‘I remember how pleased the islanders were to see us’
A D-DAY veteran has told of how he helped liberate Guernsey from five years of German occupation.
Joe Corless, 94, who was serving with the Royal Marines, said he was looking forward to VE Day, which they knew was coming, when they were told to pack their kitbags and get ready to go to the Channel Islands.
On 9 May 1945 they set off across the English Channel to drop off a Navy team who would be setting up the British headquarters in St Peter Port.
‘It all went smoothly for us, because the Germans had signed the surrender on a destroyer earlier in the day,’ he said. ‘I remember how pleased the islanders were to see us. They were so enormously happy and relieved. There was no fighting and it seemed very peaceful, it was a very friendly welcome as I recall.’
For six weeks, Mr Corless and his landing craft crew helped out wherever they could, such as ferrying supplies and food from ships in the harbour and from a large Red Cross ship that had also arrived.
He also helped to move large numbers of German soldiers who were laying down their arms and ammunition. They were taken out to prison ships which would eventually take them to prisoner of war camps in Le Havre, France, and on to England.
‘The Germans were friendly as well, they were equally relieved not to have fought it out and had been there for nearly five years, so they got to know a lot of the Channel Islanders,’ said Mr Corless.
‘We had one moment where we were heading across Guernsey to get to the south side of the island and as we were walking along we saw a group of about 40 fully armed German soldiers coming toward us.
‘Our corporal in charge quickly got us to dodge into a churchyard as they passed by. Moments later their officer came along on a cycle and dropped some papers from under his arm. We picked them up for him and he asked us in English if we’d read the German letter. None of us did, so he explained that it is the surrender order, which he was going to read out to his men who were heading down to the Quay. It was a lucky encounter.’
Mr Corless has never forgotten how nice the people of Guernsey were and one of his friends had special thanks for one family they encountered.
‘We got on well with the Guernsey people, in fact my mate Jim got friendly with one of the girls and her family invited him to their home. He would go there for meals and everything and for a few years after her parents would send Jim crates of Guernsey tomatoes to give to his mother. They were so friendly and pleasant.’
Royal Marines Brigadier Jock Fraser, Naval Regional Commander Wales and Western England, said time spent with Mr Corless was always a humbling experience.
‘I have been privileged to hear personally from Joe his understated account of courage and service from the Normandy beaches on D-Day to the liberation of the Channel Islands,’ he said. ‘We will all have Joe’s remarkable story in mind as we reflect together on the freedom won through the sacrifice of his generation. Joe and fellow veterans – we salute you.’
