Public holiday in Jersey
Liberation Day
(
Jerriais
:
Jour d'la Libethation
;
Guernesiais
:
Le Jour de la Liberatiaon
[1]
) is the
national day
of both
Guernsey
and
Jersey
,
[2]
[3]
the two largest of the
Channel Islands
, which takes place on 9 May each year. It commemorates the liberation of the Channel Islands on 9 May 1945, which marked the end of the
islands' occupation by Nazi Germany
during World War II. It falls on the same day as the European Union's
Europe Day
, which celebrates post-World War II peace and European unity. 9 May is a public holiday in both islands and each has different celebrations and commemorative events; the centrepiece of Jersey's is the Liberation Day re-enactment in the Liberation Square, while Guernsey's is an islandwide cavalcade of classic vehicles.
[4]
History
[
edit
]
Re-enacting the raising of flags on Liberation Day 2011
On 9 May 1945,
HMS
Bulldog
arrived in
St Peter Port
, Guernsey, and the German forces surrendered unconditionally aboard the vessel at dawn. British forces landed in
St Peter Port
shortly afterwards and were greeted by crowds of joyous but malnourished islanders singing, amongst other patriotic songs, "Sarnia-Cherie".
[5]
The same day,
HMS
Beagle
, which had set out from
Plymouth
, arrived in
Jersey
to accept the surrender of the occupying forces there. Two naval officers, Surgeon Lieutenant Ronald McDonald and Sub Lieutenant R Milne, were met by the Harbour Master who escorted them to his office where they together hoisted the
Union Flag
before also raising it on the flagstaff of the
Pomme d'Or Hotel
. This has been re-enacted every year on Liberation Day since 1995. From 2003 to 2011, former Harbour Master and Jerseyman Captain Howard Le Cornu performed this annually. His father, John E. Le Cornu, and uncle, David M. Le Cornu, had been in the crowds and had witnessed the occasion on 9 May 1945.
[6]
[7]
Sark
was liberated on 10 May 1945, and the German troops in Alderney surrendered on 16 May 1945.
[8]
Official status
[
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]
The
Public Holidays
and
Bank Holidays
(Jersey) Act 1952 established Liberation Day as a public holiday if it fell on a weekday.
[9]
The Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Act 2010 further laid down that Liberation was also to be a public holiday if it falls on a Saturday.
[10]
It is not a public holiday, and no day off in lieu is provided, if it falls on a Sunday.
[11]
Liberation Day is also a public holiday in Guernsey, according to the Public Holidays Ordinance 1994. Unlike Jersey's, Guernsey employment law provides no statutory entitlement to public holidays.
[12]
Ceremonies
[
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]
Bailiff, Lieutenant-Governor and other officials in procession on Liberation Day 2012
Since the 50th anniversary of Liberation in 1995, a pattern of official ceremonies has developed based in and around Liberation Square in
Saint Helier
where the events at the Harbour Master's Office and
Pomme D'Or Hotel
occurred in 1945. Following a special sitting of the
States of Jersey
in the morning, States Members, clergy, the
Bailiff of Jersey
, the
Lieutenant-Governor
,
Jurats
, Crown Officers, and other officials process from the Royal Square to Liberation Square accompanied by the Royal Mace and the Bailiff's Seal. An open air
ecumenical
service takes place in Liberation Square followed by the singing of "Man Bieau P'tit Jerri"/"Beautiful Jersey" (in Jerriais and English) and a re-enactment of the raising of flags (including that at
Fort Regent
). A parade of vintage and military vehicles, bands and service organisations is reviewed by the official party.
[
citation needed
]
The afternoon community celebrations are of an informal character, including a programme of entertainments and stalls in
Saint Helier
.
[13]
An official ceremony also takes place at the Crematorium where there is a memorial to victims and slave workers of various nationalities. Representatives of affected nationalities take part in the commemoration.
[14]
In 1995, artist Eric Snell
[15]
designed the Liberation Monument in St Peter Port to commemorate Liberation Day. The needle-like monument is designed to cast a shadow on a bench where the liberation of Guernsey is described. It was unveiled on 9 May 1995 by
Prince Charles
while military helicopters flew past.
[16]
The celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation could not be held in 2020 or 2021 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
and were postponed until 8 – 10 May 2022 when the
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
and
Sophie, Countess of Wessex
were royal guests at the celebrations in Jersey, Guernsey,
Alderney
, and Sark and read a message to islanders from
Queen Elizabeth II
.
[17]
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]