Honouring War Vets: Remembrance Day Parade
The Remembrance Day Parade to commemorate those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the two World Wars will take place on Thursday November 11th, 2010 at 11am at the Cenotaph, Hamilton. Approximately 800 Bermudians served overseas in varying capacities and units during both World Wars.
The following units will be on parade:
- War Veterans
- Bermuda Regiment
- Bermuda Police
- North Village Band & Somerset Brigade Band
- St. John Ambulance Brigade
- Bermuda Regiment Band & Corps of Drums
- Bermuda Regiment Gun Troop
- Bermuda Cadet Corps
- Bermuda Sea Cadets
- Salvation Army Band
A number of dignitaries including Governor Sir Richard Gozney, Premier Paula Cox, Opposition Leader Kim.Swan and Mayor of Hamilton Charles Gosling will be in attendance.
All parade detachments are expected to arrive at the Cabinet building at 10:35am. The Premier is expected to arrive at 10:45am and His Excellency the Governor is scheduled to arrive at 10:52pm.
In the event of inclement weather the ceremony at the Cenotaph will be cancelled and a service will be held in the Cathedral. Those attending are asked to be seated by 10:30am.
Thank you for your service, gentlemen (and ladies, I imagine?). It has not gone unappreciated.
There is also a service at 9am on Thursday at Albuoys Point to remember the Captain and Crew of the Jervis Bay. She was the sole escort for 37 merchant ships in Convoy HX-84 from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Britain, when the convoy encountered the Admiral Scheer. The Captain of Jervis Bay, Edward Fegen, ordered the convoy to scatter, and set a course straight towards the German warship to draw its fire, guns blazing.[1] The Jervis Bay was hopelessly out-gunned and outranged by the 11-inch guns of the German ship. Even so, Fegan and his crew fought on until their ship was set ablaze and sunk 755 nautical miles (1,398 kilometres) south-southwest of Reykjavic. Captain Fegen went down with his ship.[2] However, although Admiral Scheer went on to sink five merchant ships out of the convoy, Jervis Bay’s sacrifice bought enough time for the convoy to scatter, and the remaining ships escaped. Captain Fegen was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross as a result of this action. The citation for the Victoria Cross reads “Valour in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save the many ships it was his duty to protect.”