A moving ceremony was held on Sark this week to mark the thirty thousandth time the Last Post was sounded at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. The Memorial is in Ypres, Belgium, and is dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers lost in fighting around the town in the First World War and whose graves are unknown. Since its completion in 1928 a bugler from the nearby fire brigade has played the Last Post every evening at 8pm. During the Second World War when Belgium was occupied the ceremony was conducted at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey. Here in Sark members of the island’s Fire Service marched to the War Memorial at St Peter’s Church with local representatives of the Royal British Legion. Kevin Adams, Head of the Fire Service, explained the history of the Menin Gate Memorial then musician Ash Jarman sounded the Last Post. Those present then observed a minute’s silence before the names of those from Sark lost in the War were read aloud and a wreath was placed in their memory by Fireman Paul Williams.

Pictures and words by Sue Daly

The march to the War Memorial

Kevin explains the history of the Menin Memorial

Ash sounds the Last Post

The lost are remembered

The Sark Standard is lowered

Paul lays the wreath