The 70th Aniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic will be celebrated in Liverpool, London and Londonderry, Liverpool being the lead city in all the celebrations. The lists below have been extracted from the Royal Navy’s site HERE. The RN is of course coordinating the maritime aspects of the celebrations.
The Association’s 2013 Reunion will be held in Liverpool at the Liner Hotel Liverpool on Friday 24 May 2013 which coincides with the Battle of the Atlantic Celebration Weekend.
There is a collection of very interesting Pathe newsreel footage HERE
There are 2 newletters avaiable for download on the RN Site HERE (at the bottom of the page) they can also be downloaded here :- BOA Newsletter 1 and BOA Newsletter 2
Also on the RN site are some very interesting statistics reproduced here :-
| Allied Warships | 175 sunk |
| Allied Sailors | 36,000 lost |
| Merchant Vessels | 5,000 sunk |
| Merchant Seaman | 35,000 lost |
| U-Boats | 783 Destroyed |
Battle of the Atlantic, 70th Aniversary
Liverpool.
24 May – Reception onboard a Royal Navy warship hosted by the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.
25 May – Pierhead/Public Realm area open to visitors.
25 May – Veterans Welcome Centre Old Port of Liverpool Buildings opens. Sponsored by Seafarers UK, RN and RM Charity and Royal British Legion. Operated by City of Liverpool Sea Cadet Unit.
25 May – Royal Navy Patrol Boat Squadron display on the river Mersey, involving P2000 patrol boats, Royal Marines and Merchant Navy.
25 May – Charity Concert featuring the Royal Marines Band Portsmouth at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
25-27 May – Selected ships open their gangways to the general public.
26 May – Parade led by veterans including Merchant Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, with regular personnel, reservists and cadets from the Armed Forces. Flypast by historic aircraft from FNHT.
27 May – Raft Race organised by 156 Transport Regiment.
27 May – 1940s Themed Veterans Party at St. Georges Hall, Liverpool featuring the Royal Marines Band Portsmouth.
28 May – Co-ordinated departure led by the Trinity House Vessel, THV Patricia (flagship of Trinity House).
Further information will be available on Liverpool City Council website in March.
London.
8 May – Three Royal Navy ships arrive in London.
8 May – Service of Commemoration at Evensong in St. Paul’s Cathedral commencing at 1700.
9 May – Reception / Dinner at Greenwich to be held onboard a Royal Navy ship – planned Fleet Air Arm Fly Past.
10 May – Ceremony of the Dues (Tower of London). Platoons from visiting ships march in a the Royal Marines Band. Parade to the City of London for the reception.
Date tbc – Memorial Service – Merchant Navy Memorial – Trinity Square.
Details about all the events will be published in the Events Calendar when known.
Further information will also be available on City of London Corporation and Council websites.
Londonderry
10 May– Evening reception.
11 May – The RNA will dedicate a new statue, ‘The International Sailor’, to those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic, mirroring one that exists in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A civil society/RNA event in Peace Square, formerly HMS Sea Eagle. Guard of honour by Reserve unit HMS Hibernia, with RN attendees, Canadian veterans and Sea Cadets. Followed by a reception and band service in Peace Square.
12 May – Parade and wreath laying on The Foyle from a Royal Navy Mine Clearance Vessel.
Further information will be available on the Derry-Londonderry City websites.
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is will be hosting a series of talks on the 16th to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic on Saturday 16th May, this one day event will begin at 10:00. Have a look HERE for details