Nine come back to remember the 500

Saturday, 22nd November 2008

By Simon Tostevin

SAILORS lost in the Second World War sinkings of HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne were remembered at Le Foulon Cemetery yesterday.

Islanders, dignitaries and relatives all gathered to pay their respects on the 65th anniversary of the naval disaster in which more than 500 died.

Within days of the tragedy on 23 October 1943, 21 bodies were washed up on the beaches of Guernsey. Those now rest at Le Foulon.

The occupying Germans allowed them a funeral with full military honours on 17 November 1943 and it is estimated that between 4,000 and 5,000 islanders attended. In the region of 900 wreaths are reported to have been laid that day.

Yesterday’s gathering was much smaller, but included nine survivors of the sinkings.

Article posted on 6th October, 2008 - 11.30am

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