THEIR Red Ensigns bright against an autumnal sky, former Merchant seamen from all over Britain converged on Newport to pay their respects to those of the Merchant Navy who gave their lives in war.

From the tip of Cornwall and from Humberside they came, their standards joined by those of the Royal British Legion, the Royal Naval Association and those of Army regiments and corps, and of the Burma Star Association.

A wreath of poppies on behalf of the Gwent branch of the Merchant Navy Association was laid by the Newport-born author Leslie Thomas, who is president of the Newport branch of the MNA and whose father was lost at sea in the Second World War.

By tradition, a service of remembrance around Newport's Merchant Navy Memorial in Mariners' Green is held on whatever day November 11, the exact anniversary of the Armistice after the first world war, occurs.

Bertram Bale, chairman of the Newport branch of the MNA and national vice-president said: "The death toll among Newport men who served in the Merchant Navy was enormous.

"As each year passes, the ceremony we have in Newport assumes a greater national significance with people coming from other parts of the country.

"We are also delighted to welcome standards from the Royal British Legion and from the individual fighting services including, of course, Royal Navy veterans."

One of the marchers, John Bacon, of St Julians, Newport, was 17 years old when, as a member of the Royal West Kents, he waited to be evacuated from the beaches at Dunkirk in 1940.

"The men who flew the Red Ensign rescued the remnants of the British Army. It was because of them we lived to fight another day," he said.

John Barrett, secretary of the Royal Regiment of Wales Old Comrades, said: "We are proud to be here today to support the sailors. The Merchant Navy is as important to Britain in war as anybody else."

A wreath of behalf of the City of Newport was laid by the mayor, Councillor Ray Truman.

"Newport is particularly proud to be closely associated with the Merchant Navy.

"We were the first city in the whole country to grant the Merchant Navy the freedom of the city," he said.

A wreath on behalf of Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West and patron of the Newport branch of the MNA, was laid by Councillor Mark Whitcutt. Other wreaths were laid by Simon Boyle, Lord Lieutenant of Gwent, council leader Sir Harry Jones and Newport West Conservative Association.

A Guard of Honour at the memorial was provided by Sea Cadets of TS Resolute.

Standards paraded were those of the Newport, Plymouth, South-East Cornwall and Humberside and Immingham branches of the MNA, the Monmouthshire branch of the Royal British Legion and the RBL women's section, the Newport branch of the Royal Naval Association, Newport Burma Star Association, Royal Regiment of Wales Old Comrades, Royal Welch Fusiliers Old Comrades and the Salvation Army.

Prayers were led by the Rev Keith Beardmore, of St John's Newport and chaplain to the RRW Comrades.

After he had laid his wreath, and after the standards had snapped back into place after the sounding of the Reveille, Leslie Thomas said: "People should realise the sacrifice made by the Merchant Navy. It was the nation's lifeline in war.

"Victory would not have been possible without the men who sailed under the Red Ensign."