Story of Occupation and Liberation to go on display in Priaulx Library garden
Photographs of the military and social sides of the Occupation and Liberation will go on display in the Priaulx Library gardens as the annual exhibition returns for an eighth year.
The exhibition, which is again sponsored by Ravenscroft, will include photographs, newspaper stories, official accounts and private diaries which have been taken from the Priaulx Library’s photographic archive and from the private collection of Captain John Wallbridge. Artefacts will also be on display on the ground floor of the library.
‘The story of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands is a complex interweaving of military strategy, political pragmatism and propaganda. No narrative however, would be complete without the personal accounts of domestic privation, stoicism and even quiet heroism. While the 75th anniversary of our liberation was not celebrated as we had hoped, we still wanted to commemorate it and we are delighted that thanks to Ravenscroft we can do so with our popular garden exhibition,’ said Sue Laker, chief librarian at the Priaulx Library.
‘Being able to draw on the expert knowledge of Captain Wallbridge, who has been meticulously researching the naval and logistical aspects of the Occupation for many years, has been particularly fascinating and we are grateful to him for sharing both his photographs and his insight. We are sure that islanders, young and old, will find it a fascinating exhibition.'
The garden exhibition, which is free to enter, will be open from Monday 10th August until the middle of October with the display in the library accessible during library opening hours.
Mark Bousfield, group managing director of Ravenscroft, said that it was important to remember what islanders went through during the Occupation.
‘Lockdown 2020 gave islanders a brief idea of what life at the start of the Occupation was like but we can only rely on first-hand accounts and photos to truly appreciate what they endured over five long years and we can only imagine the sense of freedom and community spirit that they all felt in May 1945. It is part of our history that we must ensure generations to come know and understand,’ he said.