20mm anti-aircraft gun salvaged in April 1969 by Mr Len Mecham and his crew of divers from the wreck of the VP209 'Dr. Rudolph Wahrenorff'. On cleaning the barnacles from the remains of the magazine five 20mm rounds were revealed.
Vizeadmiral Hüffmeier’s representative Kapitänleutnant Zimmermann returning to his vessel the German minesweeper M4613 after discussing Armistice terms on board HMS Bulldog. He was told to return to his commander and tell him to prepare for Unconditional Surrender. On leaving he arrogantly warned Brigadier Snow to move away from the coast otherwise this would be construed as an invitation to open fire. Astounded by Zimmermann’s effrontery Brigadier Snow is reported to have replied “Tell Hüffmeier that if he opens fire on us we will hang him tomorrow!”
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. Class 16 Equestrians in Costume Tableaux or Groups. The Guernsey Riding and Hunt Club. A member informed a spectator that the horses were living enemy relics of the German Occupation. The spectator made a humorous reply “Good! Teach them manners and naturalise them”.
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. 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”.
May 9th 1946. Naval ratings from the visiting battleship HMS King George V commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Hutchins followed behind the Royal Marine Band.
A cargo vessel from Group III of the Liberation Fleet which arrived at St Peter Port Harbour, Guernsey, on 13th May carrying essential supplies. Once unloaded the much awaited food stuffs were transported to the Detail Issue Depot (DID), ready for distribution to islanders.
The RAF provided air cover for the landings and flew low over the island to “show the flag.” This squadron of fighters flew low over St Peter Port, Guernsey much to the delight of the islanders watching the British troops coming ashore. The mast of the US LST 516 can be seen which was beached in the Old Harbour.
The Guard of Honour present arms, the officers salute and the Bailiff removes his Bowler hat as the Union Flag is broken out at the Hoisting of the Flag Ceremony outside the Court Buildings.
Crowds of Guernsey folk that had waited for the arrival of the main body of the 'Omelette’ advance party climbed on buildings, carts and lorries to get a better view. At 2.15 p.m. on Wednesday 9th May 1945 the British troops landed under the command of Major J. Clement, RA, consisting of 'D’ Battery 618 Regiment, Royal artillery, with additional personnel from 'A’ Battery; Detachment of Royal Engineers; Detachment of royal Corps of Signals; totalling eleven officers, three Warrant Officers and one hundred and fifty four other ranks.
Photograph taken on the 28th May, 1945 at the Hoisting of the Flag Ceremony, Maître Ile, the Minquiers, and belonged to Brigadier Snow. Still going ashore. Naval Rating, Alexander Coutanche, Naval Officer and Brigadier Snow aboard J225.
Les Minquiers May 28th 1945. L to R: Buglers, Royal Marine Guard and Royal Marine Officer, Captain Fremantle, Lt-Col Robinson, Brigadier Snow and Mr Alexander Coutanche.
The Union Flag once again flying over Les Minquiers on 28th May 1945. L to R: Brigadier Snow, Mr Alexander Coutanche and Mr Charles Duret Aubin.
From the 13th to the 19th May, 1945 the majority of the German garrison were evacuated to POW camps in the UK. Here, German POWs are driven down to West Park, Jersey by DUKW.
Troops arrive at the Weighbridge, St Helier aboard six DUKWs pre-loaded with stores having been transported to Jersey on the USS LST 527.
Crowds gather in anticipation at the harbour offices, St Helier, Jersey on the morning of 9th May 1945 where the advance party Omelette are preparing to address the crowd.
Crowds gather outside the harbour office in St Helier, Jersey on 9th May 1945 to witness a large Union Flag being draped from the first floor by Surgeon-Lieutenant McDonald with the assistance of Sub-Lieutenant David Milne.
Accompanied by Generalmajor Wulf and two staff officers standing at the rear of the Royal Navy pinnace the Bailiff and solicitor general wave their hats as they head out to HMS Beagle where the surrender will be signed.
German officers from the Kriegsmarine and Wehrmacht aboard the FK01 leave St Helier harbour to rendezvous with HMS Beagle on 9th May 1945.
Two of the four Landing Ship Tank, the US LST 521 and 527, that beached in St Aubin’s Bay, Jersey, on Sunday 13th May, 1945.
DUKWs from 1758 Independent Platoon, Royal Army Service Corps, came ashore at the Old Lifeboat Station Slip on Saturday 12th May, 1945. They drove along Commercial Buildings and initially parked in the Transit Area at the Weighbridge.
Surgeon-Lieutenant Ronald McDonald, RNVR, and Sub-Lieutenant David Milln, RN, shortly after landing at the end of the Albert Pier, St Helier, Harbour, Jersey, on Wednesday morning 9th May, 1945. The German sign behind them advises Achtung Nicht Ankern Hafenspere (Attention No Anchoring Harbour Boom).
The crew of HMS Beagle’s launch make ready to land, and the first Liberators stepped ashore at the end of the Albert Pier, St Helier Harbour, Jersey, on Wednesday morning, 9th May, 1945. The two officers on board were Surgeon-Lieutenant Ronald McDonald, RNVR, and Sub-Lieutenant David Milln, RN.
The crew of HMS Beagle’s launch make ready to land, and the first Liberators stepped ashore at the end of the Albert Pier, St Helier Harbour, Jersey, on Wednesday morning, 9th May, 1945. The two officers on board were Surgeon-Lieutenant Ronald McDonald, RNVR, and Sub-Lieutenant David Milln, RN.
The German tunnel complex Ho.8 at La Valette was eventually cleaned out entirely in the early 1960’s prior to its conversion into an aquarium.
The German tunnel complex Ho.8 at La Valette was eventually cleaned out entirely in the early 1960’s prior to its conversion into an aquarium.
St Saviour`s tunnel which is featured in many publications as 'The tunnel under the church’ is one of the largest German tunnel complexes in Guernsey. This tunnel was originally constructed as a ration store and in 1944 it was converted into a munitions store. On 9th May 1969 Richard Heaume and John Hayes explored the remains of the tunnel and its contents which had captured the interest of many collectors ever since the scrap men had left in the 1950’s.
Post war photograph of the tunnel entrance to HO.7/40 better known as the German Underground Hospital in St Andrews.
Post war photograph of Army direction finding tower M5 at Le Prevote. The structure was cladded externally with granite sets during the war which has since been removed leaving the bare concrete of the structure exposed.
Section of concrete inscribed by the British Army with '224 Works Section RE 1945' located at St Peter Port harbour. Note RE is an abbreviation for Royal Engineers.
Post war photograph showing several structures of Batterie Steinbruch prior to their removal during the quarry expansion at Les Vardes, St Sampson.
The remains of the original camouflage were still visible here on a post war photograph of the 10.5cm K331(f) bunker at Fort Hommet.
Post war photograph showing one of the structures of Batterie Steinbruch prior to its removal during the quarry expansion at Les Vardes, St Sampson.
The floating crane Antee lifts the huge barrel of Batterie Mirus at the Cambridge berth in St Peter Port. Batterie Mirus was the largest German installation in the Channel Islands and housed four 30.5cm naval guns.
The floating crane Antee lifts the huge barrel of Batterie Mirus at the Cambridge berth in St Peter Port. Batterie Mirus was the largest German installation in the Channel Islands and housed four 30.5cm naval guns.
Filming of 'Appointment with Venus’ on the Channel Island of Sark. The plot is set during the outbreak of WWII when the Ministry of Agriculture and the War Office join forces to launch a daring mission to rescue a highly lucrative pedigree cow, Venus, from the German-occupied Channel Island of Armorel. English Army Major Valentine Moreland (David Niven), his A.T.S. assistant Nicola Fallaize (Glynis Johns), radio operator Forbes (Patric Doonan) and ship’s pilot Trawler Langley (Noel Purcell) are dispatched to the small island to rescue Venus. Problems arise when the German commander on Armorel, Weiss (George Coulouris), also discovers the cow’s value and intends to evacuate Venus back to Germany. The film went on general release in 1951.
Filming of 'Appointment with Venus’ on the Channel Island of Sark. The plot is set during the outbreak of WWII when the Ministry of Agriculture and the War Office join forces to launch a daring mission to rescue a highly lucrative pedigree cow, Venus, from the German-occupied Channel Island of Armorel. English Army Major Valentine Moreland (David Niven), his A.T.S. assistant Nicola Fallaize (Glynis Johns), radio operator Forbes (Patric Doonan) and ship’s pilot Trawler Langley (Noel Purcell) are dispatched to the small island to rescue Venus. Problems arise when the German commander on Armorel, Weiss (George Coulouris), also discovers the cow’s value and intends to evacuate Venus back to Germany. The film went on general release in 1951.
Filming of 'Appointment with Venus’ on the Channel Island of Sark. The plot is set during the outbreak of WWII when the Ministry of Agriculture and the War Office join forces to launch a daring mission to rescue a highly lucrative pedigree cow, Venus, from the German-occupied Channel Island of Armorel. English Army Major Valentine Moreland (David Niven), his A.T.S. assistant Nicola Fallaize (Glynis Johns), radio operator Forbes (Patric Doonan) and ship’s pilot Trawler Langley (Noel Purcell) are dispatched to the small island to rescue Venus. Problems arise when the German commander on Armorel, Weiss (George Coulouris), also discovers the cow’s value and intends to evacuate Venus back to Germany. The film went on general release in 1951.
The Pomme d’Or Hotel at the Weighbridge, St Helier, Jersey was the Headquarters of the Hafenkommandant (Senior German Naval Officer). This is where the Bailiff Alexander Coutanche met Generalmajor Wulf the Island Commander at 12 o’clock on 9th May 1945 and escorted him to an awaiting German pinnace at the harbour and out to HMS Beagle anchored in St Aubin’s Bay to meet with Brigadier Snow and the other British representatives.