COMMEMORATION ON VIS, MAY 2009

In 1983 a group of British Second World War veterans returned to the Island of Vis off the coast of Split, Croatia, to mark the service they gave in that region and to remember those that had fallen in battle. In those days, Vis was a base of the Yugoslav army and they had to obtain special permission to visit the island. Indeed the permission they were given allowed them to spend only 12 hours on the island. Since then, the veterans have returned every year. In 1985 there were 125 of them. However, as the years have passed, their numbers have decreased and this year the 6 remaining veterans, all of whom are now in their mid/late 80s, indicated to the British Embassy in Zagreb who had often helped with their logistical arrangements that this would probably be their last formal visit. The British Ambassador, David Blunt, felt that this should be marked, and with the agreement of the Veterans a more formal visit was organised. As the visit had always included some form of worship, I was asked to put together and lead a short service of commemoration at the British war cemetery on Vis and to give a blessing at each of the different service memorial sites.

Therefore on the morning of 19 May, together with Fredrik Vahlquist from our Chaplaincy, in his capacity as former President of the Memorial Association of Swedish Volunteers in Finland 1939-1944, we set off to drive to Vis. After nearly 8 hours of travel which included a spectacular catamaran ride from Split, we arrived on Vis.

After meeting the veterans we joined with the British Embassy staff, the Mayor as well as the State Secretary from the Croatian Ministry of Defence and the Head of the Croatian Navy for an informal reception.

The morning of 20 May began with the service at the cemetery and it was a privilege to be a part of this gathering. To witness the veterans marching into the cemetery, to see them honouring their fallen comrades in the silence and the laying of the wreaths and to hear them singing “Now thank we all our God” with such Gusto made it a very moving occasion.

There then followed short visits to the Royal Air Force and Navy commemoration sites where one of the veterans from that service said a few words and a prayer in memory of their comrades who had not returned. We were also joined by representatives of the Yugoslav partisans and the morning also included a visit to the memorial for those partisans who had died keeping the island free from enemy occupation.

The day ended with the unveiling of a seat by the harbour paid for by the veterans in memory of those who had died.

Croatian television who were making a documentary of the event along with a number of local and national TGV and radio stations were also present through the visit and it was encouraging and again very moving to hear the veterans being interviewed and reliving, clearly still vivid, memories of their time on the Island. A remark made by one of the veterans continues to stick in my mind. When asked why they continued to remember a war that took place some 65 years ago, he responded, “because we can’t forget”. He then added “also, we are not here to honour or glorify war, but to remind people why we should never go to war again”. It is for that reason I believe, we should continue to remember the sacrifice that so many have made in times of war to maintain freedom and give thanks to God for them.