Liberation Of Guernsey Monument - Saint Peter Port, Guernsey - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

A nearby plaque explains the story of the sundial monument.

The Liberation Monument commemorates the 50th anniversary, on the 9th May 1995, of the Liberation of Guernsey from German occupying forces. It was designed by Guernsey artist Eric Snell, who was commissioned by the States of Guernsey. Interested in linking 1945 to 1995 and beyond, Snell looked to create a site-specific structure designed around the shadow cast by an obelisk. He worked closely with local astronomer David Le Conte of La Societe Guernesiaise who carried out the necessary calculations and experiments. The tip of the shadow travels precisely (within one millimetre and 5 seconds of time) along the back of the curved granite seating on the 9th May, and only on that day. The shadow points to three inscriptions, at the specific time, marking significant events on the day the island was liberated in 1945. Unveiled by HRH The Prince of Wales on Liberation Day 1995, the obelisk is comprised of 50 layers of blue Guernsey granite, representing the 50 years of freedom, with the cut angle at the top representing the trauma of the occupation years.

The three events inscribed on the seat back are as follows.

7:15 am SURRENDER ACCEPTED ON HMS BULLDOG

8:00 am LIBERATING FORCES LANDED AT SAINT PETER PORT

10:15 am THE UNION FLAG UNFURLED AT THE ROYAL COURT HOUSE

Next to these dates is the quote from Winston Churchill
AND OUR DEAR CHANNEL ISLANDS ARE ALSO TO BE FREED TODAY - WINSTON CHURCHILL

The left hand end of the seating also the following inscription.

INAUGURATED BY
HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES

9 MAY 1995


TO COMMEMORATE THE LIBERATION OF GUERNSEY FROM THE OCCUPYING
GERMAN FORCES ON 9 MAY 1945

1945 - 1995

At the right hand end of the seating the words "Thanks be to God" are inscribed in English and Guernsey-French.

LIBERATION OF GUERNSEY

9 MAY 1945

TOUTES GRACES AU BOUAN DJU
THANKS BE TO GOD

1945 - 1995

Date of Dedication: 05/09/1995 Property Permission: Public Access instructions: The memorial is at the western end of St. Julians Pier at the harbour Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: St. Julians Pier Saint Peter Port, Guernsey Commemoration: The fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Guernsey Access times: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/12/2023 dzeih visited it