on Germany. Between 112 and 119
people (accounts vary), many of them women and children, lost their lives as a
result of the attack.
END RESULT
The 3rd September was designated Merchant Navy Day in 1999 by
the Government.
DEFENCE MINISTRY TO CELEBRATE MERCHANT NAVY
DAY
Date: 31 Aug 01
The Ministry of Defence is celebrating Merchant Navy Day by
flying the Red Ensign from the Old War Office on Mon Sep 03. This second
official celebration recognises the inextricable relationship the British
Merchant Fleet has with the life of the nation, past and present, and
emphasises the essential role it will continue to have in the future. In
declaring his wholehearted support for the Merchant Navy, Defence Minister Dr
Lewis Moonie said: "I am delighted to join the British People in
commemorating the significant sacrifice paid by the Merchant Navy in past
conflicts.
Great Britain is almost wholly dependent on seaborne trade and it is
entirely proper that we pay our respects to such an integral and vital national
asset." The MoD and the Royal Navy in particular, enjoys a traditionally
close partnership with the Merchant Navy and the Ministry of Defence continues
to depend on the merchant fleet to support deployed operations. In support of
operations in Macedonia, and the forthcoming exercise Saif Sareea II, four
Merchant Navy ships are under long term charter. This day signifies the first
Merchant casualty of the Second World War, the day war was declared by this
country against Germany.
In 1987 a few like minded seamen decided they
would like to form The Merchant Navy Association George
Matthews and (PoP) Robson spoke to Baz Gregory, the local N.U.S.official
and after much talking and the odd beer. Before the Association could be formed those founder members were informed by the Admiralty that a welfare officer must be appointed, the Merchant Navy Association was
born.
Standard Bearer……………..George Matthews (Founder Member)
Secretary……………………....Mrs. Joan Studden
Treasurer ……………………...Ian Denton
Welfare Officer……………...Alan
Anstey
The branch has steadily progressed to date and the main
highlight has been an annual commemorative Parade and Service for the Battle of
the Atlantic with branch members together with other associations joining in
this important event. The 60th anniversary of this Battle took place
in 2003 with the Lord Mayor of Plymouth and the Lady Mayoress, along
side many other dignitaries which were in attendance.
The Parade honors
with pride all those seafarers who never returned to their loved ones.
32,000 brave seamen perished in the Battle of the Atlantic, a debt that can
never be repaid. Without these men and their ships endeavoring to bring these
island vital supplies, this country would never have survived.
The Ministry of Defence has now declared that no more
anniversaries of this nature will take place after 2005 but we, the
Merchant Navy Association Plymouth & District are of the opinion that no
life lost during the War should be forgotten.
Therefore, our Association will
continue to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic in Plymouth thus ensuring
that all seamen who served are honoured.
Aims of the Association
To
bring together in comradeship all those who have served, or are serving
in the Merchant Navy, Deep-sea & Coastal Fishing fleets and D.E.M.S.
Personnel.
To
offer assistance as required and necessary to all members and their
families. (Not to include financial assistance). To
enable all members to keep in touch by holding regular meetings and
produce minutes of same. To organise functions as required on behalf of
the membership. To
promote the Merchant Navy in general and to bear our Standard correctly
at all functions as decided by the Committee. The standard shall not be
used in furtherance of religious or political aims.
To remember our fallen comrades at all times.
