The “mistake” that led to relatives of deceased veterans being blocked from marching in the Remembrance Day parade will not be repeated, Premier Michael Dunkley said last night.

“This simply should never have happened,” he said, adding that he was made aware on Remembrance Day of the upset and anger the decision had caused.

For the past six years family members have been included in the march, but to their surprise would-be participants on Tuesday were turned away without an explanation.

For Glenda Anderson, who had prepared a photograph of her deceased father Joseph Anderson and was wearing the Second World War veteran’s three medals, the error left her with “tears running down my face”.

She said an unnamed adjutant from the Bermuda Regiment shocked the group as they prepared to march.

“He just said ‘Only veterans are marching today — you are not. Go on the sidewalks and get a space’,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. I’d gone to my doctor the day before to get an injection for the pain in my arm, so that I could do this for my daddy. It wasn’t for me. I was taken aback — everyone was upset.”

Her father was called to the Second World War as a member of the Caribbean Regiment, she said, serving in Egypt and Italy.

Informed of Mr Dunkley’s statement, Ms Anderson said she accepted the Premier’s annoyance with the error, but would nonetheless demand an apology from whoever had made the mistake.

According to a Government spokeswoman, the decision had been made without Mr Dunkley’s knowledge. The Premier added: “I fully understand, appreciate and respect the history of this parade and the importance of participation in it by those seeking to honour the memory of those who served.”

Mr Dunkley said he was “satisfied that the Government’s displeasure with this decision has been communicated and that it will not be repeated”.

Carol Everson, the welfare case worker for the Bermuda Legion, said there had apparently been “a very unfortunate misunderstanding at the last moment” that led to family members being ordered to give up their positions.

War veterans sitting on the grounds of Cabinet who were unable to march had been expecting to see relatives marching on their behalf, Ms Everson said.

“It caused a great deal of unhappiness for everyone concerned.”