A COMMEMORATIVE service to remember all merchant mariners who died in wars will be held at the Greenbank RSL memorial gardens next week.
The Greenbank subsection of the Naval Association of Australia will hold the service at 10am on Wednesday, September 3.
Henk Winkeler, secretary of the Greenbank subsection, said it was important to remember those who served as merchant mariners.
He said a vast majority of the merchant mariners served during WWII on civilian ships, delivering food and ammunition to soldiers, and many people did not know about their contributions.
At the end of WWII the British Merchant Marine, which the Australian merchant mariners served under, had lost about 71,000 men.
"Many of them lost their lives and we feel it is important to give them recognition," Mr Winkeler said.
"We have days for returned soldiers from other wars but there has never been anything for the merchant mariners and they played a significant role in the wars."
A service for the merchant mariners has been held at Greenbank since 2011.
Mr Winkeler said anyone was welcome to come to the service, which would be followed by a morning tea at the RSL club.
The Greenbank RSL Club is at 54 Anzac Ave, Hillcrest.
