Red Ensign Day, officially known as Merchant Navy Day, is celebrated annually on 3rd September to honour the brave men and women of the Merchant Navy and remember the sacrifices of the merchant seafarers who kept supply lines open during both World Wars. The Red Ensign (affectionately called the “Red Duster”) is the official flag of the UK Merchant Navy and is raised on many public buildings, local council offices and landmark sites across the country. We will be hoisting the Red Ensign on the Green at 08.30 that day.
The 3rd September was selected as, on that day in 1939, the liner SS Athenia, was torpedoed by the German submarine U 30. SS Athenia had set sail from Glasgow on 1st September bound for Montreal with 1,400 passengers and crew aboard. The attack took place off the coast of Ireland, just hours after Great Britain had declared war on Germany and resulted in the deaths of 117 passengers and crew. They were the first casualties of the Second World War.
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