Officials ‘honoured’ to attend D-Day events
GUERNSEY officials are returning to Guernsey today after taking part in D-Day commemorations.
Chief Minister Lyndon Trott, external relations lead Jonathan Le Tocq and Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon have been in Normandy representing the island.
Yesterday they were in Granville and attended the international ceremony in Cherbourg. Among dignitaries attending was French president Emmanuel Macron.
It followed visits to the British Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer – Gold Beach – and the American Cemetery at Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer – Omaha Beach – alongside a delegation from Jersey on Thursday.
On Thursday night the Bailiff laid a wreath at Pegasus Bridge in remembrance of the Bailiwick’s own D-Day veterans.
Pegasus was the site of the most famous airborne division mission. About 180 troops of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry captured the bridges after landing in Horsa gliders only metres from their objectives.
Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq said: ‘I felt privileged to have been invited by President Macron as well as our close friends in the Normandy administration to a number of significant and different events to mark the 80th anniversary.
‘We were also guests of the British Legion at a service of commemoration at the British Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, in the presence of the King and Queen,' he said.
'It was especially moving to hear the testimonies of those few veterans who were present.'
It is understood the Guernsey contingent plans to travel back today from St Malo.
