Veterans meet to mark start of Remembrance period

A group of veterans came together to mark the start of the Remembrance period and Poppy Appeal.

The Royal British Legion Guernsey flag was raised on the mast at the bottom of St Julian's Avenue, Guernsey, to commemorate on Thursday. There was also a service to dedicate the Field of Remembrance at the War Memorial in St Peter Port.

Ben Rowe, president of the Royal British Legion in Guernsey, said: "We've got to remember our history.

"We're remembering an awful lot of boys and girls who served and fought and died for our country and once we stop remembering those people, what was it all for?"

Rowe served for seven years in the army and then worked as a police officer.

He said joining the army was the "best thing" he ever did.

"I was a little bit lost at the time, it gave me direction, it gave me discipline," he said.

"I still carry a lot of the things I learned from the army now so it gave me direction for my entire life and honestly it's the best thing I ever did."

The Royal British Legion Guernsey said the event was a "simple but poignant" occasion.

Mike Spiller, chairman of the Royal British Legion Central Committee in Guernsey, said: "What this all does is it puts the whole event back in the forefront of people's minds whatever age they may be."

Spiller, who spent 34 years in the Royal Navy, said: "On Remembrance Sunday you will see a lot of the cadets out, the air cadets and the sea cadets and also the combined cadet force from Elizabeth College.

"I think there's a lot more people involved in the island who've been involved in the armed forces."

Gordon Young, a 92-year-old veteran, attended the event. He was child during the German occupation of Guernsey.

"I remember every minute of it, and by God it was a terrible situation to be in," he said.

He added: "I thought join the forces, I'll have a uniform, I'll have something to eat and I'll learn how to look after myself properly.

"Discipline does you good."

The Bailiff of Guernsey said it wanted to invite any ex-servicemen or women to join in the Parade on Remembrance Sunday

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