MERCHANT seamen sailed out of the Floating Harbour on a trip to commemorate ten years since they were granted freedom of the city.
The Bristol branch of the Merchant Navy Association was granted the freedom of Bristol in a ceremony at the Council House in 2002 in recognition of their part in supporting the war effort.
They took a trip along the river Avon from the ss Great Britain to Hanham. The boat stopped when it reached the Merchant Navy Association's memorial garden at Welsh Back for a brief ceremony, conducted by the Rev Philip Auden, to remember members who have passed away.
Bristol's Merchant Navy Association was formed in 1996 and has worked to ensure that the sacrifices of merchant seamen during the two world wars is recognised.
Thousands lost their lives as ships transporting vital food, equipment, fuel and other supplies were attacked by German warships and U-boats.
But for many years they felt their commitment to the war effort and the lost lives had been forgotten.
In the First World War, 15 ships that were from or sailed out of Bristol were lost and in the Second World War 17 Bristol ships were lost.
In 2001 the permanent memorial on Welsh Back was unveiled by the Princess Royal. The following year a ceremony was held to grant the organisation the freedom of the city, giving them the right to march through the city on ceremonial occasions.
A month later members of the branch marched through the city from their Welsh Back memorial to the Council House on Merchant Navy Day in recognition of the honour.
The association has made a continuing mark on the city with additional memorials on Welsh Back to honour the Bristol ships that were lost during the two world wars.
More than 200 brass plaques have also been fixed to the benches that stand in the memorial garden, bearing the names of merchant seamen who died either in service or since.
Among the members of Bristol's Merchant Navy Association who set sail from the ss Great Britain yesterday, was memorial garden manager Ted Williams.
Mr Williams, 76, joined the Merchant Navy when he left school at 15 and was on ships supplying American forces during the Korean War.
He said: "It was very nice. We pulled in alongside the memorial and had a service before a steady little cruise up the river to the Lock and Weir. We remembered all our old shipmates who have crossed the bar, those who are no longer with us who helped us get the freedom of the city."
