Guernsey Press

Personal stories of Liberation at packed St Peter’s service

GUERNSEY’S biggest out-of-town Liberation Day service played host to more than 300 islanders.

Published
Members of the 9th St Peter’s Scouts and the children of rector the Rev. Adrian Datta, hand out flowers to the church community as they leave St Peter’s Church. (Picture by Four3Media)

Held at St Peter’s Church, it saw attendees recalling what it was like to experience the Occupation and Liberation first-hand.

Nigel Lewis read from his father’s diary about the importance of food during the Occupation, Catherine Lenfestey and Captain Frank Le Mesurier both spoke of their experiences of leaving the island and their homecomings and Jim De Garis told the congregation what it was like to see the signing of the Liberation from the roof of Elizabeth College.

‘The personal accounts were really moving, to hear first-hand how islanders were affected by the Occupation and Liberation,’ said St Peter’s rector the Rev. Adrian Datta.

‘We had a great turnout for what was a really wonderful service.’

Liberating soldier John Greenfield, 94, made a special visit with his wife. (Picture by Four3Media)

Also in attendance was 94-year-old liberating soldier John Greenfield, who was visiting the island specially for the historic day.

After the service, 220 people made their way up to Styx for a community lunch.

The Liberation Day service in St Peter’s was re-established last year and Mr Datta said next year would be something to really look forward to. ‘Next year is the 75th anniversary of the Liberation and 80th anniversary of the Occupation of Guernsey.

‘It will be the last time we do our own Liberation Day in St Peter’s, it will probably move to another parish church after that.’

Liberation Day also saw a short service on the slipway at Cobo, which included the blessing of a Guernsey flag which will fly from Grosse Rocque.

The blessing of the Guernsey flag before it was taken out to Grosse Rocque. Left to right are Roy Bisson, Castel rector the Rev. Scott Lamb, Dave Chester and John Webster. (Picture by Four3Media)

The annual event dates back to just after the Second World War when some local fishermen decided to celebrate by putting a flag on the reef, which had been inaccessible due to mines on the beach.

Sark marked its Liberation Day yesterday.

A picnic was scheduled to be held at the Island Hall and Millennium Field with the Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas.