On the night of 22-23 October 1943, HMS Charybdis, a Dido-class cruiser, and HMS Limbourne, a Hunt-class destroyer, were sunk by German torpedo boats during Operation Tunnel, a British naval mission to intercept the blockade runner Munsterland.
The attack resulted in the loss of more than 500 Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel, including 22 whose bodies were recovered and buried with full military honours at Le Foulon Cemetery.
One of those on board at the time of the attack was Royal Marine John Eskdale, now 102, who attended the service yesterday, laying a wreath on the grave of his fellow marine Clifford Roberts.
‘If it hadn’t been for that chap there I wouldn’t be here at all, or I’d be here at the cemetery with him,’ he said.
‘He joined the ship that day and he was right behind me. When the torpedo hit us, we were knocked to the ground and the shell he had in his arms came on top of me, pinned me to the deck and he was rocketed overboard with the 30-foot waves that came over us.
‘It’s exceptional to be back. I never thought I’d be here again. I thought last year would be my last.’
Mr Eskdale said he had all of his fingers crossed that he would return to Guernsey for next year's service.
The annual service is organised by the Guernsey Association of Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Merchant Navy.
‘We’re in contact with people from all over the world and, while we still have members of the families of those who passed away and survived, the service is still commemorated,’ said president Chris Welsby
‘Each year we discover a new family or connection. We’ve always said in the association that as long as the people and the families still wish to commemorate we’ll support them for however long that might be.’
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