Every year, on September 3, on whatever day that falls, Merchant Navy Day is celebrated, commemorated and revived for new generations.
September 3, 1939, Britain and France, allies, declared war on Germany. Within hours, the first allied merchant ship, the Athenia, was sunk by a torpedo from a German U-Boat. Casualties were high, with 117 civilian passengers and crew killed.
The Merchant Navy, as it came to be known, was considered the fourth service, but it was not until 10 years ago that Merchant Navy Day was finally officially recognised in New Zealand.
Ask any seaman and they will say that the other three services would have been useless without those volunteers who sailed the ships that carried troops, military equipment, food, fuel and supplies across the oceans of the world.
Last Thursday at 11am, a small gathering assembled at the Cenotaph on Queens Park where Rev David Bebarfald conducted a Christian service in memory and in honour of the men and women of the service.