- Type of Memorial
- Sculptured / Cast figure
- WMR Reference Number
- 57771
- Description
- A sculpture of a merchant navy officer holding a pair of binoculars, surmounting a square plinth which bears dedications written in black lettering.
- Inscription
- 6 o'clock face: IN REMEMBRANCE OF/ MERCHANT NAVY SEAMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES/ IN WORLD WAR II 1939-1945/ THEY SUSTAINED HEAVY LOSSES,/ 1 IN 3 MERCHANT NAVY SEAMEN/ DID NOT SURVIVE THE WAR./ MERCHANT NAVY SEAMEN KILLED 30,248/ MISSING 4,654/ WOUNDED 4,707/ PRISONER OF WAR 5,720/ TOTAL OF CASUALTIES 45,329./ Look out to sea and say a prayer/ For those who rest beneath,/ They gave their lives, that you may share/ A Europe that is free/ Donald Hunter 2008.
3 o'clock face: IN REMEMBRANCE OF/ MERCHANT NAVY SEAMEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN/ 'OPERATION NEPTUNE'/ THE CODE-NAME FOR THE D-DAY LANDINGS/ JUNE 6TH TO SEPTEMBER 1944./ THE LARGE SEABORNE OPERATION TO LAND/ AND SUPPLY OUR ARMIES IN NORMANDY, FRANCE./ ITS OBJECTIVE WAS TO FREE FRANCE,/ AND SO COMPLETE THE FIRST PHASE OF THE/ 'LIBERATION OF EUROPE'/ ONE OF THESE CONVOY ROUTES/ TO THE LANDING BEACHES/ WAS FROM LONDON DOCKS VIA THE DOVER STRAITS/ TO NORMANDY./ THE ENEMY ATTACKS ON THIS CONVOY ROUTE/ ALONG THE FRENCH OCCUPIED & HEAVILY FORTIFIED/ COAST TOOK A HEAVY TOLL/ IN THE LIVES OF MERCHANT SEAMEN.
9 o'clock face: 'THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC'/ THIS WAS THE LONGEST BATTLE OF WWII/ WHICH LASTED FROM/ SEPTEMBER 1939 UNTIL MAY 1945./ DURING THIS BATTLE THE MERCHANT NAVY/ SUSTAINED THEIR HEAVIEST LOSSES OF SHIPS/ AND THEIR CREWS./ IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE SEAMEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN ORDER/ TO KEEP BRITAIN'S 'LIFELINE' OPEN/ TO TRANSPORT TROOPS/ AND VITAL WAR MATERIALS./ THEY PAID A HEAVY PRICE.
12 o'clock face: THIS MERCHANT NAVY MEMORIAL/ WAS FUNDED BY DONATIONS TO THE/ 'DOVER & DISTRICT MERCHANT NAVY MEMORIAL FUND.'/ IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE MERCHANT NAVY SEAMEN/ WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN WORLD WAR II./ FOUNDER AND FUND-RAISER/ DONALD HUNTER, LEGION D'HONNEUR M.N. (WWII)/ SCULPTOR: VIVIEN MALLOCK.