This week the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (formerly the Naval Air Command) travel to Guernsey for the annual Charybdis and Limbourne Memorial Weekend, which this year will commemorates the 75^th anniversary of the tragic sinking of HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne during the Second World War.

Annually, a commemoration and memorial service is held to honour the memory of Royal Naval personnel who died following the tragic incident, which resulted in 464 members of the Charibdys crew losing their lives and a further 40 crew from the Limbourne also lost at sea. Some days later the bodies of 21 Royal Navy and Royal Marines were washed up on the Guernsey coast. The German occupying forces decided to bury the bodies with full military honours at Le Foulon Cemetery, St Peter Port and Islanders took the opportunity to demonstrate their respect for the men who had died, and their loyalty to their Sovereign, by attending the funeral. Over 5,000 out of the 20,000 islanders who had remained in Guernsey during the war travelled on foot or bicycle to Le Foulon.

Survivors and their families visit Guernsey annually to participate in the Charybdis and Limbourne Memorial Weekend which includes a memorial service being held at Le Foulon Cemetery under the auspices of the Guernsey Association of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines (GARNRM).

As part of their annual visit to Guernsey, the Fleet Air Arm traditionally visit a local primary school as part of the community engagement programme, and this year will be visiting Hautes Capelles, whilst also competing against a Guernsey FA Representative team for the Malaya Cup, with this season it will be the 55^th staging of this fixture. Last season, the Fleet Air Arm reclaimed the Malaya Cup with a deserved victory over a what was a young and inexperienced Guernsey Under 21 team. Guernsey Under 21 Manager, Angus Mackay has confirmed the squad hoping to regain the trophy, which is:

Louis Falla

Colton Fletcher

Lorcan Smith

Louis Graham

Ben Le Tocq

Jordan Kelly

Tyler McKane

Martin Savident

Aidan McKay

James Ravenscroft

Tom Nightingale

Corey Robilliard

Thiago Rodrigues

Will Gray

Miles Hardill

Theo Hooper

Jake Lowe

Niall Hainsworth

Frazer Maginnis

Brad O’Regan

Callum Scott

As well as being the 75^th anniversary of the tragic sinking of HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne and the 55^th staging of the Malay Cuo match, the 2018/19 season marks the 125^th anniversary of the Guernsey Football Association. Various events and activities are being held throughout the season to celebrate this anniversary, and the first of these is the introduction of a limited edition 125^th anniversary match kit, which will be worn for the first time in the Malay Cup match.

This year the match will be played as follows:

Saturday 29^th September – Malaya Cup

Guernsey Under 21 v Fleet Air Arm @ The Track Cycling Ground. Kick-off @ 3.30pm

Entry to the match will be:

£3 – General Admission

£1 – Concession (Under 16 & Over 65)

All proceeds from entry fees will be donated to the GARNRM charity.

In addition to the Malaya Cup match, there be a friendly Veterans match between a Guernsey FA select team and the Fleet Air Arm Veterans team. This match will also be played at The Track, with a 1.00pm kick-off.