Alderney holds its annual Homecoming

The day marked 79 years since the first islanders returned after the Second World War and the island’s occupation by German forces and slave labour camps.

They stepped ashore on 15 December 1945, five years after they had been sent away and seven months after Guernsey’s liberation.

Yesterday’s events began with a service at St Anne’s Church, before States of Alderney president William Tate laid a wreath under a brass plaque at the island’s Courthouse, which remembers the call for islanders to evacuate in June 1940.

Ten-year-old Maia Gaudion from St Anne’s Primary School also laid a wreath on behalf of the younger generation.

A vin d’honneur at the Island Hall was then held, with Lt General Cripwell giving a short speech.

In addition, the flag of Alderney was flown at the Ministry of Justice building in London to commemorate the occasion.

Mr Tate said the day was both moving and emotional, and was pleased that some of the island’s homecomers who were still alive were able to be involved.

‘It’s a fabulous occasion, everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves,’ he said.

He estimated that between 20 and 30 homecomers still lived in the island, adding that there were still over 100 alive around the world.

‘I’m not 100% sure of the figures, but even as time goes on there still seems to be a good number who come to the service each year.’

Most of Alderney’s 1,500 residents left on official evacuation boats sent from mainland Britain in 1940.

While Alderney was liberated only days after the other islands – on 16 May 1945 – islanders were not allowed to return until months later.

When they arrived, they found four camps had been built, as well as extensive military emplacements.

Many of the island’s buildings were completely derelict due to the fact that anything wooden, including front doors and roof beams, had been burned for fuel during the desperate times.

Homecoming is a bank holiday in Alderney, but as this year fell on a Sunday, the holiday was moved to last Monday.