Remembering the Merchant Navy

This morning walking along Princes St I noticed what I thought was the Red Ensign flying above Eidnburgh City Chambers.   It occurred to me that it might signify that today was Merchant Navy Day, and that was indeed the reason.

Strangely just a couple of hours before I had been looking at the Scottish Merchant Navy Memorial, a remarkable structure full of detail.    Later I took some pictures there and my extra photos given some more of it as well as the main information panel.   

It does prompt thoughts about the vital contribution made by the thousands of Merchant seamen during both world wars, and the continuing risk that many face today , in combat zones as well as in the normal business of "going down to the sea in ships" and a realisation of how  important their continuing  role is.