Red Ensign raised for Merchant Navy Day

The British Merchant Navy’s official Red Ensign flag was raised above St Peter’s Green on Tuesday to mark annual Merchant Navy Day.

The commemoration marked the work of merchant seafarers and their commitment and sacrifice during war and conflict.

Merchant Navy Association and Royal British Legion officials joined youth group representatives, elected members, former services personnel and council staff for the annual flag raising.

Ahead of the ceremony, Captain John Sail, Merchant Navy Association National Chairman, read the seafarers’ poem, Sea Fever, by John Masefield: “I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.”

Father Clay Roundtree, Associate Rector of St Wulfram’s Church in Grantham, led the prayers, ahead of SKDC Chairman, Cllr Paul Fellows, reciting the Kohima Epitaph.

Cllr Fellows welcomed guests and read a message from HRH, The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO, the Merchant Navy Association charity President saying: “Merchant Navy Day is the one moment we can acknowledge the invisible service.

“By flying the Red Ensign on this day, we recognise the approximately 80,000 men and women working at sea carrying around 95% of our island nation’s trade.

“Regrettably, it is only during times of war that the service enters our consciousness, as is sadly the case today with seafarers running the gauntlet in the Red Sea.

“This is our one opportunity to show our seafarers how much we value them, past and present, as well as their families.”

The Merchant Navy Association was formed in 1989 as a charitable body to build greater awareness of maritime heritage and the contribution of merchant seafarers and fishermen.

This day commemorates the selfless service and bravery of merchant mariners, who have been crucial in transporting essential goods, including food, fuel, and raw materials, across the world’s oceans.

The date was chosen to mark the sinking of the SS Athenia, the first British merchant ship lost during World War II, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by these civilian sailors.

Merchant Navy Day is an opportunity to recognise the sacrifices made by these unsung heroes, who often work in challenging environments and face the dangers of piracy, severe weather, and geopolitical tensions.