The personnel of the British Merchant Navy past and present were remembered in Moray yesterday, as part of a national day of commemoration.
Moray Council convener Allan Wright led a brief ceremony in Elgin which saw the Red Ensign hoisted above the local authority’s headquarters.
September 3 is designated as Merchant Navy Day in commemoration of the 128 passengers and crew of the British merchant vessel SS Athenia, which was torpedoed just a few hours after war was declared on Germany in 1939.
Every council in Britain was asked by the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association to fly the Red Ensign – commonly referred to as the Red Duster.
As part of the ceremony, Mr Wright read a message from the president of Seafarers UK, the Earl of Wessex, which said: “On this Merchant Navy Day, I very much hope you will support the campaign by Seafarers UK to remember the sacrifices, salute the courage and support the future of the often unsung personnel of our Merchant Navy.
“Too often they are the forgotten or invisible service. By raising the Red Ensign you will ensure at least on this day they are remembered.
“Your act will mean so much to their families and to the retired, but most especially to those at sea.”
Moray MP Angus Robertson also paid tribute to the contribution of the merchant navy.
He said: “Our merchant seamen are incredibly important to us all.
“The contribution of merchant seamen during times of war has been particularly notable. In operations such as the Arctic Convoys of World War II, which operated out of Northern Scotland many thousands lost their lives in the critical work of getting wartime supplies of food, ammunition and equipment to the Russian front.
“These sacrifices should never be forgotten and we should all be aware of the hard work aboard ships that happens everyday to keep our economy in Moray and across Scotland operating in an effective way that supports jobs in all our communities.”