Royal Naval Patrol Service veterans honoured at NMA
23 August 2009
The Royal Naval Patrol Service, the 'Navy within a Navy', who cleared the seas of devastatingly effective Nazi mines during World War II, has today (Sunday 23 August 2009) dedicated a new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield.
Established in August 1939, with an initial fleet comprising 6,000 fishermen and 200 requisitioned trawlers, drifters, pleasure steamers and whaling vessels, the Royal Naval Patrol Service played a key part in the war effort. Growing to a force of 66,600 men and women, with 2,000 ships, and operating from the Arctic to the creeks of South East Asia, they worked tirelessly to keep lanes open to ports and were instrumental in enabling the successful D-Day landings.
Over 125,000 mines were laid in Europe alone during WWII and the impressive new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum features a replica of the type that the Royal Naval Patrol Service had to clear. The memorial commemorates the 13,890 men who were lost, of whom 2,385 have no known grave.
The sailors were drawn from fishing ports and other towns and cities across the UK. They were stationed at HMS Europa, a base erected on the municipal gardens in Lowestoft.
John Hodge, Birmingham branch secretary for the Service's veteran's association, said: "We played a uniquely valuable and dangerous role during the War and suffered enormous casualties. This memorial, which is situated at the centre of the Arboretum, is a fitting tribute to all of our brave comrades who didn't make it home.
John Hodge can be contacted on 0121 308 4596.
