On Sunday, 8 November 2026, as part of the worldwide commemorations of Remembrance Day linked to the end of the First World War on 11 November 1918 at 11:00 a.m., the related ceremonies took place at the British Cemetery in Drapano, near Argostoli. This year the day of remembrance was observed on the nearest Sunday before the official anniversary, as is customary. The British and the people of their former colonies honour every year those who died in all wars.
The master of ceremonies was Roy Harrison, a retired officer of the Royal Military Police and ordained priest. In his address he stressed, among other things, the importance of peace in these troubled times and expressed his thanks to all who serve the public interest. He made particular mention of the President of the Municipal Council of Argostoli, Nikos Vallianatos, who attended on behalf of the Municipality, as well as of the support provided by the Municipality of Argostoli.
Mr Vallianatos, after laying a wreath, in turn expressed the full support of the Municipality of Argostoli for the dear British community of the island, which has about 4,000 members.
Among the organisers was Christopher Gaylor, a former officer of the British Fire Service, together with his wife Helen Harrison. In total, around 80 British permanent residents of Kefalonia attended the ceremony.
At the British Cemetery, where this year’s commemorations were held with the permission and support of the Municipality of Argostoli, British people have been buried from previous centuries up to 2009.
Our British allies in the Struggle for National Independence, as well as in the two World Wars, constitute an important asset for Kefalonia. They particularly love the island and, according to estimates, account for around 55% of air tourist arrivals, with approximately 245,000 British tourists each year.
Spiros Kagadis
For more details and a fuller coverage of the event, you can watch my related video on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/f71Rp66HQhw?feature=shared
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