“The role of Australia’s merchant mariners was vital and often dangerous,” Mr Griffin said.

“During the Second World War they evacuated civilians from threatened areas, and transported supplies and personnel to and between areas of conflict.”

Mr Griffin said the date for Merchant Navy Day was chosen by the ex-service community to mark the loss of the first Allied merchant ship in the Second World War, which occurred the day war was declared in 1939. The United Kingdom and Canada also commemorate Merchant Navy Day on 3 September. Thousands of Australian merchant mariners served during the two World Wars on Australian, Commonwealth and Allied ships, as well as merchant ships from other nations. Australian and Commonwealth memorials commemorate 435 Australians known to have lost their lives serving in the Merchant Navy.