logo
Guernsey children to receive replica medal for Liberation

Guernsey children to receive replica medal for Liberation

BBC News04-04-2025

School children across Guernsey will be gifted a commemorative medal to help mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation.It will be a replica of the medal awarded to children who remained on-island during the German occupation in World War Two, the States of Guernsey said.For those in primary school it will be presented on a ribbon, with secondary school aged pupils getting a pin badge version.The States said it hoped the medals would help connect the children "to a defining moment in the island's history".
'Significant anniversary'
Deputy Sue Aldwell, a member of the committee for education, sport and culture, said she felt it was a good way to mark such a "significant anniversary"."We want to ensure that everyone across the island can connect to our history and this gift for our younger members of the community adds to that," she said. Head of heritage services, Helen Glencross, said she hoped it would "unlock conversations about this important milestone and what is represents for our community".As well as receiving the replica medal, pupils will also get a card detailing what happened on the first Liberation Day on 9 May 1945.Liberation Day marks the island's liberation from German forces at the end of World War Two in 1945.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mystery of UK shipwreck is solved 140 years after bodies of crew who used mattresses to plug holes in vessel washed up
Mystery of UK shipwreck is solved 140 years after bodies of crew who used mattresses to plug holes in vessel washed up

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Mystery of UK shipwreck is solved 140 years after bodies of crew who used mattresses to plug holes in vessel washed up

Almost everyone onboard was killed. 'NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK' Mystery of UK shipwreck is solved 140 years after bodies of crew who used mattresses to plug holes in vessel washed up Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SHIPWRECK mystery has been solved after divers uncovered a vessel which sunk nearly 140 years ago. Crew on board the SS Nantes made desperate attempts to plug the ship's holes with mattresses when it sunk in 1888. 7 The ship sank in 1888 Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton 7 Divers at the wreck of the SS Nantes Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton The wreckage of the SS Nantes, has been discovered, having sunk 137 years ago - killing almost everyone onboard. The boat tragically collided with a German sailing vessel, the Theodor Ruger, in November 1888, as reported by NeedToKnow. Only two people survived, with two people jumping to safety on the Ruger, and one person who stayed on the Nantes trying to keep it afloat. The Nantes sank approximately ten hours after the collision, this took place off the coast of Plymouth, in the early hours of the morning. Diver Dominic Robinson discovered the wreckage of the SS Nantes last week, 246 feet below sea level. The 50-year-old former Army Officer found a plate with the Cunard Steamship Company logo, belonging to the forgotten vessel. This enabled him to work out that the wreck he had found was that of the SS Nantes. Dominic and his crew then carefully examined the site of the wreck, and discovered old crockery which was key in identifying the wreck. He said: 'The Nantes was built in 1874, in Glasgow, and very sadly lasted a mere 14 years before it was sunk,' said Dominic. 'It was on a passage from Liverpool to La Havre, when it was sunk in France carrying cargo of coal. Shipwreck explorers find iconic rare CAR while scouring sunken WW2 aircraft carrier - and can even read unique reg plate 'It's quite a sad story.' After the ship went down, it became lost until Dominic and his team discovered it. Dominic, who has been an underwater explorer for around 35 years, first caught wind of the unidentified shipwreck from the UK Hydrographic Office. Maritime Historian Dr Harry Bennett, who works at the institute, explained why the wreck has taken well over a century to find: "Obviously you're dealing in a period with no satellite navigation. "While the crew tried to save the ship it drifted for several hours, before it finally made its way to the bottom, sadly with many of its crewmen on board". Dominic added: "The wreck was lost until a local dive team identified it in 2024. 'We got the size of the wreck from the information on the UK Hydrographic Office. 'We knew the boat is about 78 or 79 metres long. 'We also knew that there was a Cunard plate from it - which was basically what we're looking for. 'So what you do is you try to find a list of all the Cunard ships that were sunk. 'You then try and narrow them down to, to a relatively small one, and an old one. 'We obviously know where it sank, so if you can find information about the sinking and the wreck that aligns all those things up, then it's fairly straightforward to identify it.' The Cunard plate which Dominic found was crucial in the ship's identification. He said: 'Even though the wreck had been dived before, it was never identified and this small piece of broken plate allowed us to do exactly that. 'The more eagle eyed amongst you may already have noticed the logo from the famous Cunard shipping line. 'And not surprisingly, this is what gave us the most significant clue.' 7 A plate with the Cunard Steamship Company logo that was discovered on the wreck Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton 7 Dominic Robinson is an experienced diver Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton 7 The moment a plate with the Cunard Steamship Company logo was discovered on the wreck Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton 7 Dominic went with a full boat crew and dive team Credit: Jam Press/Rick Ayrton

Charles tells veteran to ‘keep drinking whisky' during Lancaster Castle visit
Charles tells veteran to ‘keep drinking whisky' during Lancaster Castle visit

Rhyl Journal

time2 hours ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Charles tells veteran to ‘keep drinking whisky' during Lancaster Castle visit

Charles met Richard Brock, who served in the D-Day landings, at a reception at Lancaster Castle on Monday and remembered him from a visit to Normandy last year. After asking Mr Brock's age, the King said: 'You are fantastic.' As he left, he added: 'Keep drinking the whisky.' Mr Brock, who served with the East Lancashire Regiment, said: 'He just told me I was amazing for my age.' His son Tony Brock, who attended the reception with him, said: 'He mentioned a nip of whisky and said to keep taking it.' Charles arrived at the castle shortly before 11am and was greeted by crowds of well-wishers, some who had been waiting since 5am, waving Union flags. Anti-monarchy protesters were also awaiting his arrival and could be heard chanting 'Not my king' as he left his vehicle. The group had a yellow banner which said 'Abolish the Monarchy' and held signs saying 'Not my King' and 'Ditch the Duchies'. Among those keen to see the King were friends Joan Hardcastle, 103, and Barbara Graham, 93, who had come with staff and two other residents from Laurel Bank Care Home. Mrs Hardcastle held a framed photograph of Charles presenting her with her MBE for voluntary services 40 years ago. She said: 'I've seen him several times since. He was fine when I met him, very chatty.' Care home manager Lyndsay Scott said: 'It was Barbara's idea to come. We got here at 9am, we've had flasks of tea and croissants.' After shaking the King's hand as he left the castle at about 1.30pm, Mrs Hardcastle said he had not changed. Donna Simpson, 59, was in tears after meeting the King as he greeted crowds before leaving. She asked him to pass a message to the Prince of Wales, whom she met in Manchester about eight years ago when her daughter Rachel, now 25, was being treated for cancer. She said: 'We met William just after she had a bone marrow transplant. 'She is a veterinary nurse now. She has beaten the odds and I wanted them to know. 'Charles said thank you and he would let them know. I just can't believe that.' Charles took part in a ceremony of keys outside the castle, a tradition which dates back to 1851 when the keys were presented to Queen Victoria and which Queen Elizabeth II participated in in 2015. Once inside the grounds of the castle, which was a prison until 2011, the King met local business owners who were showcasing their work. He expressed his love of cheese, telling Gillian Hale, from Butlers' Farmhouse Cheeses, he loved sheep's cheese on a digestive biscuit. He smelt some of the cheeses she had on display but did not taste any. She said: 'We're going to send some to him later in a goody bag. He was so gracious.' The King was also given a neck tie and some gloves for the Queen from Northern Yarn. Business owner Kate Makin said: 'He was really interested in the regenerative farming and the local wools we use.' Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson, who was elected last month when Reform UK took control of the authority, spoke to the King about his new role. Mr Atkinson said: 'He asked about my business and how I'm managing now, whether my job is full time.' A Fijian choir formed from the First Battalion of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment – made up of serving Fijian Kingsmen, veterans and their family members – performed for the King, who told them he was sad not to have been able to visit the country last year. He said: 'They wouldn't let me go, I was desperate to go there.' Before the King left, he unveiled a plaque commemorating his visit, made by sculptor Alan Ward, who has a studio in the castle.

Charles tells veteran to ‘keep drinking whisky' during Lancaster Castle visit
Charles tells veteran to ‘keep drinking whisky' during Lancaster Castle visit

North Wales Chronicle

time2 hours ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Charles tells veteran to ‘keep drinking whisky' during Lancaster Castle visit

Charles met Richard Brock, who served in the D-Day landings, at a reception at Lancaster Castle on Monday and remembered him from a visit to Normandy last year. After asking Mr Brock's age, the King said: 'You are fantastic.' As he left, he added: 'Keep drinking the whisky.' Mr Brock, who served with the East Lancashire Regiment, said: 'He just told me I was amazing for my age.' His son Tony Brock, who attended the reception with him, said: 'He mentioned a nip of whisky and said to keep taking it.' Charles arrived at the castle shortly before 11am and was greeted by crowds of well-wishers, some who had been waiting since 5am, waving Union flags. Anti-monarchy protesters were also awaiting his arrival and could be heard chanting 'Not my king' as he left his vehicle. The group had a yellow banner which said 'Abolish the Monarchy' and held signs saying 'Not my King' and 'Ditch the Duchies'. Among those keen to see the King were friends Joan Hardcastle, 103, and Barbara Graham, 93, who had come with staff and two other residents from Laurel Bank Care Home. Mrs Hardcastle held a framed photograph of Charles presenting her with her MBE for voluntary services 40 years ago. She said: 'I've seen him several times since. He was fine when I met him, very chatty.' Care home manager Lyndsay Scott said: 'It was Barbara's idea to come. We got here at 9am, we've had flasks of tea and croissants.' After shaking the King's hand as he left the castle at about 1.30pm, Mrs Hardcastle said he had not changed. Donna Simpson, 59, was in tears after meeting the King as he greeted crowds before leaving. She asked him to pass a message to the Prince of Wales, whom she met in Manchester about eight years ago when her daughter Rachel, now 25, was being treated for cancer. She said: 'We met William just after she had a bone marrow transplant. 'She is a veterinary nurse now. She has beaten the odds and I wanted them to know. 'Charles said thank you and he would let them know. I just can't believe that.' Charles took part in a ceremony of keys outside the castle, a tradition which dates back to 1851 when the keys were presented to Queen Victoria and which Queen Elizabeth II participated in in 2015. Once inside the grounds of the castle, which was a prison until 2011, the King met local business owners who were showcasing their work. He expressed his love of cheese, telling Gillian Hale, from Butlers' Farmhouse Cheeses, he loved sheep's cheese on a digestive biscuit. He smelt some of the cheeses she had on display but did not taste any. She said: 'We're going to send some to him later in a goody bag. He was so gracious.' The King was also given a neck tie and some gloves for the Queen from Northern Yarn. Business owner Kate Makin said: 'He was really interested in the regenerative farming and the local wools we use.' Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson, who was elected last month when Reform UK took control of the authority, spoke to the King about his new role. Mr Atkinson said: 'He asked about my business and how I'm managing now, whether my job is full time.' A Fijian choir formed from the First Battalion of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment – made up of serving Fijian Kingsmen, veterans and their family members – performed for the King, who told them he was sad not to have been able to visit the country last year. He said: 'They wouldn't let me go, I was desperate to go there.' Before the King left, he unveiled a plaque commemorating his visit, made by sculptor Alan Ward, who has a studio in the castle.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store