The military history of the Guyana Defence Force

Dear Editor,
WHILE all Guyana watched 20-year-old Second Lieutenant Desmond Roberts of the Guyana Defence Force raise the Golden Arrowhead at the historic flag-raising ceremony ushering in Guyana’s Independence 54 years ago on May 26, 1966 at the National Park in Georgetown, Guyana, not many people knew that 20- year-old Officer Cadet Fairbairn Liverpool of the Guyana Defence Force had a similar distinction of carrying the Golden Arrowhead down the aisle at Westminster Abbey and presenting it from the altar to the diaspora in London, England to a fanfare of trumpets on the same day.

As part of Guyana’s Independence celebrations on 26 May, 1966, Sir Lionel Luckhoo, Guyana’s then High Commissioner to the Court of St. James in London, England, in collaboration with the British Authorities, marked the occasion by, among other things, hosting a church service for Guyanese and well-wishers in the diaspora of the United Kingdom, at Westminster Abbey Church in London.

As is customary on such occasions, nationals of the newly-independent countries residing in the UK are requested to participate in such ceremonies. It was to this end that Officer Cadets Fairbairn Liverpool and Haydock West, who were undergoing their training at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, and Officer Cadet Harry Hinds who was doing his at Mons Officer Cadet School, were invited to be the Colour Party to carry the Golden Arrowhead at the church service.

Officer Cadet Liverpool was selected to be the Flag Bearer, while Officer Cadets West and Hinds were to be his Escorts. Lining the aisle of the church down which the Colour Party marched were Guyanese young men who were at that time members of the British Army stationed at Honiton in Devon, Southern England, dressed in their uniforms. They included Privates (Ptes) Lambert Semple, Roger Simon, Richard Locke, Maurice Calder, and Ptes. Murray, Williams, Singh, Puddicum and Sardinia.

Yours respectfully,
Fairbairn Liverpool
Lt.Col. (Retd)