Veterans lay wreaths on anniversary of attack on Liverpool-registered ship

Armed forces veterans gathered to pay tribute to those who died in an attack on a Liverpool-registered ship during the Falklands conflict.

Representatives from the armed forces and family members gathered on the 40th anniversary of the attack on the Atlantic Conveyor for a special ceremony in Liverpool. Atlantic Conveyor was a Cunard-owned and Liverpool-registered ship which was sunk during the Falklands war in 1982, resulting in the loss of 12 people.

The conflict, the loss of Atlantic Conveyor and the wider role of the Merchant Navy in the South Atlantic Task Force was commemorated during a number of special events this morning. The successor to the ship first took position in the middle of the Mersey opposite Cunard Building and off the Merchant Navy Memorial at Pier Head.

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People later gathered at the Atlantic Conveyor Memorial at the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas in Liverpool at 10.30am today. Images taken by the ECHO showed armed forces veterans and relatives of those who lost their lives in the conflict gathering at the church, where a number of wreaths were laid at the memorial.

Atlantic Conveyor was a merchant ship owned by Cunard that joined the UK Government's mission to regain control of the British Overseas Territory of Falkland Islands after an invasion by Argentine Forces in 1982. The ship served as a logistics support vessel transporting aircraft, aircrew and supplies to the warzone.

The ship was the first Merchant Navy ship lost since WW2 (Liverpool ECHO)

At the time, Cunard formed part of a consortium owning and operating the Atlantic Conveyor and her sister Atlantic Causeway also deployed in the Task Force. Atlantic Conveyor was attacked 40 years ago today with the loss of 12 lives including her master captain Ian North and five other Cunard personnel. Atlantic Causeway completed her mission safely.

The Falklands conflict is the latest occasion during Cunard’s 182-year history in which its ships and crew have served the nation in war. Atlantic Conveyor became the first British Merchant Navy loss in conflict since WW2.