Battle of the Atlantic: Ceremony honours Merchant Navy service

Services were held to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic at St Michael and All Angels Church and at Helensburgh War Memorial on Sunday.

Organised by the Royal British Legion in Helensburgh, and aided by Argyll and Bute Council's veterans' champion and Provost Maurice Corry, the commemoration included a blessing of the standards by Rev Dominic Ind before leaving for the memorial.

Atlantic Star medal holder Dennis 'Spike' Jones attended the service, representing the heroism of thousands of sailors who kept troops and supplies flowing across during the war. He was helped by his daughter, Diane Carson, who is visiting from America.

The 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic was marked in Helensburgh

Rev Robert Church leads prayers with Atlantic Star holder Dennis (Spike) Jones and his daughter Diane Carson

Around 36,000 Merchant Navy sailors lost their lives during the battle, which lasted for the entire duration of the Second World War in Europe, while 3,500 merchant vessels were lost.

Sunday's event was also attended by Deputy Lord Lieutenants Gill Aitkenhead and Mike Edwards, Commander Robert Hawkins and Captain Nicholas Gibbons from HMNB Clyde, Helensburgh Community Council's Norman Muir and Roger Clarke, Revd's Dominic Ind and Robert Church, and Jim Holmes from the Merchant Navy Association.

The Sea Cadets were led by James Pettit, and Claire Butler was the bugler.

Wreaths for the Atlantic 80 commemeoration, Helensburgh War Memorial.

Relatives of Atlantic Star holders were Gill Aitkenhead, Mike Edwards, Kevin Craddock, Geoff Coles, Matthew Watt and Catherine Smillie.

Wreaths were laid to remember all those who lost their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic and then everyone was invited to the Victoria Halls for tea.

In addition to the acts of remembrance in Helensburgh, Sunday also saw a short memorial service at the Rosneath Cairn, next to the sailing club at Rosneath Castle Park.

Provost Corry thanked the organisers and praised the turnout and thanked the ministers for leading the services.

He said: "It was a wonderful day where we had three services to comemorate the Battle of the Atlantic and it was wonderful to see so many people turn up for the service and at the war memorial and in Rosneath.

"It was also magnificent to see the president of the Royal British Legion Helensburgh, Spike Jones, who serviced in the Battle of the Atlantic lay a wreath.

"It was really good to see so many families of holders of the Atlantic Star as well. It was really nice to see the Merchant Navy well represented."

(Photos by Ann Stewart)