No survivors present for the first time
THERE was an added poignancy to this year’s Charybdis and Limbourne memorial service, since it was the first that it has not been attended by any of the survivors.
There are still four members of the crew of HMS Charybdis alive, but while last year saw two of them in attendance, this year none were able to be in the island.
‘I think it’s fitting in a way,’ said Guernsey Association of Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Merchant Navy president Chris Welsby.
‘It’s the 75th anniversary of the Charybdis and Limbourne and at some point we will scale down the memorial, but it will always be remembered.’
About 40 members of the Charybdis Association were at the ceremony at Le Foulon Cemetery yesterday, and president Rear Admiral John Clink said that an upsurge in the general interest in family history had seen new members continuing to join the association.
The start of the service was heralded by the arrival of the band of the Royal Marines, Plymouth, who led a parade from Ladies’ College to the cemetery.
Lt-Governor Sir Ian Corder and Lady Corder were among the officials laying wreathes, as was Bailiff Sir Richard Collas.
GARNRM&MN chaplain Canon the Very Rev. Marc Trickey led the service, giving a brief summary of the events of a tragic night, which saw 504 men lose their lives.
As in previous years, the hymns Eternal Father, Strong to Save and Oh God Our Help in Ages Past were sung, there was a reading and a time of silent prayer.
The Salvation Army band accompanied the singing, with the Royal Marine band playing the National Anthem and its four buglers sounding the Last Post and Reveille.
Among the congregation was the granddaughter of a stoker on board HMS Charybdis that night, Karen Andrew.
Fred Andrew was one of those who was killed when the ship was torpedoed, and while his body is buried in France, Miss Andrew said she had come to Guernsey to commemorate the 75th anniversary.
With her she had a copy of a rare book about the tragedy – Two Honourable Years, by Craig Leath –which she said she had been trying to trace for many years, only to find it a few weeks ago after an online hunt.
She said she felt it was still important to hold the memorial service. ‘I think it’s about getting the next generation interested, in a way.’
Efforts to interest future generations led to another ‘first’ for the event this year, with primary school children laying wreaths that they had made after the officials had laid theirs.
Youngsters from Forest, Le Rondin, Vauvert, Hautes Capelles and La Houguette schools took part in the ceremony.
La Houguette had prepared a giant banner featuring crafted poppies sent in from all over the world, following an online campaign by a pupil’s mum.
All primary schools had received visits from a representative of GARNRM&MN who gave assemblies explaining the history of Charybdis Weekend and that had led to in-school projects by pupils, including the wreath-making.
