‘Red Ensign’ to fly in Limavady tomorrow

The DUP Councillor for Limavady said: “The Red Ensign is to be raised in support of Merchant Navy Day and comes following a request from The Merchant Navy Association to all local authorities in the UK to fly the flag on September 3rd (Merchant Navy Day).

“September 3, 1939 marked the outbreak of World War Two and it also marks the first major British maritime casualty when the merchant vessel SS Athenia was torpedoed just hours after hostilities were declared.

“128 passengers and crew were lost in the disaster, many hundreds of merchant ships and thousands of seafarers would meet the same fate in the years to come as they battled to keep the Nation afloat during WW2.

“The Red Ensign has been the recognised flag of the British Merchant Navy since 1854 and The Merchant Navy Association hope the raising of the flag will be an occasion of pride in every community as they celebrate their seafaring past and our economic future.”

Councillor McCorkell said that the Causeway Borough Council’s name had been added to a roll of honour of every participant flying the flag from public buildings and flagstaffs.

More than 400 have been invited to do so and the Limavady DUP representative said he was especially pleased to have been able to second his party colleague George Duddy’s proposal for the Causeway Council to take part.

He said: “The Limavady area played a key role in the Battle of the Atlantic with RAF Ballykelly and RAF Limavady being used as Coastal Command stations during the dark days of World War Two. The brave men and woman of the Merchant Navy paid a heavy price as they kept vital supplies flowing across the Atlantic between the US and UK.

“Their sacrifice and role in World War Two must never be forgotten. It is highly significant and appropriate that the Red Ensign fly over Limavady on Merchant Navy Day.”

Find out more at merchantnavyfund.org.