A ROYAL NAVY ship is in Guernsey to provide a guard of honour for this year’s Charybdis memorial weekend. Minehunter HMS Brocklesby is here to mark the anniversary of the loss of HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne, which were sunk by enemy action off the French coast during the Second World War.

The bodies of 21 crew were washed up on Guernsey and 5,000 islanders attended a funeral service in recognition of the young men who had given their lives.

Lt-Cdr Matthew Dennis said it was an honour and a privilege to take part in the ceremony.

‘The reception my crew has received so far from the Guernsey people has been fantastic,’ he said.

‘The ship came here last year and about half of the men on board were involved then, so they are definitely looking forward to it.

‘It’s a massively important event and there is a real sense of purpose. The crew will form a platoon at the ceremony and it gives them a bit of drill practise, which they don’t often get, so that’s a bonus.’

HMS Brocklesby is a Hunt Class MCMV naval ship and its main purpose is to locate and destroy underwater mines.

Last year it spent six months in the Baltic with seven other nations’ minehunters and it has recently been based in Plymouth.

Lt-Cdr Dennis said he imagined the vessel would be serving in the Gulf in the near future.

‘After here we are embarking on seven weeks of display visits around the UK,’ he said.

‘Any opportunity to show off the navy in a good light is most welcome.’

HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne were sunk by German Elbing Class torpedo boats in the early morning of 23 October 1943 off St Brieuc.

Five hundred men died, but nine of the remaining 23 survivors are in Guernsey for this year’s memorial weekend.

As part of the commemoration, Guernsey will pay football against the navy for the Malaya Cup at the Track at 2pm today and, from 5pm, the Royal Marines will beat retreat on the Albert Pier.

There will be a communion service at St John’s Church, Les Amballes, from 10.30am tomorrow, with an area inside dedicated to HMS Charybdis.

A memorial service will then start at 3pm at Le Foulon Cemetery, with support from the Guernsey Association of Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

It will be attended by Lt-Governor Sir Fabian Malbon, Bailiff Geoffrey Rowland and the survivors and their families.

The Royal Marines band concert starts at 8pm tomorrow at St James. Tickets are priced £10 or £5 for restricted view and are available from the venue.

Islanders are welcome at all events.