The presentation of the new colours took place in Town Church in an ancient service of blessing not seen in the island for more than 100 years.
The colours were initially blessed by Dean of Guernsey the Very Rev. Tim Barker, before being passed to the Lt-Governor on behalf of the Royal Family.
They were then taken by representatives from the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment – the army infantry regiment currently twinned with Guernsey – out of the north door of Town Church and presented to a parade led by the Boys’ Brigade.
The parade marched up the High Street before coming to a halt along Smith Street.
Colin Dodd from the RGLI Trust said members had been delighted with how well the ceremony had gone, as well as with the interest of islanders who lined the street to watch the parade.
‘It was quite emotional in the church, but it’s such a significant moment with regards to the history of the RGLI, something like this hasn’t happened in such a long time.
‘It gives me confidence that the memory of the RGLI will live on long into the future.’
The original colours were made for the RGLI when it formed in 1916 during the First World War.
They were ‘laid up’ in the church for safe keeping on the last day of May 1917, before the Regiment departed for France, and have been there ever since.
They list the battle honours of the regiment, including Ypres, Cambrai and Hazebrouck.
The new colours have been constructed using traditional materials and techniques by one of the principles flagmakers of the Crown and the British Army.
A separate twinned memorial event, held at the same time, at both the RGLI memorials at the Sunken Gardens in St Peter Port and in Masnieres in France, where one of the RGLI’s most significant actions against German troops occurred, took place at noon yesterday.
The date marked exactly 108 years since the engagement, known as the Battle of Rue Verte.
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