MVS marks Merchant Navy Day
The Merchant Navy’s wartime contribution to the UK is commemorated at an annual service which takes place at the national Merchant Navy Memorial at Trinity Square Gardens on Tower Hill in London.
The memorial which is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission site bears the names of 35,395 merchant seamen from the First and Second World Wars and the Falklands Campaign who were lost at sea.
Volunteer Officer Eddie Oades, Deputy RVO Cinque Ports Region carried the MVS Standard from Eastbourne Sovereign Harbour Unit at the service which took place on September 6th.
Fifty one Standards were paraded under the command of Lt. Alec Harper, RNR from HMS President, and inspected by the Guest of Honour, Admiral Sir George Zambellas who is the current First Sea Lord.
Admiral Zambellas expressed interest in the MVS and was aware of our participation in the Dunkirk Commemoration.
Eddie said, “As a thank you he presented me with a commemorative tot”.
The service was led by the Rev Canon Ken Peters from the Mission to Seafarers, with the Rev Bertrand Olivier from All Hallows by The Tower and representatives of other Faiths.
Picture: Eddie Oades who carried the MVS Standard at the service.