Trinity School children attended the annual memorial service

THE courage of a man who died in a commando raid during the German Occupation, Captain Philip Ayton, was marked at an annual service in Trinity yesterday.

The service, led by the Rector Rev Geoff Houghton, was held at Petit Port, and the Constable, John Gallichan, and the Honorary French Consul David Myatt were among those who took part.

It was on Christmas night in 1943 that British and French commandos landed in Trinity as part of Operation Hardtack 28. The operation was led by Captain Ayton, but while returning to their boats he stepped on a mine and was fatally wounded.

The service yesterday was watched by 17 children from Trinity School, who were accompanied by acting head teacher Nichola Turner and Debbie Dewhurst.

Captain Ayton and his raiding party were from the then-named Special Boat Section. To mark that connection, local members of the Special Boat Service Association, represented by Philip Sturgess, presented a bench to the parish bearing the association’s motto, which has been placed opposite the memorial stone.