Latest news with #80thAnniversary
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Alderney set to mark liberation for first time
Alderney is set to mark the date of the island's liberation from German troops for the first time on the 80th island annually celebrates Homecoming on 15 December - seven months on from the island's liberation when the first families who were evacuated in 1940 arrived the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands, were occupied by the Germans in 1940 as part of their advance across Europe. The liberation of Alderney came on 16 May 1945 - one week after Guernsey and Jersey.A series of events is planned later to mark the 80th anniversary. A service of commemoration is due to take place at the RNLI station at Braye Harbour at 11:00 will be followed by a parade and a ceremony at the Island Hall at 14:00. Jurat Colin Partridge, Alderney-based historian and founder of The Henry Euler Memorial Trust, believed now was the time to "look at liberation with different eyes".By the time of the Germans invaded Alderney, most of the island's 1,500 residents had been evacuated - but not Partridge said there were 16 civilians left in the island by July 1944."They don't think of it as liberation today simply because there were only a handful of islanders here," he said."They were scattered the length and breadth of the British Isles in their exile."Certainly they wouldn't have been able to come together on that day themselves, and therefore, when they returned seven months later, Homecoming meant a lot more to them." Alfred Gaudion was on the first boat back to the island in December 1940 with his parents and two brothers and he believed celebrating the liberation of Alderney was "long overdue".He said: "It's celebrated on the other islands so why not Alderney?""People say there was nobody here but the island was liberated. "My wife's grandfather stayed behind to look after his cattle." Barbara Benfield, who founded Age Concern Alderney, said Liberation Day should also be commemorated as well as Homecoming in December."It's odd that all those years ago when Guernsey and Jersey decided on a bank holiday for Liberation Day, Alderney didn't decide the same and have Liberation Day on 16 May for the signing of the treaty," she said."If the homecomers hadn't come home, Alderney would be non-existent so we've got a lot to be grateful for and to remember them and the hard work and effort they put into when they came home."It must have been devastating for all of them." Lt Gen Richard Cripwell, Lieutenant-Governor of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, said liberation was a "vital date in the history of these islands"."The trauma that was suffered by the island and its people and especially those who were held captive here is something that deserves to be remembered," he said.
The Independent
10-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Anne becomes first member of royal family to visit Little Sark
The Princess Royal became the first member of the royal family ever to visit Little Sark on Saturday. Anne, accompanied on the trip by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, visited Sark and Little Sark, part of the Channel Islands. On Little Sark, the princess met residents before travelling by horse and carriage to La Coupee, a narrow walkway connecting Big Sark and Little Sark. Anne was told about the history of La Coupee and recent erosion and repair work while walking along the path. The princess then visited la Societe Sercquaise (the Sark Society), an organisation founded in 1975 to study, preserve and enhance Sark's natural environment and cultural heritage, where she met volunteers and viewed archaeological artefacts. Anne later attended the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Sark celebrations at the Avenue, where she met representatives from the liberated generation before being invited to say a few words. After planting a silver birch tree to commemorate the 80th anniversary, the princess visited an exhibition on the Second World War at Old Island Hall. The Second World War exhibition focuses on the island's experiences during the German occupation and life up to the present day. Each display covers a different aspect of the occupation years, including a section on 'The Deportees'; residents of Sark who were deported from Sark by the German occupying forces like Nellie Le Feuvre, who Anne met at the exhibition. Mrs Le Feuvre was deported to Biberach Camp in Germany. Finally, the princess visited the Sark Observatory, where she met volunteers and viewed the sun through a solar telescope.
CTV News
08-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Lethbridge community, Legion, dignitaries come together for V-E Day
Members of the community, Legion and dignitaries gathered for a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, also known as V-E Day.
