JERSEY’S last remaining Normandy veteran enjoyed centre stage yesterday at the unveiling of his commemorative portrait in the Town Hall.
Ernest Thorne, a driver in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers who landed on Juno Beach almost 80 years ago, was proudly wearing his REME tie as the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, described the 100-year-old as “the face of the Normandy veterans”.
At the unveiling of the portrait by Jersey artist Jason Butler, which will go on permanent display in the Town Hall, Sir Timothy paid tribute to Mr Thorne and the other Islanders who had helped in the retaking of France and the securing of a freedom which was finally to lead to the end of the Occupation.
“It is never easy to be the focus of such attention but on this anniversary it is right that we honour you today as a Jersey Normandy veteran. You and your brothers in arms made sacrifices which led to a freedom which we continue to enjoy today.
“This is a frankly marvellous portrait which will hang in St Helier Town Hall as a lasting memory of the 80th anniversary and the Jersey Normandy veterans,” the Bailiff said.
Mr Thorne admitted that the excitement of the occasion was getting a little overpowering, but he thanked the Bailiff and all those involved in the portrait.
“I’m the last Jersey survivor of the Normandy campaign and on behalf of all our friends who are no longer with us, I thank you, Mr Bailiff, for your kind and sincere words.
“As a young Jerseyman, I never thought that I would ever have my portrait painted, but today I been honoured to receive a painting painted by Mr Jason Butler,” he said.
Among those present for the ceremony in the committee room was the artist himself, who said that creating Mr Thorne’s image had been a pleasure.
“Two things struck me: the gravitas that comes with painting someone who represents something so important; and then there was the fact that Ernest came bouncing up those studio stairs that some people 30 years younger struggle to get up.
“When I was painting him, it was like analysing a face that’s lived for 100 years, I just found it fascinating – it was like a map of a life lived,” Mr Butler said.
Mr Thorne’s painting is on temporary display on the ground floor of the Town Hall from today until next week’s D-Day commemorations, when it will move to its permanent home on the landing outside the committee room on the first floor.
