Merchant Navy Day in Oakham

3rd September – The Red Ensign is flying over Oakham today to mark Merchant Navy Day. Our island nation still relies on our merchant shipping fleet, which remains largest in the world (though much of it is registered in other countries for financial reasons).

But for the bravery of the Merchant Navy, the two World Wars would have been lost.  We need to remember that, and all the merchant seamen who died,  as we approach the centenary of the end of WW1.