A group of 30 soldiers from the Jersey Field Squadron retraced the footsteps of the military task force that was sent to free the Island, landing on the beach in St Aubin’s Bay on an amphibious assault craft before marching on to St Helier.
The troops accompanied former Harbourmaster Brian Nibbs to the balcony of the Pomme d’Or Hotel and relived the famous moment when then Harbourmaster Captain Richmond and Colonel Robinson of Force 135 raised the Union Flag for the first time following the end of the Occupation, as crowds below cheered in what is now Liberation Square.
In the video clip, which was broadcast as part of the morning’s live-stream event, Major Charlie Martell of the Jersey Field Squadron explained the events of Liberation Day 1945 from a military perspective.
‘On 8 May Jersey received formal communication that the Channel Islands were to be freed. The following morning, 9 May, HMS Beagle cleared Noirmont Point at 10 o’clock,’ he said.
‘Later that morning the general surrender of the German forces was received on board the ship in the presence of the Bailiff, Alexander Coutanche, who was accompanied by the Island’s Attorney General and Solicitor General.
‘Force 135 was a task group of combined forces of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Their task was to liberate and demilitarise the Channel Islands, arriving at Guernsey first and moving on to Jersey. Force 135, under Operation Nest Egg, comprised 6,000 troops supported by a vast number of vehicles, many arriving by landing craft, pre-loaded with food, clothing and other essentials for the Islanders.
‘Although arriving to an island of surrendered German forces, one can only begin to imagine the feelings soldiers may have had pre-disembarkation.’
Major Martell explained that earlier on 9 May 1945 liberating naval officers, Surgeon-Lieutenant McDonald and Sub-Lieutenant Milne, had met large crowds in the Royal Square before raising the Union and Jersey flags from the Harbourmaster’s Office.
And to signal the ‘new freedom’ across St Helier and the rest of the Island, it was Jerseyman Captain Le Brocq, a member of Force 135, who hoisted the Union Flag over Fort Regent later in the day.
‘The following days would see transfer of British personnel and hardware onto the Island as well as the gradual movement of German officers and soldiers off the Island,’ he added.
‘Between 13 and 20 May 11,000 German troops were shipped to prisoner of war camps. On 23 August a special sitting of the States Assembly thanked Force 135 for its service and
bid farewell to their commanding officer.’
