Sailors lost on Charybdis and Limbourne remembered again
ISLANDERS gathered yesterday for the annual memorial service for the men who died following the sinking of the HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne during the Second World War.
This year marks the 76th anniversary of the death of hundreds of UK servicemen when a torpedo struck the ships off the Brittany coast on 23 October 1943, with many islanders, dignitaries and relatives attending the service at Le Foulon Cemetery.
This key event in the island’s history holds a special significance for many as it showed the spirit of the community at a time of oppression.
Petty Officer Dominic Kaines, of the Guernsey Sea Cadets, said it remained an important event to come out for despite there no longer being any survivors present.
‘We all come to show our respect,’ he said. ‘It is one of those events in history that shows the solidarity of a community, it’s such a personal thing as an islander to keep the memory of these people, who gave so much for us, alive.
‘Plus it’s important for the younger generation to remember them, what happened and what they did for us.’
Within days of the sinking of the ships in 1943, 21 bodies were washed-up on the beaches of Guernsey and the German authorities allowed them to be interred with full military honours.
Meant to be a low-key event, islanders gathered in large numbers to honour them. It was seen as an act of defiance.
In all, 5,000 Guernsey people attended the funerals of the 21 Royal Marines and Royal Navy servicemen, in an act of loyalty to Britain’s war effort and defiance against the occupying forces.
This led the Germans to ban people from attending the funerals of the 29 other victims whose bodies subsequently washed up on the shores.
During that interment, more than 900 wreaths were laid by islanders.
Yesterday, wreaths were laid by Lt-Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, and Lady Corder, the Bailiff, Sir Richard Collas, the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker and the chairman of the Guernsey Association of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The standards were also lowered.
Younger generations now take part in the ceremony remembering the rescued, the fallen and the brave that came out to remember them all.
Daniel Hollingsworth, 16, part of the Guernsey Sea Cadets & Royal Marine Cadets, said they would always take pride in their uniform.
‘This is an historic memorial that we’ve been doing since the Occupation,’ he said.
‘It’s important to remember the brave men, whom we wouldn’t be here without, those that fought for us, those that lost their lives and the islanders that also defied the Germans.
‘I want to pay my respects, just as islanders back then wanted to pay theirs.’
