The Merchant Navy Memorial is a bronze life size figure, mounted on a Cornish granite plinth, looking out across Dover Harbour. It was unveiled on 3rd September 2008 by Winston Spencer Churchill, grandson of WW2 Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
All four faces of the Cornish granite plinth have inscription:
The South Face reads:
In Remembrance of Merchant Navy Seamen who lost their lives in World War II - 1939 - 1945
They sustained heavy losses, 1 in 3 Merchant Navy Seamen did not survive the war.
Merchant Navy Seamen killed: 30, 248
Missing: 4,654
Wounded: 4,707
Prisoner of War: 5,720
Total of Casualties: 45,329
Look out to sea and say a prayer
For those who rest beneath,
They gave their lives, that you may share
A Europe that is free.
(Donald Hunter, 2008)
The East Face reads:
In remembrance of Merchant Navy Seamen who gave their lives in operation Neptune, the code-name for the D-day Landings on June 6th to September 1944, the large seaborne operation to land and supply our armies in Normandy, France.
Its objective was to free France and so complete the first phase of the liberation of Europe.
One of these convoy routes to the landing beaches was from London Docks via the Dover Straits to Normandy.
The enemy attacks on this convoy route along the French occupied and heavily fortified coast took a heavy toll in the lives of Merchant Seamen.
The North Face reads:
This Merchant Navy War Memorial was funded by donations to the Dover and District Merchant Navy Memorial Fund, in remembrance of the Merchant Navy Seamen who lost their lives in World War II.
Founder and Fund-raiser: Donald Hunter, Legion D'Honneur M.N. (WW II)
Sculptor: Vivien Mallock.
The West Face reads:
The Battle of the Atlantic
This was the longest battle of World War II which lasted from September 1939 until May 1945.
During the battle the Merchant Navy sustained their heaviest losses in ships and their crews.
In remembrance of those seamen who gave their lives in order to keep Britain's 'lifeline' open to transport troops and vital war materials.
They paid a heavy price.
Date of Dedication: 9/3/2008
Property Permission: Public
Access instructions: Accessible 24 hrs - Alongside public pavement.
Impressive as this memorial undoubtedly is, what always makes me personally so proud is that, when services take place at this site, most of the flats and appartments seen in the background are lived in by ex-merchant seamen or their families, who all hang large red ensigns from the balcony rails, a most wonderful sight.
Looking forward to seeing some of our shipmates there on Monday 3rd. September.
