Island represented at 75th D-Day memorials

The Chief Minister and External Relations Minister are part of a delegation representing Jersey at a series of ceremonies to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Senator John Le Fondré and Senator Ian Gorst were today (Wednesday) travelling to Carteret to attend tomorrow’s services to mark the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. During their visit, the ministers will attend a ceremony of remembrance at Bayeux Cathedral before a service at the British military cemetery.

The Channel Islands delegation will then travel to an international ceremony at Courseulles-Sur-Mer which will be presided over by the French Prime Minister Édouard Phillipe and attended by international dignitaries. Guernsey’s Chief Minister Gavin St Pier and Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq will also be travelling as part of the Channel Islands delegation, who are the guests of Jean Marc Julienne, Vice President of la Manche.

Senator Le Fondré said: "It is an honour to attend the 75th commemorations of the D-Day landings. This date is an important part of Jersey’s and France’s shared history as it marked a significant turning point of the Second World War. It was the bravery of the Allied troops 75 years ago which started the end of a terrible period of our history."

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, will attend a ceremony in Jersey tomorrow organised by the Parish of St Helier in conjunction with the Normandy Veterans Association and the Royal British Legion. Events will start at 10.45am at the Cenotaph and the service will start at 11am.