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03
Sept 2024
Merchant Navy Day service held in Harrogate
The Harrogate White Rose branch of the Merchant Navy Association marked Merchant Navy Day with a service today (September 3).
The service took place at 12pm in front of the Harrogate War Memorial and was attended by the Harrogate and District Sea Cadets, former seafarers, widows, Councillor Monika Slater and members of the public.
Merchant Navy Day is commemorated each year on September 3. The date marks the declaration of the Second World War and the first British casualties of the conflict.
The first casualties were the passengers and crew of the line SS Athenia, which was torpedoed north-west of Ireland.
During the Second World War there were never more than 200,000 officers and ratings serving in the British Merchant Navy and 51,000 lost their lives across the two world wars and other conflicts.
The service saw the Lord’s Prayer read, the Merchant Navy red ensign lowered for a two-minute silence and the Last Post played by the Harrogate Sea Cadets.
The lowering of the flag for the silence
The Harrogate White Rose branch of the Merchant Navy association was formed in 2009 and meets on the first Sunday of the month at 2pm in the Harrogate Conservative Club.
The group of 12 has been holding the commemorative Merchant Navy Day service since 2010.
John Clarry, a retired ship captain and secretary of the Harrogate branch, led today’s service.
He told The Stray Ferret:
We gather to remember those lost at sea with no graves, those at sea have no poppies. It is a time to honour and remember them.
We are here to fly the flag for them. Lots of people don’t know the Merchant Navy or our branch exists. We are a small group, and we are getting older so it is very important to continue to remember.
Members of the Merchant Navy Harrogate Branch. Left to right: Daniel O'Brien (treasurer), Adrian van Toren (chairman) and John Clarry (secretary)
Reverend Karin Shaw from St Peter’s Church, Harrogate, led the group in prayer.
She said:
I had a meeting with the Harrogate branch to discuss the service, and I was very moved. They feel like they have been a bit forgotten. Doing this is a privilege.
Cllr Monika Slater, Bilton Grange and New Park division, said:
It was a very poignant service, especially the reference to the fact there are no poppies or crosses. It is important to remember all those who lost their lives.
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