Christopher’S Blog VISIT WEBSITE The Channel Islands Commemorates Liberation From German Occupation In The 2nd World War May 10, 2018 Christopher West Soldiers Liberating The Channel Islands on Liberation Day 1945 Photo: ITV Channel On May 8, 1945, German forces occupying the Channel Islands announced that the war was over. That afternoon, Winston Churchill broadcast these words to the Islands: “Hostilities will end officially at one minute after midnight tonight, but in the interests of saving lives the “Cease fire” began yesterday to be sounded all along the front, and our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today. ” Liberation Day, 1945 The commemorations in Liberation Square in 2017. Picture: ITV Channel Television Visiting Jersey and Guernsey as a boy, I remember the breathtaking beauty of the islands, but being horrified, seeing the preserved fortifications and museums, and learning of the savage brutality that took place. We must never forget, these commemorations are all important. This and other early memories remained embedded in my memory, so attending the Tower of London’s Chapel Royal weekly, it brought back this need to honour and remember Forces Veterans and today’s Armed Forces. Veterans are welcomed and respected when they visit the Tower, and Yeoman Warders (themselves ex Services) make time to chat and share anecdotes. The Chapel Royal congregation regularly shares its services with veteran associations and the Broadwalk is used as a parade ground on many occasions each year. Chelsea Pensioners Leading The Parade At The Tower Of London The Tower is a great bastion for preservation of these ideals and one of its greatest achievements was hosting and bringing together the phenomenal ‘Poppies In The Moat’ sculpture, with 888246 poppies representing all the British fallen in the 1st World War. I was privileged to write the only full account of how this was achieved, and it’s included in my book ‘Poppies Pomp And People,’ about the Tower of London today- profits will go to Service Charities. Poppies In The Moat At The Tower Of London Posted in Uncategorized Tagged A Year at the Tower of London, beefeateras, channel islands, Chapel Royal, christopher-west-charles-dickens-the-story-of-st-katharine-docks-poppy-poppies-pomp-and-people-a-year-in-life-tower-london, christopher-west-charles-dickens-the-story-of-st-katharine-docks-poppy-poppies-pomp-and-people-a-year-in-life-tower-london002, forces veterans, german forces, guernsey, jersey, Pomme D'Or Hotel, poppies in the moat, tower bridge, winston churchill, yeoman warders Leave A Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Purchase My Books Poppies, Pomp & People The Story of St Katharine’s Follow Me Facebook Twitter Instagram Google+ My Recent Posts I Am Starting To Work Again, At Last. FEBRUARY 21, 2019 Back Home And At My Wonderful St Katharine’s, After All This Time In Hospitals JULY 22, 2018 I’m Up And Walking About At St Thomas’s, After Ten Very Long Days Being Investigated JUNE 27, 2018 Why Is Lola Wesson A Star At 11 Years Old? JUNE 12, 2018 Best Wishes To Prince Harry (Now Duke Of Sussex) And To His New Princess MAY 19, 2018 Copyright © Christopher West Powered by Tawasolive