HMS Limbourne survivor thanks Guernsey

HMS Collingswood marine band marching towards Le Foulon The Royal Marine band played a concert and led the parade in remembrance of the losses suffered 68 years earlier

A survivor of a British naval disaster in World War Two has paid tribute to Guernsey's remembrance of his shipmates.

More than 500 men died when HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne were sunk on 23 October 1943.

Their bodies washed ashore in German-occupied Guernsey, Jersey and France.
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NEIL WOOD'S STORY
Neil Wood

"Through the tannoy system I could hear a port gunner shouting 'torpedo on the port beam'.

"Just seconds after that there was a terrific bang. I woke up a few minutes later, everything was blacked out and there was a huge weight on my body and I couldn't quite fathom out what was happening.

"I realised it was my opposite number, the other radar operator, lying on top of me and we had both been unconscious but we came to and we heard the order to abandon ship.

"The metal door [to the radar room] had warped and we couldn't open the clamps, fortunately one of the other radio operators heard our shouts and managed to break the other side and got us out."

Neil Wood, a radar operator on HMS Limbourne, said the turnout of the islanders at the military funeral of the sailors and marines had been a great show of support for the Royal Navy.

In all 5,000 Guernsey people attended the funerals of the 21 servicemen washed up on the island, laying a total of 900 wreaths.

Following this public demonstration of support for the British Armed Forces the German authorities banned the public from attending the funerals of an additional 29 sailors and marines washed ashore in Guernsey and all the funerals of those found in Jersey and along the French coast.

Mr Wood, who at 87 is one of eight living survivors, said: "Islanders showed their commitment to honouring the boys... the Guernsey people recognised the service our lads gave and they've kept up the memorial service."

The remembrance events, held at the weekend, included wreath laying at sea, a dinner, a concert by a band of the Royal Marines and a parade and remembrance service at the Foulon cemetery where some of those who washed ashore were buried.

Captain Peter Voute, the President of the Guernsey Association of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, said the weekend may slim down in 2013.

He said there was a question over how long survivors would continue to attend the weekend.

Captain Voute said: "Probably the weekend will change on the 70th anniversary... and there will be just a memorial service at the Foulon."

Neil Wood, who has visited the island for the memorial service for the majority of the past 28 years, had served aboard HMS Limbourne since she was commissioned in 1942.

After service in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, the vessel was assigned to Portsmouth to operate along the French coast and around the Channel Islands.

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