...nor shall my sword...

The service of remembrance for Commander Robert Irving Strang RNR DSO, who died in July 1942, while organising the survival of his crew during the sinking of his destroyer HMS Attack, was held in Liverpool Cathedral forty six years after his death. Liverpool had been the home base of the Royal Navy's Western Approaches Command from where the long Battle of the Atlantic had been directed. Commander Strang had played a part in that battle. Fifteen years had passed since Alex last visited the ‘sailor's town’ and he looked with interest and with a certain disbelief at all the changes to the city. The famous skyline the Liverbirds was still a prominent feature and out in the Mersey he could see the Birkenhead Ferry plying across the water. The weather was fine for the occasion but overcast with grey skies and the wind blew cold from the Irish Sea. Alex met his Aunt Agatha in Liverpool where she had spent the weekend with her aging brother, Alexander Murray and his wife Clara. His aunt and uncle now lived abroad for most of the year in the South of France. “Hello my boy” was Alexander Murray's usual greeting to his nephew, “This is quite an occasion” his Uncle told him standing with his wife and with his arm linked through the arm of his sister Agatha. “Do you remember all those years ago Alex, when you visited Aunt Clara and me at our house in Lagos and you asked if I remembered your father.” Alex nodded, “yes, I remember it well, you also mentioned to me that my father had been both a brave and resolute seaman, I believe that today's service of remembrance will bear testimony to that.” While they all stood and chatted a tall sun burnt looking man accompanied with a woman approached Alex and in a hesitant manner asked “Sir Alexander Strang” “Yes” replied Alex curious as to who should be addressing him. “I’m William Richter, from Richmond in Virginia” “William Richter” replied Alex searching his memory then he realised who the man was. “Commander Richter? Of the US Navy?” “Yes Sir Alex, but of now retired Alex extended his hand, “I am pleased, very pleased to meet you Commander, that letter you wrote to me helped to organise this” he said gesturing around at the Cathedral and all the people approaching. “Let me introduce you to my family, this is my Aunt Agatha, my fathers sister in law and her brother Alexander Murray. These are our children' he said pointing to Robert, Jessica and Tamsem and, this is my wife Lady Agnes Strang.” “How long will you be in England” Alex asked the American couple. “About two weeks” replied Richter. “You must come and visit us at the farmhouse if you have the time” Alex told them, “I'd very much like to discuss the times when you met my father.” The service was to be held at Eleven O'clock. Outside the cathedral, Alex watched the growing number of people, some wearing campaign medals; many now elderly wore blue blazers with the RNR and the RNVR pocket badges. At first he was not recognised but soon word got around that Sir Alexander Strang, the son of Commander Strang was here and many a hand was outstretched to shake his hand that day. “The Cap'n was a good'un lad”, said one old sailor to him. “Always concerned about his crew” The organisers of the service mainly the Admiralty had through their chaplains department, asked the Bishop of Tyneside what sort of service would be acceptable to Sir Alexander Strang. Quentin after considerable thought told them that Sir Alex was somewhat high church and also added that where possible to use the Book of Common Prayer. The service was formal but simple. The cathedral choir began with Kipling's “Lord God of Hosts be with us yet” and after the first reading and a prayer the Eulogies began. The retired American USN Commander William Richter, who was with several obviously ex United States Navy members brought over for the occasion, mounted the lectern to offer the final Eulogy. Richter offered what amounted to be a longer version of the letter he had written to Sir Alexander Strang. Before reading it Richter spoke briefly about the Atlantic Convoys and the Russian convoys to Murmansk. “Some of those seamen who survived the rigours of those convoys are probably here today” he told them. “Almost two years ago, I visited the Greenwich Maritime Museum with my wife. Imagine my surprise when I came face to face with a picture of a face I had not seen for over forty years, the picture of Commander Strang as some of us here may have remembered him.” The retired American naval officer then read the eulogy. When he had finished there was a hushed silence, it was more than the eerie silence of a cathedral, it was the silence of those survivors who in their thoughts had for a brief moment been transported back in time to the cold waters of the north Atlantic. After the hymn ‘Abide with me’ the Bishop of Liverpool then read from the form of prayers to be used at sea, “We therefore commit his body to the deep” intoned the Bishop and continued until the end of the prayer. The final part of the service was the singing of William Blake's ‘Jerusalem’. It was one of Alex's favourite hymns and one that had been with him since his early days at Christ Church, Burton Park. Throughout the service Agnes had gripped Alex's hand in her own, she knew what this meant to him and that he would be fighting hard to maintain his composure. After the eulogy read by the American from Virginia and the short silence that had followed, Agnes had cast a brief look around the cathedral to see that many of the old sailors were wiping their eyes and blowing their noses. Outside once more in the hustle and bustle of the famous city Agnes hugged her husband and kissed him. “Thank you for your support” he said to her. Alex then thanked the Bishop, “That was very tasteful Bishop” Alex told him “How did you know what hymns to play?”