The event started with a parade, which comprised of veterans, cadets, representatives from the emergency services and the visiting Chelsea pensioners.
Once all were gathered at the memorial, the national anthem was played followed by the Last Post. Then the two-minute silence ensued, its beginning and end signified by cannon fire.
The poem For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon was then read before attendees proceeded to lay their wreaths to the accompaniment of hymns, with the Lt-Governor Sir Richard Cripwell, at his final Remembrance Sunday service, laying the first.
After the last was placed, prayers were said by the clergy, including by the Venerable Matthew Trick, who was marking his first remembrance Sunday as Dean of Guernsey.
‘We stand in the presence of God as we gather once more in grateful remembrance of those who gave their lives in time of war,’ he said.
‘God grant to the living grace to the departed rest, to the church, the king, and the commonwealth, and to all people, peace and concord.’
At the Cenotaph in London, Conseiller John Guille from Sark attended the national ceremony to lay a wreath on behalf of the Bailiwick.
Since 2019, honour of doing so has been shared between representatives from Guernsey, Alderney and Sark. 2019 was the first time that the Crown Dependencies had been entitled to be represented, following campaigning from former Guernsey deputy Tony Webber, among others.
‘It was a great honour to represent the Bailiwick at the Cenotaph, especially to represent Sark, which gave so much, particularly in the First World War,’ said Conseiller Guille.
‘Sixty-eight men from Sark went off to serve. That was over 60% of the male population the time. 18 died, which had a significant impact on the island.’
He was particularly glad to be able to mark the occasion alongside other representatives from across the British Isles who likewise came to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by those from their communities who had served and died in war.
‘It’s an important event for the Bailiwick to reaffirm our ties with the UK, standing side by side to commemorate those we’ve lost to past conflicts,’ he said.
Wreaths were also laid in Alderney following an ecumenical service in the parish church and short parade from the church to the war memorial in Victoria Street.
You need to be logged in to comment.