The Story of the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry in Masnieres
His Excellency was part of a delegation that included the Bailiff, the Dean and Deputy Dudley Owen, standard bearers and representatives of St Peter Port Douzaine and Sark, along with the annual RGLI memorial ride of motorcyclists and the RGLI Charitable Trust.
His Excellency received a guided tour of the battlefield at Cambrai and visited the underground mines where the RGLI sheltered during the heaviest artillery fire. There was also a visit to the cemetery where the His Excellency laid four poppy crosses on the RGLI graves in place and then to the Deborah Tank Museum for a tour from the curator.
The Annual Parade and Service of Remembrance took place on the Sunday where the Lieutenant-Governor gave an address to the local community gathered there, laying a wreath at the RGLI memorial alongside the Mayor before moving to the French WWI memorial to also lay a wreath there.
On the final day of their three day visit, His Excellency visited two local schools where younger pupils sang God Save The King and presented HE with hand-drawn Christmas messages featuring pictures of the Guernsey flag. An exchange programme between schools in Masnieres and Guernsey runs every year, which this year included Blanchelande College and St Sampson School.
The people of Masnieres truly understand and appreciate the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry and earnestly commemorate the sacrifice these Guernsey men made to try to defend their town during WWI.
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Photographs by Paul Chambers
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