17 October 2018
Sunday, 11 November 2018 marks 100 years since the conclusion of the Great War. Across the British Isles, a number of events are taking place to reflect the importance of this centenary. The Bailiff’s Chambers has been working with a number of organisations to deliver the following events to commemorate the ending of hostilities in 1918.
Opening of the field of remembrance
Friday, 26 October
The Parade, St Helier
This event is coordinated by the Royal British Legion and is supported by the Parish of St Helier, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, and the Bailiff’s Chambers.
Repatriation of Guillemont 'Heart' Stone
Tuesday, 30 October, 7.30pm
Weighbridge, St Helier
Members of the Public are invited to meet in the Weighbridge next to the Great War Memorial Arch no later than 7.15pm to set off in procession to the Royal Square. The procession route will follow the footsteps of the Jersey Contingent in reverse, as per their departure in 1915.
There will be a short ceremony at Weighbridge Place that will be opened by the Bailiff, followed by a short reading form Chris Stone and a bidding by the Dean of Jersey, the Very Reverend Mike Keirle.
The Heart of the Guillemont Memorial will be carried by soldiers of the Jersey Field Squadron, led by the Band of the Island of Jersey, up Mulcaster Street and into the Royal Square, where the Heart stone will be received by the Jersey Pipe band and piped into the Royal Court entrance by candle light. The Heart will lie in waiting to be placed in the memorial casing on the Royal Court steps, ready to be unveiled on Friday, 9 November 2018.
The event will conclude at approximately 8.00pm.
The Band of the Island of Jersey will play before the ceremony in Weighbridge Place.
Premier of the Royal British Legion film
Friday, 2 November, 6pm
Le Quesne Barracks
Royal British Legion Members, service personnel, dependents of service personnel, veterans, and descendants of the Jersey Contingent are invited to attend a special film screening.
Untold Stories: The Jersey Contingent in WWI is a moving and powerful short documentary, which has been commissioned for the Jersey Royal British Legion.
Unveiling of the Guillemont Memorial
Friday, 9 November, 7.30pm Postponed until Thursday, 15 November, 7.30pm
Royal Square, St Helier
The Guillemont memorial will encase the Heart Stone from the Jersey Memorial in the town of Guillemont, the Somme. The Stone will be near the point where the Jersey Contingent formed up, before their deployment to the Great War.
The memorial will be unveiled by the Bailiff, Sir William Bailhache in the presence of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Stephen Dalton GCB.
The ceremony will be opened by the choir, Musical Originals, followed by an address from the Bailiff, a reading by Chris Stone, leading to the formal unveiling. The choir will sing to mark the end of the ceremony.
Members of the public are invited to meet in the Royal Square no later than 7.15pm and will be directed by Royal Court Ushers. The event will conclude no later than 8.00pm.
Please note that this event was due to take place on Friday 9 November, but has since been postponed until Thursday 15 November because of expected bad weather.
This is to make sure that everybody involved in the ceremony can take part in, and experience the ceremony as intended.
Celebration of Armistice concert
Saturday, 10 November, 7pm
Fort Regent, St Helier
The Celebration of Armistice concert will mark 100 years since the signing of the Armistice that ended the Great War in 1918.
In the presence of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Dalton GCB and the Bailiff of Jersey, Sir William Bailhache, the Celebration of Armistice concert will draw together the Jersey Chamber Orchestra, the Band of the Island of Jersey, Jersey Cadet organisations, the Jersey Sings Choir, the Jersey Armistice Choir, the Jersey Youth theatre, and renowned singer Kate Royal.
Under the baton of celebrated conductor Stephen Bell, the augmented Jersey Chamber Orchestra will perform works by composers linked to the first world war and “Two Brothers”, a new commission by Charles Mauleverer, a Jersey composer.
The piece is about two Jersey brothers who fought together a hundred years ago. The piece will be complemented with performances by the Band of the Island of Jersey, popular songs from the Great War by the Jersey Sings Choir, and readings and poetry from the Jersey Youth Theatre.
Free tickets are available online or from the Fort Regent box office.
Remembrance Sunday ceremony
Sunday, 11 November, 10.30am
The Cenotaph, St Helier
Members of the public are invited to attend the Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, the Parade. The service will begin at 11am, but those wishing to attend are asked to arrive no later than 10.30am.
Dress should reflect the solemnity of the occasion.
Royal British Legion torch ride
Sunday, 11 November, 4.15pm
Islandwide
The Royal British Legion Riders Branch will ride around the island lighting a candle at each parish war memorial. The 11 motorcycles will finish in St Ouen for the Beacon of Light Ceremony. The same torch that will be used to light the 12 parish candles will ignite the beacon, marking the end of the centenary events.
Beacon of Light ceremony
Sunday, 11 November, 6.30pm
Les Landes Racecourse, St Ouen
The lighting of Jersey's 7-metre high beacon, which is part of a national project to light 1,000 beacons across the British Isles, will take place at Les Landes Racecourse at 7.00pm.
The event will be open from 5.30pm, with live music from 6.00pm. Food and drinks will be available throughout the event, and there is parking at the racecourse. Those attending are advised to wear warm clothing and sturdy footwear.
Members of the public are asked to arrive by 6.30pm latest.
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