Germans stand alongside one of the cannons of Castle Cornet in St Peter Port. The Castle was the 'Hafenschlosss' (harbour Castle) during the occupation of Guernsey by German forces from 1940 until 1945. The occupying forces built air raid shelters and platforms for anti aircraft-guns to update the Castle for 20th century warfare.
The floating crane 'Antee’ being manoeuvred in the Old Harbour now better known now as the Albert Marina. This crane was used to offload many of the supplies brought to the island by the Germans including construction supplies and artillery pieces. The pier was fenced off to the public, in the background you can see a number of radio vehicles sited on the Crown Pier.
Group I, First Lift, of the Channel Islands Liberation fleet, codenamed 'agent’, commanded by Rear-Admiral C. G. Stuart, DSO, DSC, (Retd) serving in the rank of Captain, RN, Naval force Commander, Force 135, bound for Guernsey sailed from Plymouth at 15.45 hours on 11th may, 1945, 'W’ Day plus 7, and arrived off St Peter Port at 07.15 hours on Saturday, 12th May.
The Ward Room of HMS Bulldog during the first conference with Kapitänleutnant Armin Zimmerman Commander of the 46th Minesweeper Flotilla and Officer on the German Naval Commander’s Staff on Tuesday 8th May 1945. L to R: Rear-Admiral C. G. Stuart, Royal Navy representative; Brigadier A. E. Snow, Chief British Emissary; Captain H. Herzmark (standing) Intelligence Corps Interpreter; Lt-Col E. G. Stoneman (behind Herzmark), Commander 618 Regiment Royal Artillery; Wing Commander 'Archie’ Stewart, RAF Representative; Army Education Corps Senior NCO Clerk (writing); Major John E. Margesson, General Staff Officer II; and Colonel H. R. Power, CCAO.
May 9th 1946. Children of the Billeting Hostel, Hotel de France, under their warden Mrs. H. C. Poat formed a simple but really sincere tableau as they marched along with red white and blue flowing and with each child carrying a placard with “Thank you! Blackley” etc. These grateful boys and girls who spent the war years in England chose a happy way of expressing their gratitude to all the localities and were a notable feature of the procession.
May 9th 1946. The boys from Les Vauxbelets College produced a splendid tableau, a cycling representation of the war year by year leading up to the Liberation of the Channel Islands. They presented a striking picture in their white shirts, flannels, and multi-coloured tam-o-shanters.
May 9th 1946. One of the finest floral exhibits was Mr. James G. Falla’s effort “Just Married” in Class 10, Decorated Trade Vehicles (Mechanical). This depicted a church with a Union Jack flying and a bell tolling while a newly-married couple with their customary attendants and priest leave the church door.
May 9th 1946. Recalling the vivid memories of 9th May 1945 when the two destroyers Bulldog and Beagle anchored off Guernsey was Bertram de la Mare a five-year-old sailor boy with HMS Bulldog inscribed on his cap. Behind Bertram is Kathleen Corbet covered in wood shavings making a striking “I’m a Chip off the Old Block”.
May 9th 1946. Honours in the Junior Class 2 (a) in the Cavalcade for pedestrians in costume easily went to three-year-old David A. Rose, Guernsey’s “Winston Churchill” complete with top-hat cigar and walking stick made a big hit as he strolled along. He is seen here in the sidecar of Mr. F. H. Rose’s decorated motor cycle, “A Churchillian Scene” in Class 22.
May 9th 1946. Believed to be Elizabeth Taylor winner of the Decorated Cycles with Cyclist in Costume. Class 7, “Guernsey 1746.” Elizabeth went back before living memory to Guernsey 1746, dressed in old-fashioned costume. Behind her can be seen twelve-year-old Hazel Carré in Class 1 who had been an evacuee at St Helen’s Lancashire. She caught the eye with a decorated cycle depicting Freedom while in the same class twelve-year-old John Taylor made a fine cycling “clown”.
Following the Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 19th August 1945 conducted by the Rev. T. Davis, Vicar of St James, there was a march past of all the troops that had taken part in the service. Drawn from every unit in the island the troops formed up in the vicinity of the Guernsey Brewery. At 12 noon the troops proceeded along the Coal Quay and the North Esplanade then on to the Weighbridge where Brigadier A. E. Snow OBE took the salute. Beside him on the dais is the Bailiff of Guernsey Victor Carey Esq.