The respect our Australian and New Zealand military personnel commands was on show in the Channel Island of Guernsey on Anzac Day last week.
Island leaders including lieutenant governor Richard Cripwell, baliff Richard McMahon and Royal British Legion president Bob Place joined ex-pat Kiwis and Australians for an 8am ceremony at Fort George attended by about 50 people.
Cripwell, who is King Charles’ representative in the Crown dependency – the highest office on the island – and a former senior British Army officer, told The News commemorating Anzac Day was a privilege.
New Zealander Jonathan Bates reads during the Anzac Day ceremony with Lt Governor Richard Cripwell, left, and Dean of Guernsey Tim Barker at right. Behind them are the flag bearers including at right, Annaliese Sanders. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Neighbouring Jersey had earlier held a dawn commemoration with fewer numbers.
And it is thanks to New Zealander Jonathan Bates, originally from Gisborne, who lives and owns a specialist finance consulting firm in Guernsey, that such high-powered presence at Anzac Day has become the norm.
His grandfather was a major in the New Zealand 22nd Battalion during World War II.
Anzac connections: New Zealander Jonathan Bates, second left, has been credited with ensuring Anzac Day commemorations at Fort George in Guernsey attract high powered support from key leaders like Lieutenant Governor Richard Cripwell, Baliff Richard McMahon and Guernsey Royal British Legion president Bob Place. Also pictured, from left, is Dean of Guernsey Tim Barker, whose wife Judy is Australian, Rachel Sanders, who moved from Wellington 16 years ago, daughter and flag bearer Annaliese and son Nathan. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The Kiwi connection did not end there with 14-year-old Annaliese Sanders, whose four great grandfathers all served New Zealand in during the same war, was the New Zealand flag bearer for the ceremony.
Watching on was mother Rachel – she and husband Matt moved from Wellington to Guernsey 16 years ago – and brother Nathan, 11.
The service was conducted by Dean of Guernsey Tim Barker whose wife Judy is an Australian.
Later in the day guests gathered in the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club to mark the day while the Australian and New Zealand flags flew all day at St Peter Port Constables Office – the equivalent of New Zealand local authorities – in central Guernsey.
Flag bearers with Anzac links, Atticus Robison, left, and Annaliese Sanders, right, with Guernsey Lieutenant Governor Richard Cripwell at the Fort George memorial in Guernsey after Anzac Day commemorations in the Channel Island. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Anzac Day commemorations in Guernsey featured flag bearers with links to Australia and New Zealand – Atticus Robison, left, and Annaliese Sanders, right whose ancestors fought in World War I and II. With them is Guernsey Royal British Legion president Bob Place, left, and Chris Inder, Douzenier of St Peter Port Parish. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The Australian and New Zealand flags outside St Peter Port Parish Constables’ Office. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
