Lt. Glenroy Foster of The Montserrat Defense Force was the commander of the Remembrance Day parade service, which began at 8 a.m. with a two minutes silence marking the beginning of the ceremony.
The Remembrance Day service and parade on Sunday November 13 was prefaced with activities which had included two minutes of silence and the sound of sirens. The showing of the film Battle of the Somme has significance for the Remembrance Day service, where it is linked to the one hundredth anniversary of the death of the Montserratian Able Seaman Burleigh Hannam. He was killed by a shell in the last offensive of the Battle of the Somme on November 13, 1916 at the age of 17 years while serving in the Hawk Battalion in the Royal Naval Division during World War One.
The service and parade ceremony featuring all uniform bodies was held at the W. H Griffith Drive in Little Bay. The two minute silence was observed for those who lost their lives in World War One and World War Two, in 1914 to 1918, 1939 to 1945 and the Iraq war which started in year 2003, the signing of the last post and the laying of the wreath ceremony also took place at the service.
The U.K. defense advisor to the Caribbean Lt. Colonel Patrick Brown was on the island for the occasion, participating in the weekend activities, on this his eighth visit to Montserrat.
So too the British naval ship RFA Wave Knight on a return visit to Montserrat, also participated in the Remembrance Day service and parade among other organized activities. Captain Nigel Bud is the commanding officer of the British Naval Vessel.
Capt. Budd had said earlier, “I am delighted to be invited back to Montserrat again seven weeks after our last visit.”
They had to depart because of a storm that came through and the ship had to leave port because it was too rough to anchor. He informed that a marching platoon from the ship, of about twenty-five to thirty at the last count would participate at the parade. Explaining the compilation of the platoon, he said, “…it’s quite interesting because it’s a mixture of Royal Engineers, Royal Navy and Royal fleets, Auxiliary personnel, some of whom had not marched for a while and the engineers of course have learned the Army form drill where they start off on the other foot to the Navy…”
The “Last Post” trumpet solo echoed, preceding the laying of the wreaths, led by the Governor and Ag. Chief Minister, followed by representatives of the various bodies on parade. This year’s service was also without a sermon, but the prayers and scripture readings provided all the spiritual inspiration required. “O God our help in ages past” was wonderfully sung. Someone said, “I believe the hills surrounding the Piper’s pond valley responded with the “Amen.”
Her Excellency the Governor Miss Carriere took the salute of the eventual march-past.
