About 100 people, including Marine Institute students, paid tribute to veterans of the Merchant Navy on Tuesday.
It marked the 27th anniversary of the unveiling of the Merchant Navy Memorial next to the main entrance of the institute, as well as Merchant Navy Day on Sept. 3rd.
That was the day, in 1939, when the first merchant ship, the SS Athenia, was torpedoed and sunk by Germany with a loss of over 120 passengers and crew.
A fine turnout this morning to commemorate Merchant Navy Day and honour the 27th anniversary of the unveiling of the Merchant Navy Memorial outside the Marine Institute in St. John’s. pic.twitter.com/WD9dmSGVWe
— VOCM News (@VOCMNEWS) September 10, 2024
Members of the Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans Association and provincial division of the Master Mariners of Canada led Tuesday’s commemoration ceremony, along with relatives and families of Merchant Navy veterans.
Divisional Master Mariner Capt. Jim Parsons noted the local losses, and a near miss involving one of his own.
“We remember the sacrifice of the 333 Newfoundland and Labrador Merchant Navy and naval personnel whose names appear on this monument,” he said. “We also remember those who survived enemy action during the Second World War and have since passed on.
“On a personal note, I have a great-uncle who was torpedoed twice in the same night, so one can imagine what they had to endure.”
