DESTINATIONS UK
GUERNSEY,
CHANNEL ISLANDS
Liberation Day
Celebrations
9 May 2005
Marking 60 years of
Peace and Freedom
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 The
Bailiwick of Guernsey consists of the Islands of Guernsey, Herm, Sark and
Alderney, plus the smaller islands of Lihou, Jethou and Burhou.
The Channel Islands came under the
British crown when William, Duke of Normandy invaded England in 1066.
To this day, the Queen’s official title in the Bailiwick of
Guernsey is that of the Duke of Normandy. The link
between Britain and France still survives today in Norman Law, surnames
and Guernesaise, the local language. Nowadays Guernsey, its capital
St Peter Port and the smaller islands are a favourite tourist destination.
During 1940 - 1945,
the islands were the only British
soil occupied by German troops and huge numbers of defensive positions
were built as part of Hitler's Atlantic Wall. Of the population of 40,000,
17,000 were evacuated to England.
The materials and
effort spent on the Atlantic Wall was totally disproportionate to the
strategic importance of the islands but Hitler was convinced that the
British would recapture them. However the British Government had already
decided in 1940 that the islands could not be defended without huge loss
of life. By 1943 over five thousand foreign slave workers were
working on Guernsey, many of whom lost their lives from exhaustion and
starvation. They were guarded by a garrison of 13,000 German troops.
After the D-Day
Normandy landings in 1944, the islands became cut off from the rest of
Europe and food and fuel supplies dried up. Life became steadily worse
with both the occupying forces and islanders suffering from starvation.
The cold winter of 1944 made life almost unbearable. However by the end
of December, a life saving Red Cross ship, the SS Vega, docked at St Peter
Port with much needed supplies and was to make several more trips up to
May 1945.
Finally on 9th May 1945 the German Commander surrendered and the
first British Troops landed in St Peter Port from HMS Bulldog.
Many reminders of the German occupation
remain. Fortress Guernsey is a conservation programme started in 1993 and
has been responsible for the restoration of several German watch towers
and bunkers which are now open to the public. The story of the Nazi
occupation is told at the Occupation Museum located near the airport.
Every year islanders
celebrate their freedom on 9th May, a public Bank Holiday.
This year Liberation Day will celebrate 60 years of peace and
freedom in Guernsey.
One of the highlights of the day will be the historic
mounted Chevauchee and Cavalcade Procession which will follow a two mile
route along the historic St Peter Port seafront.
The history of the Chevauchee can be
traced back to the original highway inspections of the King’s roads that
took place during the 13th century. Tradition states that the carriages
and riders were attended to by foot soldiers or valets know as Pions, who
would accompany the procession across the Island. As a reward for their
long walk they enjoyed refreshment stops en route, including tea at the
‘table des pions’, at Pleinmont, or the Fairy Ring as it is now known.
The Fairy Ring
These men had
the unique mandate of being able to kiss all the women along the
route, provided that no lady was kissed by more than one pion! The modern
interpretation will be a colourful re-enactment, complete with authentic
costumes, period carriages, up to 50 horses, and of course plenty of
kissing!
Following the
Chevauchee will be the Band of the Royal Logistics Corp who will lead
representatives of the armed services, standard bearers and veterans of
Liberation Force 135 and the distinctive Chelsea Pensioners. Now in their
80’s, these veterans hold a special place in local hearts, and their visit
is a chance to share stories with old friends.
Images of the Liberation Day Cavelcade
Over 60
pre-war military vehicles will be included in the Cavalcade, with drivers
coming from across Europe. These will be accompanied by pre war classic
cars, including guests from the Rolls Club of Great Britain. The Cavalcade
will also contain up to 50 community entries in the form of decorated
floats, complete with music and colourfully dressed participants, all
celebrating Guernsey’s historic past.
With a nod to
the national SeaBritain/SeaGuernsey events, other daytime entertainment
will be based around the island’s strong nautical heritage with scurvy
pirates, giant seagulls and surfboard simulators. A complete maritime
village is also planned, set against the backdrop of the Town Church, with
tales of privateering and Trafalgar, and authentic demonstrations of
sailmaking, ropemaking, and a quayside forge.
The day’s
celebrations will draw to a close with the sounds of the UK Beach Boys
tribute band playing an open-air concert on the pier, before a spectacular
firework finale. From the historic Castle Cornet the firework show will
use sound and lighting with pyrotechnic effects to show the story of the
Occupation and celebrate the 60 years of Liberation.
Other
celebrations are planned across the weekend and highlights include a tea
party on Friday 6 May for 700 local people who were veterans of WWII, who
experienced the Occupation, or were evacuated from the island. This is a
unique event where friends are reunited and joyful and sombre memories
exchanged.
Liberation Day is also a Bank Holiday in the other
Channel Islands: Jersey on 9th May, Alderney 9th May, Sark on the 10th
May. All the islands are planning special events to mark
60 years of Peace and Freedom.
HOW TO GET HERE:
Located in the Bay of St Malo,
approximately 90 miles from the UK and 20 miles from France,
travelling to the islands could not be easier.
Direct flights from
-
Birmingham, Bournemouth,
Bristol, Dinard, Exeter, London Stansted, London Gatwick, Manchester and
Southampton.
Wave Piercer and traditional car
ferries from from Poole, Weymouth, Portsmouth Cherbourg , Carteret,
Granville and St Malo. Please contact VisitGuernsey for further
information.
Visit Guernsey:
www.visitguernsey.com or
tel 01481 723552
USEFUL
LINKS
Occupation Society:
www.occupied.guernsey.net
Liberation Monument commemorating the islands freedom May 9th 1945
German Occupation Museum,
Forest, Guernsey GY8 0BG. Tel: 01481 238205 The museum gives a
picture of life in Guernsey during the German Occupation, 1940 -1945. It
includes: authentic Occupation Street, unique audio visual experience,
tearoom and garden and fortifications.
German Military Underground Hospital Rue Des Buttes, St Andrews.
Tel: 01481 239100. Hewn out of solid rock by slave workers of many
nationalities under the control of the German Occupying Forces 1940 -
1945. Originally intended as shelters for large numbers of troops, these
tunnels are virtually complete. The hospital was equipped with an
operating theatre, kitchen, cinema, staff quarters and wards for 500
patients. Open March - November.
Channel Island Community Website:
www.islandlife.org
All photographs
©
States of
Guernsey Tourist Board
Accommodation In the
Bailiwick of Guernsey
Green Acres Hotel, St Martins, Guernsey
Les Douvres Hotel, St
Martins, Guernsey
Bella Luce Hotel, St
Martins, Guernsey
Le Friquet Hotel, Castel, Guernsey
La Trelade Hotel, St
Martins, Guernsey
La Barbarie Hotel, St
Martins, Guernsey
Cobo Bay Hotel, Castel, Guernsey
La Houque Fouque Farm Hotel, St
Saviour, Guernsey
Hotels and Accommodation on Sark:
http://www.sark-tourism.com/
Alderney:
http://www.alderney.gov.gg/
©HUK
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