Royal Navy and allied warships have joined merchant vessels in Liverpool for three days of commemorations marking the Battle of the Atlantic.
Led by Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Defender, the warships arrived in Liverpool and raised the curtain on a weekend of events to mark the 80th anniversary of the longest, hardest naval battle in British history.
The weekend got underway with a private service of commemoration at St Nick’s Church at the Pier Head.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was the guest of honour at the service, that also was attended by First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, which acknowledge the sacrifice of the thousands of UK and allied sailors involved in the Battle of the Atlantic, both merchant and military.
After the church service, The Princess Royal unveiled a new Battle of the Atlantic Memorial and garden of reflection – the first of its kind in the UK – in the church grounds.
Joining HMS Defender on the prime berth of the Cruise Liner Terminal at the heart of Liverpool’s waterfront was the French Destroyer Bretagne, and Trinity House Vessel Patricia.
The American Destroyer USS Ramage was also in the city during the weekend, providing an impressive backdrop to events on and over the Mersey, while their sailors joined in commemorative events ashore.
Commodore Phil Waterhouse, the Royal Navy’s Regional Commander for Northern England, based at HMS Eaglet in Liverpool said:
“This will probably be our final chance to say, ‘thank you’ to that wonderful wartime generation who fought the battle – serving in the ships, in the docks, in the shipyards, in the homes.”
