Guernsey Press

Field of Remembrance service held

YESTERDAY’S Field of Remembrance service began the period of remembrance for all servicemen and women.

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Dedication of the Field of Remembrance at the War Memorial yesterday. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 28829225)

It will also this year allow many to take a moment to reflect on the ongoing pandemic, how people continue to help and what people are going through. The short service saw representatives of service organisations place their Remembrance crosses in the Field at the War Memorial at the top of Smith Street, while the Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Tim Barker made the dedication.

For the president of the Royal British Legion Guernsey Major Bob Place, the service was personal.

‘It’s always been a quiet little service,’ he said.

‘Usually by Remembrance Sunday, the field is almost full as much of the public come to pay their own respects and come here to reflect in their own time. For me I put a cross here for my friend who died in Ireland in 1974 whilst on duty, it is personal and I think of him and remember him especially during this time.’

The Bailiff, Richard McMahon, laid the first cross, his first since he was sworn in as the new Bailiff in May.

He said it was a fitting occasion to start the period of Remembrance.

‘We are able to pay recognition to the sacrifice that servicemen and women made for us to enjoy our freedom,’ he said.

‘There’s a good crowd who have made it today in the nice weather which shows that we have a strong ethic when it comes to paying our respects to those that have lost their lives.’

He added that the day would also mean so much more this year.

‘In part this is a day for children to learn about what the day means,’ he said.

‘Although it is about those that have made the ultimate sacrifice with their courage and devotion, this year people will also take this as a moment to think about the pandemic.

‘We have relative freedom by comparison to many other places, but we should think of those elsewhere in other places and in other conflicts that need to be remembered.’

Guernsey’s Act of Remembrance will take place at the War Memorial on Sunday 8 November.

A bugler will sound the last post at 10.58am prior to a two-minute silence at 11am. There will then be a short service and wreath-laying.

The parade preceding the Act of Remembrance, which has been organised by the Royal British Legion on the Royal Court’s behalf, will take place from 10.35am, starting at the Town Arsenal.

Anyone interested is asked to turn up at the Town Fire Station no later than 10.15am or, for non-marchers, with the Parade when it arrives at the War Memorial at 10.40am.