Commemoration Stone For 45th Anniversary Of Liberation - St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 49° 10.958 W 002° 06.527
30U E 564946 N 5448140
This commemorative stone at the entrance to Liberation square was unveiled on 9th May 1990 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the liberation of Jersey from German occupation by Sir Peter Crill, the Bailiff of Jersey.
Waymark Code: WMM4V3
Location: Jersey
Date Posted: 07/21/2014
Views: 4
The island of Jersey is a self-governing parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with its own financial, legal and judicial systems, and the power of self-determination. It is part of the ancient Duchy of Normandy, and is ruled by the Duke of Normandy—a title held by the reigning Monarch of the United Kingdom, though unrelated to those duties as king or queen of the UK.
Jersey has an international identity separate from that of the UK but the United Kingdom is constitutionally responsible for the defence of Jersey.
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During the Second World War Germany feared that the UK would use the island as a base to invade Europe and so it occupied the island to prevent this.
At the end of the war the German army surrendered and UK troops liberated the island. Amidst much celebration the United Kingdom flag was unfurled from a window overlooking this square.
The commemorative stone has the following text.
LIBERATION SQUARE
This stone was unveiled
by
Sir Peter Crill C.B.E.
Bailiff of Jersey
on 9th May 1990
to commemorate
the liberation of the island
on
9th May 1945
Sir Peter Crill C.B.E.
Sir Peter Leslie Crill KBE (February 1, 1925 – October 3, 2005) was Bailiff of Jersey from 1986 to 1995.
He started work, during the German occupation of Jersey, for the law firm Crill and Benest, where his father was a partner. Not long after, in November 1944 he successfully escaped from the island by using his family’s boat, one of the few people who managed to achieve this.
At the age of 26, he was elected to the States of Jersey as a Deputy for St Clement from 1951 to 1958. During this period he was President of the Legislation Committee and was responsible for introducing examinations for candidates seeking to become Jersey advocates and solicitors. In 1960, he was elected as a Senator.
In 1962, Crill resigned from elected office to take up the post of HM Solicitor General and became HM Attorney General in 1969, He was appointed Deputy Bailiff in 1974 and then succeed Sir Frank Ereaut as Bailiff of Jersey in January 1986.
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The Bailiff is the chief justice in Jersey, also serving as president of the legislature and having ceremonial and executive functions. The Bailiffs and Deputy Bailiffs are appointed by the Crown (not by the governments or legislatures of the islands) and may hold office until the retirement age of 70.
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