Latest news with #RichardCripwell
BBC News
08-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Guernsey landmarks lit up for VE Day
The States of Guernsey is marking VE Day by illuminating landmark buildings as well as a ceremonial Day marks the end of World War Two in Europe after Germany's surrender on 8 May 1945. Castle Cornet, Fort Grey and Beau Sejour Leisure Centre have been lit up in red, white and blue since Tuesday, and a two-minute silence was held at 12:00 Richard Cripwell was also due to light a beacon at Castle Cornet at 21:30 to honour people lost in the war. The States said the beacon lighting would coincide with others lit across the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and UK Overseas said the displays honoured the "bravery and sacrifice of those who secured the peace and freedom enjoyed today".The beacon lighting will be broadcast live through the Guernsey Museums Facebook page. 'Remembrance and gratitude' Helen Glencross, head of Heritage Services, said lighting up the island in red, white and blue was a "powerful tribute to the courage, sacrifice and resilience"."As we mark VE Day, these colours serve as a symbol of remembrance and gratitude for all who fought for freedom and helped shape the peace we enjoy today," she said, "I hope people will tune in to watch the ceremonial beacon, which will mark the beginning of a fantastic weekend of celebrations being planned to mark Guernsey's Liberation."
BBC News
11-04-2025
- BBC News
WW2 pilot recalls his part in sinking a German submarine
A 103-year-old Royal Navy lieutenant commander has been sharing stories with Guernsey's Lieutenant Governor of his service during the World War Gen Richard Cripwell recorded the interview with John Barnes as part of the Island Memories is an oral archive of islanders' memories, initially of World War Two, which is a joint project between BBC Radio Guernsey and Guernsey up at the start of the war, London-born Mr Barnes went on to serve for 23 years and said sinking a German U-boat was his biggest contribution to the war effort. 'Attacked by torpedoes' Having joined up as a naval airman second class, basic training was followed by several months flying training in Canada. From there, Mr Barnes said he was assigned to flying Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers, protecting convoys in the Mediterranean and later the remembered his first aircraft carrier well - HMS Argus was "the original carrier, built in 1918".He said: "She was an amazing ship because she was badly placed with lack of watertight doors but she survived the war." He laughed as he recalled being attacked by torpedoes "once or twice" but "they missed, so that was it". Mr Barnes described the Swordfish as a "lovely plane to fly, especially if you liked fresh air, because it was an open cockpit".By February 1943, he joined escort carrier HMS described the work as "interesting" although added it could be boring when the weather was too rough to fly for several said: "I can remember sitting on the stern, waiting to fly and watching my altimeter go up and down by 50 feet [as a result of waves hitting the ship]."He added: "I didn't like flying at night because there was so little light. You were terrified you'd lose the convoy." Mr Barnes got lost in the Denmark Strait once in what he described as "appalling weather".He said a fortnight of cloudy weather after leaving the Clyde in Scotland had meant the ship ended up 12 miles (19km) out of he and his crew attempted to return after three hours, and with visibility of less than half-a-mile (800m), they were radio silence in force, they searched until almost out of fuel and then flew to the nearest turned out to be the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Barnes later found out they had landed near Malariff one crew member waited with the plane, he described how he and one other trekked in gale-force winds across the volcanic landscape to the nearest town to call for help.A search party was already on its way to find the trio and Mr Barnes said they re-joined HMS Biter the following day. 'My best effort' Mr Barnes said they did not often see enemy submarines but he was involved in sinking one on 12 May recalled: "I'd just taken off from the convoy and went straight ahead and there was a U-boat on the surface trying to cross from right to left to get in front of the main convoy."I went straight in and dropped my depth charges."That disabled the submarine as HMS Broadway "finished him off". Later he was told it was U-89. "That was my best effort in the war," he 80 years since the end of WW2, Mr Barnes, who moved to Guernsey in the 1960s, reflected on his said: "It was just something I was part of. I don't think back to it much.""Just some of the good friends I lost, I remember so well. That was war."
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Princess Anne to visit islands for Liberation Day
The Princess Royal is to visit the Bailiwick for Liberation Day 9 May she will be in Guernsey, followed by a trip to Sark the following day where she will meet residents who lived in the island during the Occupation. The Princess Royal last visited the islands of Guernsey and Sark in 2018 - this year marks the 80th anniversary of their liberation from the Nazi of The Bailiwick of Guernsey, Lt Gen Richard Cripwell, said he was "very pleased that Her Royal Highness will be here to share this significant anniversary with us all." He said: "The occupation and liberation of these islands remain within living memory, offering a powerful reminder of the value of freedom and the cost of defending it."Organisers of Guernsey's Liberation Day said in January a royal visit had been requested as part of the event will mark 80 years since the Bailiwick was liberated from Nazi occupation and the end of World War Beaumont, Seigneur of Sark said it will be a "privilege" to welcome the Princess Royal back to the island."Our island has many unique and often-unheard stories to tell from the Occupation, and this anniversary gives us an excellent opportunity to tell those stories and remember those who were evacuated."The States of Guernsey has said more details about the visit will be released closer to the time.
