Liberation Day 2024

9th May

About Liberation Day

The 9th May is Liberation Day in Jersey, marking the end of the Second World War for Jersey and its inhabitants. The Channel Islands were infamously the only United Kingdom territories to be occupied by the German Forces. Fear and hunger best describe the hardship islanders suffered during nearly five years, leading to intense relief when freedom was finally announced on the 8th May 1945, first by Winston Churchill in London - 'Our Dear Channel islands are also to be freed today' - then by the Bailiff of Jersey, on 9th May, in what has now become Liberation Square in St Helier.

The day is considered as Jersey's national day and is celebrated year after year with bands, parades, services, singing and dancing. Colourful re-enactments are always popular providing a vivid insight in to what happened over 70 years ago.

Events on the day of 2024 are still TBC - for 2023 the following timeline took place.

Celebrations begin around 9am with the formation of the marching contingents in the Royal Square, from 10.15 the procession begins towards Liberation Square with participants from the Scout Band, Girl Guides, Jersey Field Squadron, Veterans, Cadets and SJA. 11.05am service of thanksgiving followed by re-enactment of Force 135 arrival, singing of beautiful Jersey and national anthem, noon, March past and motorcade wrap up the mornings events.

Dates

Liberation Day is 9th May 2024

Events take place throughout the day