Red Ensign raised at Fraserburgh's Saltoun Square

The brave men and women who kept our island nation afloat during both World Wars have been remembered with the raising of the Red Ensign in Fraserburgh.

Aberdeenshire Council was honoured to raise the Red Ensign – affectionately known as the ‘Red Duster’ – at Fraserburgh’s Saltoun Square on Tuesday, September 3.

Merchant Navy Day is celebrated in September and also provides an opportunity to celebrate our dependence on modern day merchant seafarers who are responsible for 95% of the UK's imports, including half the food we eat, plenty of the fuel we burn and virtually all the products and goods we take for granted.

Attending the poignant event were Fraserburgh and District councillors together with representatives from Fraserburgh’s Lifeboat, Mission, Sea Cadets, Harbour Commissioners, fishing organisations and The Salvation Army. 

Gabriel Watt of Fraserburgh RBL Pipe Band played ahead of the flag raising while Sarah-Jane Urmston of the Salvation Army performed the Last Post.

Chair of the Banff and Buchan Area Committee, Cllr Doreen Mair, addressed those present before Councillor James Adams raised the flag.

Cllr Mair said: “In Fraserburgh, the importance of the sea to our community and the safety of those who sail on it is very much to the forefront of our thoughts and deeply embedded in our day to day lives. Merchant Navy Day was established to remember those who kept our nation afloat during two world wars ensuring that we had the supplies we needed to keep going.

“This corner of the coast was known as hellfire corner during the war because of the danger posed to merchant shipping from the Luftwaffe so remembering those brave seaman in the Broch is even more poignant and important as many came from this area.

“Too often they are the forgotten or invisible service. By raising the Red Ensign today we will ensure that at least – on this and the following days – they are remembered and saluted. This simple act will mean so much to the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, to those who have retired after a lifetime of service and to those who still go to sea now and face all its many perils.”