On Sunday the 22^nd September a Remembrance Ceremony was held at Fort Montbarey Museum in the main courtyard to commemorate the capture of the Fort and in particular the role played by British land and sea Forces.

On 2^nd September 1944, some 500km away to the east at Bourg Achard, near Rouen, B Squadron of the 141^st Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps (The Buffs) were preparing to cross the Seine but received orders to join the US forces attacking Brest.  141^st Regiment RAC, was a specialised British unit equipped with the Crocodile flamethrower tank designed to overcome entrenched fortified positions. At the time only the British Army had developed and deployed this capability. The attack on the fort took 3 days, on 16^th September the German defenders finally surrendered.

The ceremony was preceded by an open-air interfaith “Prayers for Peace” service. The French Navy provided an Honour Guard with Naval Cadets placing a lamp with the Flame of the Nation from Paris.  The event was attended by local dignitaries, embassy officials, association members, family members of those who served in the British 141 Royal Armoured Corps together with family members of 30 Assault Unit, a delegation of Royal Marines and Royal Navy, historians and residents.

During the ceremony, a white rose was laid by each of the families in front of the Flame of the Nation and the Liberty marker whilst the students of the Naval College read the names of the Allied soldiers who died in combat.  This was followed by laying of wreaths by family members, the RBL and French associations, Embassy and government officials. 

Particular thanks to John Duncan, Jean-Michel Crewe, Teresa Appéré, Ali Joncqueur, Daniel Joncqueur and Sue Farrell-Cook.