Commemoration Statue For 50th Anniversary Of Liberation - St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 49° 10.966 W 002° 06.554
30U E 564913 N 5448155
This statue of local Jersey people celebrating liberation from German occupation was unveiled on 9th May 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event. It was unveiled by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.
Waymark Code: WMM51F
Location: Jersey
Date Posted: 07/22/2014
Views: 6
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.
link 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 British flag was unfurled from a window overlooking the site of this statue.
The statue shows a group of islanders and a British Serviceman holding aloft a British flag reflecting the celebrations of the time.
The life size bronze figures are standing on a round stone platform surrounded by a fountain. The fountain has 12 jets of water representing the 12 parishes that make up the island of Jersey.
The layout of the figures is designed to encourage people to walk amongst the figures and there are four stone walkways across the water of the fountains to allow this. Set into the floor at the feet of the people is a plaque with the following text.
At this place on 9th May, 1945,
advance parties from the Royal Navy
and the British Army liberated Jersey
from nearly five years of occupation
by German forces. They and the return
of the British flag were greeted by
thousands of Islanders with intense relief,
joy and gratitude.
On the 50th Anniversary of that day,
the States and people of Jersey dedicate
this new Liberation square to commemorate
that historic event and all those whose
efforts and sacrifices made it possible.
This Sculpture by Philip Jackson F.R.S.S.
was commissioned by the Jersey Public
Sculpture Trust and unveiled by His
Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
on 9th May 1995.
The Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales (Welsh: Tywysog Cymru) is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent of the British or English monarch. The current Prince of Wales is Prince Charles, the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, who is Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other independent Commonwealth realms as well as Head of the 53-member Commonwealth of Nations.
The Prince of Wales is the heir apparent of the monarch. He has no formal public role or responsibility that has been legislated by Parliament or otherwise delegated by law. He does however carry out ceremonial visits and tours, representing the Sovereign when he or she cannot be or is not present.
link
Whilst unveiling the statue Prince Charles would have been acting as Queen Elizabeth II official representative.