Sir, – Manus O’Riordan’s asserts in his enlightened letter (November 15th) that all Ireland’s war dead should be commemorated each July. Fine words indeed. However, the annual ceremony held each July in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham honours Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations, an epitaph which does not recognise the vital contribution made by foreign nationals to Ireland’s survival and who lost their lives as a result of belligerent action while serving aboard neutral Irish flagged vessels during the Emergency period 1939-46.
All those who lost their lives were awarded posthumously the Irish Mercantile Valour Medal with three bars, citation and tunic bar, which is the Irish government’s highest decoration for service during the second World War. Between September 3rd, 1939 to March 31st, 1946, approximately 4,000 seafarers would have served on neutral Irish merchant ships and fishing trawlers. They came from the UK, US, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Argentina, Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Russia. Of the 149 seamen who were lost on Irish vessels sunk as a result of belligerent action, 18 were British (Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales), one Norwegian, one Latvian and one Argentine; the rest were Irish nationals. Many had also served during the first World War in the royal navy, royal flying corps, merchant navy and in units of the British army and are listed on the National Merchant Seamen’s Memorial located at City Quay Dublin. At the close of the war, taoiseach Éamon de Valera said “To the men of our mercantile marine, who faced all the perils of the ocean to bring us essential supplies the nation is profoundly grateful”. Tomorrow, November 20th, at 11.30am, the Maritime Institute of Ireland holds its annual commemoration ceremony in City Quay Church Dublin.
Perhaps in our decade of commemoration space might be found in the national conscience to remember our seafarers? Lest we forget. – Yours, etc,