Liberation of islands may form part of UK VE Day celebration

During a short debate, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport laid out its plans for VE Day on 8 May and Victory over Japan Day on 15 August.

The plans prompted a question from Channel Islands enthusiast MP Andrew Rosindell, who asked how the government might mark the islands securing their freedom after five years of occupation.

He said that with some 66,000 British subjects liberated in the islands, and 6,000 members of the British forces landing in the islands as part of Force 135 for Operation Nest Egg, the UK should be doing something.

‘There is no actual commemoration for those people who liberated those cherished British islands in the English Channel,’ he said.

Junior minister Stephanie Peacock, who was making the announcements, said that Mr Rosindell had ‘made an incredibly important point about the Channel Islands’.

‘I would be really pleased to meet him to discuss that further to see how we can pay a fitting tribute to and commemorate the role that they played.’

Ms Peacock said that the 80th anniversary ‘may well be the last where veterans who served their country during the Second World War can be in attendance, and my generation will be among the last to have the experience of speaking directly to family members who fought for their country or contributed to the effort at home’.

‘It is up to all of us, here today and across the country, to keep their stories alive.’

She said the VE Day events would be ‘a timely opportunity to remember the communal values of pulling together, a fighting spirit in the face of adversity, and compassion for our neighbours’.

Celebrations will start in the early May bank holiday on 5 May, with the Cenotaph draped in flags, followed by a military procession and flypast. It is hoped that street parties will be held across the country, echoing the celebrations of 80 years ago, and the government is launching an initiative called Tip Top Towns, ‘a call to action for community and volunteering groups to come together to get their town or village ready for the day, whether through bunting, litter picking or crocheted bonnets for post boxes’.

A cascade of 25,000 ceramic poppies will recreate the popular installation of 2014 the following day, and VE Day itself will see a service at Westminster Abbey and a concert delivered by the BBC.

On VJ Day, the Royal British Legion will lead the nation in honouring those who fought and died during the war in the Far East, with a service at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The government is also including veterans in the celebrations and is working with the Royal British Legion and other partners, and has a project planned with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

‘We want the whole UK to feel included and involved in VE and VJ Day celebrations, wherever they live and whoever they are,’ Ms Peacock added.

‘Together, we will make sure the legacies of those who gave their lives will continue to be told for generations to come.’

The British Channel Islands WW2 Remembrance Campaign has been pushing for the inclusion of the Channel Islands in UK VE Day events for several months, including leader Kev South writing to Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer, asking what the government would be doing to honour the local anniversary.

‘Andrew Rosindell responded to us as we pointed out that the Channel Islands are not mentioned in the VE programme by the UK,’ said Mr South.

‘We are delighted he has raised this at Westminster and look forward to seeing what follows.’