For many Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) veterans, opportunities to reconnect with former colleagues can be few and far between. After years spent serving at sea, often spending months away from family and friends, leaving service can sometimes mean losing the close-knit community that was such an important part of daily life.
A recent gathering in Weymouth helped bring that community back together.
Serving personnel, veterans and families came together for the unveiling of a new RFA memorial plaque on the town’s seafront, creating not only a place of remembrance, but also an opportunity to reconnect, share experiences and strengthen friendships.
Situated between Weymouth’s Cenotaph and Merchant Navy Memorial, the plaque provides a permanent place where members of the RFA community can pause to remember those who have served and those who are no longer with us.
While the unveiling ceremony was an important moment of remembrance, for many attendees the greatest impact came from the opportunity to spend time together afterwards.
Veterans and serving seafarers gathered alongside family members, local representatives and supporters, sharing stories and memories from their time at sea. Old shipmates reunited, new friendships were formed and conversations continued long after the ceremony had ended.
For some veterans, particularly those living alone, the event provided a valuable reminder that they remain part of a wider community.
Matthew Rowberry, founder of RAS, said:
“Some of our veterans live alone, so this gathering was a valuable opportunity to reconnect with old shipmates and share stories. Days like this remind people they are not alone and help strengthen the sense of community that is so important for serving personnel, veterans and their families.”
Matthew established RAS ten years ago to honour fallen RFA seafarers and support bereaved families. Through donations, the organisation has funded memorial tributes, charitable donations and remembrance initiatives that help keep the memory of former seafarers alive.
The Weymouth plaque also represents a significant step towards Matthew’s wider ambition of creating more accessible places of remembrance for the RFA community. At present, the RFA has only one other permanent memorial, located at the National Memorial Arboretum, making this an important addition for serving personnel, veterans and families in the Southwest.
Funding from Greenwich Hospital and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) helped support the post-unveiling reception, enabling attendees to continue connecting and strengthening the support networks that are so important to veterans’ wellbeing.
By bringing people together through remembrance, the project has helped combat isolation, foster camaraderie and reinforce the sense of belonging that remains at the heart of the RFA community.
As attendees left Weymouth, they departed with more than memories of a new memorial plaque. They left with renewed friendships, stronger community ties and the reassurance that they are part of a network that continues to support one another long after service ends.
Supporting RFA Veterans.
Projects like the Weymouth memorial show the positive impact that remembrance and comradeship activities can have on veterans and their families. If you have an idea that could bring people together, strengthen connections or honour those who have served, you may be able to access support through the RNRMC Remembrance & Comradeship Grants programme. Learn more at: https://www.rnrmc.org.uk/remembrancegrants
