100-year-old Liberation hero appeals to find other veterans

Tuesday 22 September 2020

A 100-year-old veteran in Exmouth who helped to liberate the Channel Islands is appealing for other members of his old army unit to get in contact with him.

Bob Crum, who celebrated his milestone birthday this month, was initially part of the War Department and then the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1941, before serving as part of Force 135.

Mr Crum told the Exmouth Journal he had “received around 100 cards, one for each year of his life”, which had left him “overwhelmed by the number of people who sent cards, especially people who I do not even know that have taken the time to do it.”

However, his other birthday wish involved people he did very much know: to be reunited with fellow members of his old unit. 

Pictured: Bob celebrated his centenarian birthday this month with 100 cards from Exmouth locals. (Daniel Wilkins of the Exmouth Journal)

Force 135 were a military unit who helped liberate the Channel Islands from the 26,000 strong German garrison in 1945 with no resistance, following their surrender.

It was the culmination of plans that had been gestating since 1943, and took on the name of ‘Operation Nestegg’ in 1944, though they were not to be put into operation until the German garrison surrendered unconditionally.

According to Mark Lamerton’s 2020 book, ‘Liberated By Force 135’, the Force underwent “extensive training for the re-occupation of the Channel Islands, in the county of Devonshire, as the terrain in and around the towns of Brixam (Guernsey) and Paignton (Jersey), resembled that of the islands.”

Pictured: The first Liberators come ashore in 1945. 

On May 9 1945, advance parties arrived in Jersey and Guernsey to begin the liberation, with the main body of Force 135 embarking into the islands the following day from Plymouth, and the Force consisting of 6,100 troops – 3,500 for Guernsey and 2,600 for Jersey. 

With Mr Crum celebrating his 100^th birthday and the islands marking the 75^th anniversary of the Liberation, it seems that now would be the perfect opportunity to bring back together those who secured our freedom all those years ago.  

If any islanders are aware of anyone still living from Force 135, please get in contact with Express at editor@bailiwickexpress.com or phone us on 01534 887740.