The youngest person to take part in yesterday’s ceremony was six-year-old Luke Le Page. The Vale Infants pupil helped lay a wreath on behalf of St John Ambulance, where he is a Badger. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0869190)
HUNDREDS of islanders paid their respects yesterday at the Remembrance Sunday service.
The annual parade arrived at the war memorial at the top of Smith Street at 10.45am for the Act of Remembrance service led by Dean of Guernsey, the Very Rev. Canon Paul Mellor.
The firing of the Castle Cornet cannon marked the start and end of a two-minute silence.
Lt-Governor Sir Fabian Malbon led the wreath laying and was followed by islanders from the armed forces and charities.
Small wooden crosses were laid in tribute to islanders who died in battle.
Marshall De Jersey Harvey, 87, placed a cross in memory of his father, Sam, and uncle, also Marshall, after whom he was named. Both fought in the First World War.
Mr Harvey served in the Royal Navy between 1940 and 1945 on destroyers in the Atlantic and motor torpedo boats in the Mediterranean.
‘My uncle went off and we never saw him again,’ he said.
Mr Harvey did not think young people today had any idea of what war was about.
‘When you ask them about the war, they say, “what war?”. They couldn’t care less,’ he said.
He disagreed with the decision to go into Afghanistan.
‘I think it’s completely wrong – they should never have been there in the first place. We seem to interfere with everyone else’s troubles and not look after our own,’ said Mr Harvey.
That thought was echoed by fellow veteran Norman Eastmead, also 87. ‘British troops should look after Britain.’
He said Remembrance Day was special for him.
‘I remember my comrades who never came back. I was on the front line for the whole of the Second World War in the English Channel and in the Far East. Someone must have been looking out for me,’ he said.
Mr Eastmead served in air-sea rescue. ‘We went where the trouble was,’ he said.
Following the Smith Street service, wreaths were laid at the Boer War memorial in St Julian’s Avenue. A service also took place at the White Rock to remember islanders who died in a German air raid immediately prior to the Occupation.
Article posted on 9th November, 2009 - 11.30am
4 Article Comments
First of all I must emphasise that I believe it’s right and proper to remember those who have given their lives to defend our freedom.
Trying to be objective though, it doesn’t surprise me that the younger generation, when asked about the war, answer “what war?” I was brought up at a time when if someone said “the war” it was obvious they meant World War II. These days, this isn’t the case so much and considering the number of wars in recent history (Gulf War I, II, Afghanistan, Balkans etc) I don’t think young people are acting out of turn to ask exactly which war is being referred to.
It also doesn’t surprise me that they aren’t so well informed or bothered about World War II – they are simply following well known human behaviour. The longer time moves on, the more what was recent history becomes older and eventually ancient history – major events become less significant in the eyes of each passing generation.
This is what is happening with World War II, it will go the way of other major wars and battles that have happened throughout history. To illustrate this point, very few commemorate the Battle of Hastings – the outcome of which arguably had a greater effect on Guernsey’s history than the Second World War.
I’m not suggesting we should not remember our history, far from it – I fully support Remembrance Sunday and Liberation Day, as they provide an opportunity to give thanks for those who gave everything. I’m simply mindful that memories of the war generation will inevitably fade, just as we don’t remember our ancestors who fought at Hastings.
Incidentally I do think that, given modern technology, we should be trying to document as many of these memories as possible so that future generations will have a better idea of our history – even if it doesn’t mean so much to them.
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“Mr Harvey did not think young people today had any idea of what war was about.”
For me this line says it all, and is something to celebrate. I am so very grateful that, thanks to the sacrifice of these gallant people and the continuing sacrifice of those in our armed forces, my generation and subsequent generations do not have any idea what war is really about.
What better legacy than peace and freedom can Mr Harvey and those of his family who gave their lives leave to the people of Guernsey? Long may it continue….
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Just because Mr Harvey has expressed his opinion does not mean that it is to be taken as fact.
In my view, it is incorrect to say that young people do not care about “the” war, it is just that there are other wars to think about that are of more immediate relevance, and not just the one that he was involved in.
I hope that Mr Harvey was not suggesting that young people do not care about wars and the effect of war in general, and the importance of remembering the sacrifices made and still being made, as to do so would do them a great disservice.
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I agree with the above postings we are not just remembering the dead of WW1 & WW11, if the children are not taught the subject at school they will ask which war. It was stated at the Festeval of Remembrance that there has been only one year since the end of WW11 that a British soldier has not been killed so let us remember all of those as well
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