World War One Commemmoration Service

September 26, 2014

[Updated] A service to commemorate the onset of the First World War will be held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Hamilton this Sunday, September 28th, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.

A spokesperson said, “The service will be conducted by the Bishop of Bermuda, the Rt. Reverend Nicholas Dill. Along with hymns and prayers, the Regimental Colours for the Bermuda Regiment will be marched to the Chancel Steps and received by Bishop Dill.

“Historian Dr. Edward Harris will also give a historical reflection. Everyone is invited to attend the service to mark this historic occasion. Those attending are asked to be seated by 3:45 p.m.”

Update: Governor George Fergusson said, “On Sunday a Service will be held in the Anglican Cathedral to mark the 100th Anniversary of the death of the first Bermudian to be killed in the First World War. In effect, the Service will be Bermuda’s formal commemoration of the start of that terrible conflict.

William Smith, the young, black Royal Navy sailor killed in the sinking of HMS Aboukir on 22 September 1914, was only the first of over 80 Bermudians who gave their lives over the following four years in the Navy, the RAF and its predecessor, the Royal Flying Corps, and the Army, both British and Canadian, with the greater number from Bermuda’s own two units, the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps.

“The fact that the first Bermudian fatality was naval reflected the intimate connection at the time between Bermuda and the Royal Navy and its Dockyard. The sinking of the Aboukir, with her companion ships Crecy and Hooge, within two hours, must have caused deep alarm throughout the Navy.

“The loss of three major ships from the biggest navy in the world, sunk so quickly by four torpedoes from one small submarine – which must have seemed like a mere gadget at the time, within a few weeks of the start of the War must have caused alarm and real fear for everybody on what previously had been seen as well protected ships. Bermudian families, with their naval links, would have shared this fear, particularly with William Smith’s death bringing bereavement home.

“I have found it moving to see in churches of many traditions and elsewhere right around Bermuda the sad memorial lists of those who died between 1914 and 1918. Most were very young. It is all too easy to envisage the pain caused by each loss to families and the wider community. 80 deaths of young men in four years out of a much smaller community than Bermuda is today will have been a horrifying succession of local and family tragedies.

“Bermuda has been fortunate in the past decade not to have shared the losses of young men and women in military service which our neighbours in the UK, US and Canada have faced, which has brought home the meaning of the phrase ‘killed in action’ to younger generations.

“Nonetheless, Bermudians have proudly served with British, US and Canadian forces in several of the world’s trouble spots. And military conflicts have by no means gone away, as any quick glimpse of a newspaper confirms all too grimly.

“Not everyone will be able to go to the Commemorative Service this weekend. But I would urge everyone to spare a thought for the service, and the sacrifices, made by Bermuda during the First World War and in conflicts since.

“On this particular anniversary, it would be very appropriate to take a second look at the memorial plaques which can be found in each parish; and to take a moment to think that each name reflects a real person, who lived in that parish, and whose families, friends and neighbours would have mourned their deaths and often been affected by them for the rest of their lives.”

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Comments (2)

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  1. mj says:

    No one seems to have any sensible explaination about World War 1 and other subsequent wars for that matter… Just wanna know who actually started it ? Who were people involved(nationality/race) and why do we commemorate such an event? Slaves don’t know difference? We’re still at war and still enslaved, whether mentally or physically, this world inprisons more people than went to war!So has anything changed, or just sound bites? SMDH…We in Bermuda need to know who we are and where we stand in the struggle.. After the war of EGOS!

    • Good luck says:

      There are videos and books and the Bda Library has lots on the subject. Not so difficult to even use the internet and find out.