‘We leave genuinely inspired by the islanders’
‘GUERNSEY’S Own’ 201 Squadron completed its historic visit to the island at the weekend, culminating in exercising its ‘Privilege of Guernsey’ – marching along the Town seafront with colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed.
The squadron is the only group to be ever granted this honour, akin to the ‘freedom of the city’, which it was granted in 1994 due to its long links with the island.
In total a party of 60 visited the island, including 12 volunteers from RAF Lossiemouth Pipes and Drums Band, who had piped the squadron throughout the weekend’s events.
This is the first time since the privilege was conferred 30 years ago that the entire squadron has been in the island and Wing Commander Rob McCartney said the parade had been the highlight of its stay.
‘This was the real focus of our visit,’ he said.
‘To exercise the privilege, and to march through the streets of Guernsey with our swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating and standard flying. We hope we’ve given the people of Guernsey something to cheer for.’
The parade was inspected by the Lt-Governor, Lt General Richard Cripwell, and the Bailiff, Sir Richard McMahon, before they attended the annual Battle of Britain service at the Town Church and the wing commander wished to thank them and all the island for the warmth of their reception.
‘The whole island has just been so welcoming and so friendly,’ he said.
‘We are humbled by the affiliation, and we’re humbled by the way the Guernsey islanders are with us.’
During the four-day trip the squadron also took part in the firing of the noon-day gun at Castle Cornet, visited the Priaulx Library and taken part in a ceremony of remembrance at the Allied Aircrew Memorial at Guernsey Airport on Saturday.
Wing Commander McCartney has spent the past 22 years operating some of the most advanced weaponry the British Isles has to offer but admitted this was the first time he had ever fired a canon.
‘It was certainly louder than I was expecting,’ he said.
‘They told me in the briefing that half of military personnel get something wrong the first time they fire one, which is surprising, so I was glad when it went off.’
There has been a special link between the island and the squadron since 1918, and members wear a Guernsey flag on their uniforms.
After being disbanded in 2011, the squadron was reformed in 2021.
It is now based at RAF Lossiemouth, in north-east Scotland, where it operates the P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Wing Commander McCartney said this trip had once again reinforced that relationship.
‘We are all Guernsey fanatics now,’ he said.
‘We all do truly love it here. The link between us and Guernsey is unique.
‘No one else in the Royal Air Force has an affiliation with another part of the British Isles. We love coming here.
‘Everyone is so friendly and so generous.
‘We leave genuinely inspired by the islanders.’
Parts of the regiment will be back in May for Liberation Day and in September for the Battle of Britain parade but not in the numbers seen in this visit and Wing Commander McCartney said they would happily come for other reasons.
‘I would love to see someone from Guernsey in the squadron again,’ he said.
‘It would put the affiliation on a firmer footing, however I know in the past we have had members of the squadron marry someone they have met on visits, and coming over for a big Guernsey wedding would be pretty good as well.’
