AN ANNUAL memorial service is set to take place in Southampton.

The service has been running for the past 20 years to commemorate the lives of those from the navy who have been lost at sea.

It will be held at the Merchant Navy Memorial Church Holyrood and will take place on Sunday, September 2 at 12pm.

Douglas Piper, 85, an ex-merchant seaman and the branch secretary for the Merchant Navy Association in Southampton said: “I think this is such an important day to commemorate and respect the lives of those who died at sea as many of them don’t have graves of their own.

“My grandfather went down on the Titanic so I will be remembering him.”

Hundreds of people turned out to the service last year and

Douglas told the Daily Echo that he expects more than 200 people to attend the event.

The service will also be attended by the mayor of Southampton and many sea organisations such as the Southampton and Netley Royal British Legion, the Southampton sea cadets, the Royal Naval Association, The Merchant Navy Association and The Master Mariners. On September 3 at 10am the mayor’s flag raising ceremony of the Red Ensign will also take place in front of the civic centre.

Douglas said: “We lost 30,000 men at sea during the Second World War and a lot of people who lost their lives on the Titanic were from the local area so I think this day is really important for those people who have lost family members and all veterans.”