
Badge of the British Merchant Navy
Happy Merchant Navy Day! In Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand today, September 3rd, is celebrated as Merchant Navy Day – an official day of remembrance of the sacrifices made by merchant mariners in war-time. In World War I and World War II, over 45, 000 British merchant mariners lost their lives. The observance began in Great Britain in 2000, in Canada in 2001, and in Australia in 2008. This years is New Zealand’s first official observance of Merchant Navy Day. In the United Sates, May 22nd has been celebrated as National Maritime Day since 1933.