Merchant Navy Day 'Fly the Red Ensign'

Tredegar Town Council will Fly the Red Ensign on Bedwellty House in Tredegar. The Council recognises the enormous contribution the Merchant Navy made during both World Wars and continues to make today.

We are searching for all those who served in the Merchant Navy to come and join our commemorations.

While many people know that the 3rd of September 1939 marked the outbreak of the Second World War, few are aware that it also marks the first major British maritime casualty.

The merchant vessel SS Athenia was torpedoed just a few hours after hostilities were declared with the loss of 128 passengers and crew. Although many hundreds of merchant ships and thousands of seafarers would meet the same fate in the years to come, the 3rd September is now enshrined as ‘Merchant Navy Day’ to honour the brave men and women who kept our island nation afloat during both World Wars, and now even during peacetime continue to face the more routine perils of violent storms and mountainous seas. ‘We invite all Merchant Seafarers past and present, from Tredegar or elsewhere, to come and join us at Bedwellty House.

Quite a few have joined us in previous years and we hope that this year’s event will attract more veterans and their families. We sincerely hope that our townsfolk, who show such great support on Remembrance Sunday, will also come and join us on the day.’ If you served in the Merchant Navy, or know someone who did, please contact Clare Aherne on [redacted] or at [redacted] to let us know if you are able to join us.