Black Merchant Seamen War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Merchant Seaman – WW2 |
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| United Kingdom | |
The memorial, decked with poppies
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| For All Black Merchant Seamen who served during World War II | |
| Unveiled | 27 May 1993 |
| Location | 53°23′54″N 2°57′46″W / 53.3982°N 2.9629°W |
The Black Merchant Seamen War Memorial is a special stone monument in Falkner Square, Liverpool, United Kingdom. It was built to remember all the brave Black Merchant Seamen who served during World War II. These sailors risked their lives to bring important supplies across the oceans. The memorial was officially revealed in 1993, exactly 50 years after the famous Battle of the Atlantic, a very important sea battle during the war.
Remembering Heroes: The Memorial's Story
The Black Merchant Seamen War Memorial was placed in Falkner Square Gardens in 1993. This happened because of a big effort led by a community leader named Joe Farrag. His own grandfather, Ali Hussain Farrag, was an Egyptian merchant seaman during World War II. Sadly, he died when his ship sank on May 12, 1943, along with 36 other crew members. Joe Farrag wanted to make sure these brave sailors were never forgotten.
Over the years, the memorial's plaque was damaged and even pulled off the stone. Luckily, a local gardener found it and put it back. The War Memorials Trust later provided money to clean off graffiti using steam.
For a while, plants and branches grew over the memorial, making it hard to see. So, local people started a Facebook group to bring attention to it. They wanted signs put up so more visitors could find it. In August 2019, a celebration was held to mark the new signs and help more people learn about this important memorial.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The memorial is a tall, red sandstone stone. This stone originally came from the Liverpool Seamen's Hostel, a building that no longer exists. On the stone, there is a special bronze plaque. At the top of the plaque, you can see the outline of a ship called "Fort Concord." This ship was sunk by a German submarine, U-456, on May 12, 1943.
The words on the plaque are:
- THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO
- ALL BLACK MERCHANT SEAMEN WHO SERVED
- DURING THE 1939 – 45 WAR
- "THEY HELD THEIR COURSE"
- RESPECT DUE
- IT WAS JOINTLY UNVEILED BY
- MR. VESTY
- PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH SHIPPING ORGANISATION
- AND
- MR. B.H. SKEETE
- EX-MERCHANT SEAMAN WHO SERVED DURING THE 1939 – 45 WAR
- ON 27TH MAY 1993
- THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC"
- COMMISSIONED BY THE GALLERY & LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL
