In 1943 HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne were sunk in a night action with the Germans ‘E’ Boats T23 and T27 off the north coast of Brittany. Within days the bodies of 21 Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel had washed up on the Guernsey coast and their deaths proved to be a turning point in the German occupation of the Island.

Although the Germans decided to bury the men with full military honours, the Islanders seized upon this as an opportunity to show their loyalty to Britain and their respect for the men who died. In all 5,000 Guernsey people attended the funerals, bringing with them 900 wreaths.

This was such an effective demonstration of anti-Nazi feeling amongst the Islanders that the Germans subsequently banned members of the public from attending the funerals for the additional 29 sailors whose bodies were later washed up. To mark this turning point, the Charybdis Weekend is held in Guernsey each year to commemorate not only the sailors and marines who lost their lives, but also the bravery of the Islanders.

This year is the 60th anniversary of the sinkings and the last time that a Royal Navy warship will attend specifically for the commemorations. As such it proved to be a memorable and busy weekend for all with a large number of functions and ceremonies to attend. Once the ship was safely alongside in St Peter Port, the Commanding Officer, Commander Wayne Keble, was whisked away to meet the Guernsey Bailiff, Sir de Vic Carey and later the Lieutenant Governor, Lt Gen Sir John Foley.

Whilst the CO was away making his calls, the ship’s football team was challenged by the Guernsey Fire Brigade but, despite valiant efforts all round, were beaten 2:1. Onboard, the ship’s company were busy rigging floodlights to ensure that the ship could be highlighted in the small but picturesque harbour of St Peter Port throughout the visit.

A very full day was brought to a close with an Official Dinner, held by the Guernsey Association of Royal Navy and Royal Marines, in which the CO was one of the Guests of Honour.

After the grey, overcast skies of Friday, Saturday’s dawn brought much more favourable weather. As members of the ship’s company engaged in a final full dress rehearsal for Sunday’s memorial parade, others spent the day preparing for that evening’s Cocktail Party.

Although HMS Richmond has hosted a number of similar functions in the past few months, to be involved in such an historic commemoration was a great honour and one which was taken very seriously. The hangar was scrubbed out with extra care and the flags and ensigns draped neatly around the bulkheads.

The entire team, from the chefs and stewards in the galley and Wardroom, to those who volunteered to help out as additional stewards, worked extremely hard to ensure that things were ready to go on time. Meanwhile the CO attended a reception for the Charybdis Association at Government House.

Throughout this frenetic period of activity and preparation, members of the Charybdis Association quietly and with great dignity, slipped out of St Peter Port in the Island’s lifeboat to conduct a private wreath laying ceremony off the Guernsey coast.

Immediately prior to the cocktail party, the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines conducted a Beat Retreat on the Island’s Albert Pier. This set the scene for the cocktail party which was attended by some 100 guests including the Lieutenant Governor and his wife, the Naval Regional Officer, Cdre Johns and a number of survivors from HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne.

With the ship floodlit and buglers from the RM Band sounding the Last Post, members of HMS Richmond’s Guard conducted a ceremonial sunset which brought the evening to a dramatic and poignant close.

Sunday brought yet better weather and bode well for the afternoons activities. The CO and members of HMS Richmond’s Guard joined His Excellency and Lady Foley, together with members of the public, the Guernsey RN and RM associated and survivors of the disaster in a memorial service and parade. The visit was officially brought to a close by a concert performed by the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines.

HMS Richmond departed Guernsey on the Monday morning and transited back to Portsmouth. Throughout the commemorative weekend, the ship’s company were struck by the friendliness and kindness afforded them by the Islanders and the genuine interest and positive comments made by those they encountered.

For many the visit provoked a certain amount introspection. How would we have coped with the loss of our ship and colleagues? Would we have been brave enough to make a stand against such a brutal regime?

The last RN warship to attend the Charybdis Weekend may have departed Guernsey for the last time but the ties between the Service, the people of Guernsey and the survivors of that terrible action will remain strong.

Many serving and retired members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines have attended the commemorations over the years. Each of us is acutely aware of the sacrifice our forebears made to secure our freedom today and will ensure that the Sailors and Royal Marines who lost their lives in HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne will never be forgotten by the Royal Navy.