Military ships have arrived in Liverpool for the Battle of the Atlantic 80th anniversary commemorations.
This weekend will see the city mark the anniversary of one of WWII's most important battles. Throughout the war, the Allies worked to secure Britain's merchant shipping, bringing vital goods in and out of the country.
Liverpool played a key role in Allied success in the battle. From 1941, Derby House on Rumford Street was the headquarters of the Western Approaches Command Centre, which controlled the defences of British shipping. It is now the Western Approaches WWII Museum.
READ MORE: Live updates as Royal visit kicks off Battle of the Atlantic commemorations
The United Kingdom relied on more than a million tons of imported materials every week to survive and counter the enemy threat. As Britain's main transatlantic convoy port, Liverpool received 1,285 convoys during the war.
A tactical unit was also established at Derby House in 1942. The team studied the approach used by Hitler's U-boats - submarines which were used to target British shipping - and worked to beat them. By mid-1943, Britain had effectively neutralised the U-boat threat.
This weekend will see the city mark the battle with a number of events. Today (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’ Church near the Pier Head. Princess Anne, Princess Royal, patron of the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial Charity will be a guest of honour.
Military ships are in the city to mark the occasion. Pictures taken by the ECHO show the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Defender alongside the French Navy's FNS Bretagne berthed on the Liverpool waterfront yesterday (May 25).
The ships will be here for the weekend and will be joined by Trinity House Vessel Patricia. The American destroyer USS Ramage will also call into Liverpool.
Participating ships will open their gangways to the public on Saturday (May 27) and various activities will be staged in a ‘military village’ across the Pier Head.
The village will feature equipment and a host of free family activities from the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF including Typhoon simulator, a Royal Navy VR speedboat simulator, climbing walls, bungee runs, a Spitfire replica, tanks, helicopters, and vintage military vehicles.
The extensive Battle of the Atlantic displays and special family activities will be open for visitors at Western Approaches Museum, and the Maritime Museum in the Royal Albert Dock.
Over the water in Birkenhead, Cammell Laird shipyard will run a series of BoA80-themed tours around its yard to celebrate the efforts of shipbuilders in WW2, and to show how things have moved on. Visitors will be given an exclusive behind-the-scenes commentary on board vintage buses supplied by Wirral Transport Museum on Saturday 27.
On Sunday (May 28) there will be a Drumhead service of thanksgiving at midday at the Pier Head followed at 1.30pm by a March for the Medals from Exchange Flags to Princes Parade, where a group of Battle of the Atlantic veterans, now all in their 90s, will take the salute from the marching troops.
Those who have family medals related to the Battle of the Atlantic campaign, or any other related Second World War campaign, are invited to wear them in honour of their loved ones as they watch the local, national, and international contingents march in their memory.
The weekend’s commemorations will conclude with the visiting vessels sailing down the Mersey at 5pm, escorted by a convoy from the Mersey’s maritime community and a Beat Retreat played by His Majesty’s Royal Marines Band at the Pier Head.
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