The Battle of the Atlantic commemorations are set to begin in Liverpool today.
This was the longest and arguably the most decisive campaign of WWII and ran throughout the entire six-year conflict. One of the most important factors of the Battle of the Atlantic was logistics and, more importantly, Britain's ability to maintain vital supply routes through its North Atlantic shipping routes.
This year will mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic and Liverpool will be hosting a series of events to commemorate the commitment and resilience of the brave men and women who ensured Britain and its allies overcame the malignant threat of Nazi Germany.
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Today, Friday, May 26, a new national memorial and Garden of Reflection for the Battle of the Atlantic will be revealed at Our Lady and St Nicholas’s Church near the Pier Head. Princess Anne, Princess Royal, patron of the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial Charity will be a guest of honour.
VIPs in attendance include Denis Rose, John Dennett BEM, and Ken Benbow, all local veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic campaign. Among the dignitaries in attendance will be Mark Blundell, Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside; the Rt. Hon. Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence; the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Mayors of Wirral and Sefton, as well as the Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram.
Other special guests include the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key, representatives from the Merchant Navy, Royal Navy, and international naval forces, as well as civic dignitaries, cadet groups, and family members of Battle of Atlantic veterans.
Upon arrival at Our Lady and St Nicholas’ church, The Princess Royal will be introduced to The Bishop of Liverpool, John Perumbalath, the Rector of Liverpool, Canon Dr Crispin Pailing, and civic dignitaries. Following the memorial service, The Princess Royal will be guided to Liverpool Parish Church’s Maritime Chapel to meet a selection of Battle of the Atlantic veterans, along with senior Merchant Navy and Royal Navy representatives.
Princess Anne will then be led out to the new Garden of Reflection, overlooking Liverpool’s famous waterfront, where she will formally unveil the new Battle of the Atlantic memorial. This will be followed by a blessing, given by The Bishop of Liverpool.
The service will conclude with a spectacular flypast by historic aircraft, including Swordfish, Poseidon, and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
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