The
British High Commission in collaboration with local dignitaries on 10 November
2019 marked Remembrance Day in The Gambia with a ceremony at the Commonwealth
War Graves in Fajara.
The
year 2019 marks the 115th anniversary of the start of the First World War, the
observation of which included a two-minute silence observed on the 11th hour of
the 10th day of the 11th month.
Remembrance
Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of
the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who died in
the line of duty.
British
High Commissioner, Ms Sharon Wardle, led the ceremony and also laid a
ceremonial wreath of poppies.
Wreaths
were also laid by the deputy Chief of the Gambia Defence Staff, Major Gen.
Yankuba Drammeh, assistant Inspector General of Police, Ebrima Bah, former
serving soldier, British Armed Forces and many other dignitaries and members of
the public.
The
Fajara War Cemetery contains 203 graves made up of 122 West Africans, 63
British, 10 Canadians, two Australians, two French, two New Zealanders, one
Norwegian and one Rhodesian.
In
her statement, British High Commissioner Sharon Wardle said the contribution
and reputation of those from service within the West Africa Frontier Force
during World War I and those who took the long journey across continents to
take part in the Burma Campaign, during the World War II would forever be
recorded and recognised with the utmost respect.
He
added that the individual and very personal experiences of those who served are
very much still alive and being preserved by loved ones – including many with a
UK-Gambia link.
He
thanked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission team, for their hard work
throughout the year in maintaining the beautiful cemetery as a place for all of
us to visit and reflect.
He
revealed that proceeds from the Appeal would all go to the Gambia Legion, which
supports the Gambian veterans and their families.
Lt.
Tim Mason, British Defence Adviser to The Gambia in an order of service says,
“let us remember before God, and commend to His sure keeping those who have
died for their country in conflicts past and present. All whom we knew, and
whose memories we treasure, and all who have lived and died in the service of
mankind.”