Bermuda observed Remembrance Day yesterday, an annual commemoration observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of the First World War (1914 — 1918) to honour members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty.

The November 11 date recalls the end of hostilities in which formally ceased “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” of 1918 in accordance with the Armistice provisions between Germany and the Allies.

The Bermuda Militia Artillery, a unit of part-time soldiers organised in 1895 as a reserve for the Royal Garrison Artillery detachment in Bermuda, was one of two local volunteer units which saw action in the war (the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps restricted its recruitment to whites while the BMA was made up almost entirely of blacks).

During the First World War, two contingents of the Bermuda Militia Artillery served as part of the larger Royal Garrison Artillery detachment to the Western Front in France.

The first, 201 officers and men, left for France on 31 May 1916.

A second, smaller, contingent left Bermuda on May 6, 1917, and was merged with the first contingent in France.

The Bermuda troops, titled the Bermuda Contingent, Royal Garrison Artillery, served primarily in ammunition supply, at dumps, and in delivering ammunition to batteries in the field.

The Contingent served at some of the most fierce battles of the war.

They were on hand at the Somme from June to December, 1916, an offensive which resulted in 485,000 British and French casualties and 630,000 German.

When the carnage ended at the Somme, British and French forces had advanced a grand total of six miles into German-occupied territory although Allied commanders had breezily proclaimed the offensive would provide the “decisive breakthrough” of the war.

The murderous stalemate on the Western Front continued for another two years.

Following the Somme, the men of the Bermuda Militia Artillery then moved away from the Front, serving on docks until April, 1917, when they were attached to the Canadian Corps at Vimy Ridge, serving in that pivotal battle to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive.

They were at Ypres from 24 June, until 22 October, where three men were killed, and several wounded. Two men received the Military Medal.

The overseas contingent returned to Bermuda in July, 1919.

Field Marshal Douglas Haig, one of the senior British officers during the war, issued a report on the Bermudians in service with the Royal Garrison Artillery: “This contingent served with the Canadian Corps during the operation in May and June, subsequent to the capture of Vimy Ridge.

“They were employed on Heavy Ammunition Dumps, and great satisfaction was expressed with their work.

“Though called upon to perform labour of the most arduous and exacting nature at all times of the day and night, they were not only willing and efficient but conspicuous for their cheeriness under all conditions.

“Their officers rendered valuable services in the management of the dumps.

“The unit also worked on ammunition dumps from end of June to the beginning of September (1917) in another Corps.

“On more than one occasion the dumps at which they were employed were ignited by hostile shell fire, and much of their work was done under shell fire.

“Their behaviour on all these occasions was excellent, and commanded the admiration of those with whom they were serving.”

The Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps were amalgamated into the new Bermuda Regiment on September 1, 1965.