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| Force 135 arriving |
May 8th: Churchill's Speech and May 9th: Liberation Day
From the 75th Anniversary Booklet
Britain had been considering plans to take back the Channel Islands since 1942. A military attack was soon ruled out however. The strength of German defence and inevitable heavy loss of life — among both attackers and civilians - made such an option unpalatable.
Instead, from late 1943 preparations began for a peaceful reoccupation following either German evacuation or surrender. Under the command of Brigadier Alfred Snow, Task Force 135 formed to plan and execute the operation
Through 1944 and into 1945, Snow's command assembled in the Plymouth area, training intensively in preparation for their liberating duties. None more so than the scattering of Jersey soldiers within its ranks. For them, the upcoming operation would be a deeply personal undertaking.
At the start of May 1945, as the war in Europe ended, they and the 6,000 other men of Force 135 were ready and waiting for Operation Nestegg to begin
The day of liberation, while not quite yet arrived, was at hand.
That drama had been most acutely felt during the final desperate winter of occupation. While SS Vega's precious arrival may have eased the threat of starvation, Islanders remained isolated and anxious over their unpredictable future. Especially unsettling was Hitler's appointment of a new German commander for the Channel Islands. Committed Nazi Vice Admiral Huffmeier ominously promised to, 'hold out...until final victory'.
Islanders could only hope it would be an Allied victory, to bring about a change in mind.
And on May 8th, hope was realised with the erection of loudspeakers permitted, to publicly broadcast Churchill's forthcoming victory speech.
Alongside that broadcast on 8 May, the Bailiff announced an agreed release of local political prisoners and Allied POWs. And there is no longer any restriction on di listening to radios, Coutanche told Islanders in emotional tones before leading the crowd in singing the National Anthem openly for the first time in nearly five years.
“And now our dear Channel Islands are also to be free...”
Prime Minister Winston Churchill's stirring words, publicly broadcast across St Helier, released a great outpouring of clapping and cheers. '...When "Winnie's" voice came over everyone was sure it was no dream,' recorded the Evening Post, 'all they had waited for had come true'
Cheers were loudest in St Helier's Royal Square where Jersey's Bailiff addressed excited crowds struggling to take everything in. There was a historic poignancy between that moment, Alexander Coutanche reflected, and one occurring in the same place nearly five years earlier. In 1940, a sombre, anxious crowd watched while workman painted a huge white cross on the square's historic paving stones
Churchill's speech and the Bailiff's words resulted in a boisterous evening of celebration across the Island and raised feverish anticipation for the following day.
Liberation: 9 May 1945
From early morning on 9 May, crowds began gathering in St Helier, unsure but eager to see what would happen. At just after 10 o'clock a huge cheer went up. A first British warship had been sighted rounding Noirmont Point and entering St Aubin's Bay. The liberators were finally in sight.
Ships bearing Force 135's advance guard had set-off from Plymouth on the previous day, bound first for Guernsey. Following a tense standoff, Brigadier Snow secured Elliffmeier's unconditional agreement. At 7.15am on 9 May, the German surrender was duly signed on the quarterdeck of HMS Bulldog, anchored off St Peter Port.
Transferring to HMS Beagle, Brigadier Snow then departed for Jersey. Signalling ahead, he ordered German representatives to a rendezvous off Elizabeth Castle, there to confirm acceptance of the surrender terms.
To the bemusement of Islanders, however, a frustrating delay ensued while the matter of just who should go to the Beagle played out. At last, just after midday, a small launch bearing the German fortress commander set off from the Albert Pier. Alongside the humbled Major General Wulf stood the jubilant, waving figure of Bailiff Alexander Coutanche, intent on witnessing the official end to German occupation.
Onboard HMS Beagle, Wulf confirmed his intention to obey the surrender order. In preparation for liberation, he furthermore agreed to remove all German forces from St Helier and begin disarming the garrison. Satisfied with progress, the Bailiff asked permission to send signals to the Prime Minister and King assuring the “...devotion of the Islanders”
By then, the first liberators were already on Jersey and being cheered themselves.
As the launch bearing Wulf and Coutanche had departed, another bringing a small reconnaissance party from HMS Beagle came alongside the Albert Pier. Mobbed by ecstatic crowds, Surgeon-Lieutenant Ronald McDonald and Sub-Lieutenant David Milln were carried on shoulders to reach the Harbour Office opposite Pomme d'Or Hotel.
Alongside that broadcast on 8 May, the Bailiff announced an agreed release of local political prisoners and Allied POWs. And there is no longer any restriction on di listening to radios, Coutanche told Islanders in emotional tones before leading the crowd in singing the National Anthem openly for the first time in nearly five years.
“And now our dear Channel Islands are also to be free...”
Prime Minister Winston Churchill's stirring words, publicly broadcast across St Helier, released a great outpouring of clapping and cheers. '...When "Winnie's" voice came over everyone was sure it was no dream,' recorded the Evening Post, 'all they had waited for had come true'
Cheers were loudest in St Helier's Royal Square where Jersey's Bailiff addressed excited crowds struggling to take everything in. There was a historic poignancy between that moment, Alexander Coutanche reflected, and one occurring in the same place nearly five years earlier. In 1940, a sombre, anxious crowd watched while workman painted a huge white cross on the square's historic paving stones
Churchill's speech and the Bailiff's words resulted in a boisterous evening of celebration across the Island and raised feverish anticipation for the following day.
Liberation: 9 May 1945
From early morning on 9 May, crowds began gathering in St Helier, unsure but eager to see what would happen. At just after 10 o'clock a huge cheer went up. A first British warship had been sighted rounding Noirmont Point and entering St Aubin's Bay. The liberators were finally in sight.
Ships bearing Force 135's advance guard had set-off from Plymouth on the previous day, bound first for Guernsey. Following a tense standoff, Brigadier Snow secured Elliffmeier's unconditional agreement. At 7.15am on 9 May, the German surrender was duly signed on the quarterdeck of HMS Bulldog, anchored off St Peter Port.
Transferring to HMS Beagle, Brigadier Snow then departed for Jersey. Signalling ahead, he ordered German representatives to a rendezvous off Elizabeth Castle, there to confirm acceptance of the surrender terms.
To the bemusement of Islanders, however, a frustrating delay ensued while the matter of just who should go to the Beagle played out. At last, just after midday, a small launch bearing the German fortress commander set off from the Albert Pier. Alongside the humbled Major General Wulf stood the jubilant, waving figure of Bailiff Alexander Coutanche, intent on witnessing the official end to German occupation.
Onboard HMS Beagle, Wulf confirmed his intention to obey the surrender order. In preparation for liberation, he furthermore agreed to remove all German forces from St Helier and begin disarming the garrison. Satisfied with progress, the Bailiff asked permission to send signals to the Prime Minister and King assuring the “...devotion of the Islanders”
By then, the first liberators were already on Jersey and being cheered themselves.
As the launch bearing Wulf and Coutanche had departed, another bringing a small reconnaissance party from HMS Beagle came alongside the Albert Pier. Mobbed by ecstatic crowds, Surgeon-Lieutenant Ronald McDonald and Sub-Lieutenant David Milln were carried on shoulders to reach the Harbour Office opposite Pomme d'Or Hotel.
From the office's first floor, Surgeon-Lieutenant McDonald briefly addressed the crowd outside. He offered profuse thanks for the warmth of reception, before, to great cheers from below, unfurling a huge British Union Flag from the window.
With that he gave signal for Jersey's Harbourmaster, Captain Harry Richmond, to raise the Union Flag, to the crowd's enormous delight. Wild cheering broke out, followed by lusty singing of the National Anthem.
Among a day of momentous events, they had just witnessed perhaps the most significant of all. With this first official flag-raising, Jersey had formerly transitioned from Nazi control back to British rule.
That day's events were far from over however. Soon after the Pomme d'Or flag raising, Bailiff Coutanche returned from HMS Beagle, to the elation of grateful Islanders who gathered to greet him.
With Allied aircraft roaring low overhead, a curious period of uncertainty followed. Had liberation happened? Was there more to come? To everyone's delight, at 2.30pm that afternoon a second British vessel nosed into the harbour and came alongside the New North Quay. Jersey's 'formal' liberation was about to begin.
Having gained German compliance, and the reconnaissance party's assurance, Lieutenant Colonel William Robinson, the appointed Island commander, brought his 23-strong force ashore. They were greeted by a sea of cheering Islanders, eager to see, and touch, these smiling 'Tommies'.
Robinson's intended destination was the Pomme d'Or Hotel, earmarked for his headquarters. Struggling to make headway through a mass of handshakes, hugs, slaps on the back and kisses, however, Robinson led his men into Ordinance Yard instead climbing the steps to Pier Road. Among his party was Captain Hugh Le Brocq, who had left with the Jersey Militia in 1940, and who now proudly had orders to takeover Fort Regent from German control.
Leaving Captain Le Brocq to secure the Fort and take down the Nazi flag flying over its ramparts, Robinson managed to commandeer a lorry which drove him slowly through besieging crowds to finally reach the Pomme d'Or. As German Naval Headquarters, the hotel still flew a huge swastika flag from its balcony, which Robinson ordered removed. Noticing Surgeon-Lieutenant McDonald's Union Flag hanging from the Harbour Office's window, he ordered this brought across to the, hotel.
Around 3.40pm, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson came out onto the hotel balcony to address the gathered crowds below. The ordeal of occupation was truly over, he emotionally announced, more troops will soon arrive to complete liberation, and the Germans taken away
Among a day of momentous events, they had just witnessed perhaps the most significant of all. With this first official flag-raising, Jersey had formerly transitioned from Nazi control back to British rule.
That day's events were far from over however. Soon after the Pomme d'Or flag raising, Bailiff Coutanche returned from HMS Beagle, to the elation of grateful Islanders who gathered to greet him.
With Allied aircraft roaring low overhead, a curious period of uncertainty followed. Had liberation happened? Was there more to come? To everyone's delight, at 2.30pm that afternoon a second British vessel nosed into the harbour and came alongside the New North Quay. Jersey's 'formal' liberation was about to begin.
Having gained German compliance, and the reconnaissance party's assurance, Lieutenant Colonel William Robinson, the appointed Island commander, brought his 23-strong force ashore. They were greeted by a sea of cheering Islanders, eager to see, and touch, these smiling 'Tommies'.
Robinson's intended destination was the Pomme d'Or Hotel, earmarked for his headquarters. Struggling to make headway through a mass of handshakes, hugs, slaps on the back and kisses, however, Robinson led his men into Ordinance Yard instead climbing the steps to Pier Road. Among his party was Captain Hugh Le Brocq, who had left with the Jersey Militia in 1940, and who now proudly had orders to takeover Fort Regent from German control.
Leaving Captain Le Brocq to secure the Fort and take down the Nazi flag flying over its ramparts, Robinson managed to commandeer a lorry which drove him slowly through besieging crowds to finally reach the Pomme d'Or. As German Naval Headquarters, the hotel still flew a huge swastika flag from its balcony, which Robinson ordered removed. Noticing Surgeon-Lieutenant McDonald's Union Flag hanging from the Harbour Office's window, he ordered this brought across to the, hotel.
Around 3.40pm, Lieutenant Colonel Robinson came out onto the hotel balcony to address the gathered crowds below. The ordeal of occupation was truly over, he emotionally announced, more troops will soon arrive to complete liberation, and the Germans taken away
From surrender to liberation: Jersey had come through one of the most dramatic periods in its history.
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