16-05-2025
Liberation 80: Alderney celebrates freedom from German Occupation with two-part programme
Alderney will mark 80 years since islanders were liberated from German Occupation with a special two-part programme on Friday 16 May.
Alderney's Liberation Day is a week after Jersey and Guernsey 's celebrations, marking when Brigadier A.E. Snow and Force 135 came ashore at Braye Bay on 16 May 1945.
Special events have already taken place throughout the week: the island was visited by a restored Harbour Defence Motor Launch - H.M.S. Medusa - that was open for residents to visit between Monday 12 and Wednesday 14 May.
The Jersey and Guernsey Force 135 living history group also set up camp on Braye Common on Thursday 15 May, in preparation for Friday's events.
New information boards have been placed on Braye Street, sharing the significance of the historic day.
At Braye Harbour / RNLI Station - 11am
A fanfare introduction will welcome Force 135 coming ashore at Braye Bay as they did 80 years ago.
The Service of Commemoration will then begin to commemorate the special anniversary.
Force 135 will march off, with the promise of a 'Musical Finale' to bring the Service to a close.
Connaught Square / Island Hall - 2pm
In the afternoon, a parade will take place from Victoria Street, as well as a drill display from Force 135.
The President of Alderney States, William Tate, will deliver an address, before the Union flag is raised with the National Anthem.
The bells of St Anne's Church will also be rung to celebrate the German surrender and liberation.
Plans to liberate the Channel Islands were drawn up in November 1944 under the name 'Operation Nestegg'.
Following VE Day, Force 135 sailed into the Bailiwicks on 9 May 1945 to receive the surrender of German forces stationed there.
However, Alderney was considered a potentially threatening fortress with strong defences, and was not liberated until 16 May.
Led by Brigadier A.E. Snow under the code-name 'Operation Merit', a landing party headed to the island to meet with the German commandant, Oberstleutnant Schwalm, at the German jetty.
Finally, at a house in Braye Road - now known as 'Peacehaven' - the German surrender was signed.
Alderney was finally fit for rehabilitation in December 1945 after the arduous task of clearing German war material and repairing the island's dwellings was complete.
