Hundreds of Islanders gather for Guillemont heart stone unveiling

Hundreds of Islanders gather for Guillemont heart stone unveiling

This was the message from the Bailiff as he addressed hundreds of Islanders who had gathered in the Royal Square on Thursday to see him unveil a new memorial.

Speaking at the unveiling of the heart stone from the Guillemont Memorial in France, which honours Islanders who died and fought in the Battle of the Somme, Sir William Bailhache said that history was an important lesson for children and adults.

‘The Second World War is a reminder that we need to stand up against evil regimes,’ he said.

‘The First World War is a reminder of how countries can get themselves to the point of what seems to be senseless conflict causing huge and unnecessary loss of life.

‘All of us need to remember that – and the children, whether those singing tonight or those to come – need to have that lesson with us, because it is the pressure of ordinary people in a true democracy that influences the actions of our leaders.

‘This indeed is one of the significant reasons we remembered last weekend all those who fought and lost their lives in those wars, especially commemorating the end of the Great War.

‘The unveiling tonight is an important memorial in itself, but its focus is also to look forward as a timeless reminder for the future.’

The Royal Court building was illuminated in a red glow from special lighting for the unveiling of the memorial to the men of the Jersey Contingent of the 7th Royal Irish Rifles.

At full strength, they numbered 326. About a third never came home.

The cylinder of polished pink granite – the symbol of the Island’s debt to the Contingent and all its First World War soldiers – was removed from the memorial in France on the anniversary in September of the 1916 Battle of Guillemont in 1916.

The battle claimed the lives of 20 Jersey soldiers (only two of whom have known graves) and saw 70 badly injured.

The ceremony to unveil it at the steps to the Royal Court was postponed from 9 November when a severe storm hit the Island.

The location was chosen as the soldiers, all volunteers from the Island’s ancient defence force –the Royal Jersey Militia – gathered in the square on 2 March 1915 to be cheered on by family and friends and hundreds of Islanders, at the start of their journey to the Western Front. To those they left in the Island, they were simply known as ‘ours’.

Thursday’s ceremony included a performance by the Musical Originals girls choir and a heartfelt address by historian Chris Stone, who was part of the team that created the Guillemont Memorial.

‘This is the end of a very long journey,’ he said, adding that more than 100 years ago, the Royal Square had echoed to the sound of the hobnail boots of ordinary men who had been inspired to do their bit for king and country. ‘They were ours, they are ours and now they are home,’ Mr Stone said.

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