Merchant Navy Day
Since 2000, Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September has honoured the brave men and women who kept our 'Island Nation' afloat during both World Wars, and celebrated our dependence on modern day merchant seafarers who are responsible for 95% of the UK's imports, including much of the food we eat, most of the fuel we burn and virtually all the products and goods we take for granted!
For the first time Rutland County Council raised a flag to commemorate Merchant Navy Day
The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is the civil ensign of the United Kingdom.
It is one of the British ensigns, and it is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem.
It is the flag flown by British Merchant ships since 1707. Prior to 1707 an English red ensign and a Scottish red ensign were flown by the English and Scottish navies respectively. The precise date of the first appearance of these earlier red ensigns is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the English navy was paying to have such flags sewn in the 1620s.
