Sons of Sark commemorated

IN TWO equally-moving events last week, Sark remembered those who gave their lives in armed conflict during two world wars.

The annual service of remembrance at the island's war memorial in front of St Peter's Church was preceded by the parade of Royal British Legion ex-service men and women and members of Sark's emergency services.

After the two-minute silence, the wreath-laying was led by Seigneur Michael Beaumont on behalf of the people of Sark and he was followed by representatives of the Royal British Legion, the British Red Cross and Sark's emergency services.

Legion member Roy Cook then read the names of all the sons of Sark who died during the two major conflicts of the 20th century, before the choir, congregation and those taking part in the parade filed into the Anglican church for the service led by Methodist Pastor Karen Le Mouton.

I noticed a few absentees from those who've taken part in this annual act in the past.

John Hunt – and the legion's Sark branch's standard – was on his way back from London, having taken part in the previous evening's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, where the Seneschal, Lt-Col Reg Guille, was among the audience.

Sadly, Burma campaign veteran and former standard-bearer Fred Teers – now closer to 100 than 90 – couldn't make it either as his son Colin, who usually accompanies his father on trips 'home' to Sark, is recovering from heart surgery.

And there was no place in the parade for Sark's 'Buffs' – the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes – who usually march with their own standard. Quite why they didn't take part is something I haven't established, but I'll be sorry if their absence is permanent.

The other moving act of remembrance took place at 11am on the previous Friday – 11 November – when the two-minute silence at the time-honoured hour was signalled by Kevin Adams hitting the button of the siren on the Greffe and committee offices.

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I referred last week to the importance of getting young people involved in remembrance activities – I highlighted the fact that it was children who sell poppies house-to-house in Sark – and it was a delight to see all the island's schoolchildren lined up facing the war memorial on Friday morning.

It was particularly pleasing the way the Seneschal explained the event to the pupils and then involved them directly by inviting many of them to 'plant' poppy crosses on the flower beds surrounding the memorial.

He then led the children to the cemetery, where they also laid crosses on the graves of ex-service personnel buried there.

Then, in what I found was the most moving act of all, the group of youngsters surrounded the grave of Nanette Hamon, a very young child who, during the German Occupation of Sark, was killed after stepping on a mine. Young pupil Rhys Counsell – who is probably no older than Nanette was – laid a poppy cross near her headstone after the Seneschal had told a hushed but extremely attentive group of children how she had died.

It was a reminder – not that anyone in these islands needs reminding – of how war affects everyone, civilians and the military alike.

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On a brighter note, this evening sees the culmination of yet another year of extremely hard work by Puffin Taylour and her Sark Carnival Committee, with the annual cheque presentation night in aid of the Professor Saint Medical Fund.

It is a feature of this occasion that it kicks off with the committee having not a penny in the bank – everything will be handed over to Sark's principal charity – but by the end of the evening it will (hopefully) have more than enough to get next year's fund-raising events off the ground.

Among the raffle and auction prizes are free meals from island restaurants and a pair of return tickets to Gatwick, courtesy of Aurigny – something not to be sneezed at.

* The email address for comment is fallesark@sark.net.