Liberation Day ceremony to remember slave workers

Thursday 05 May 2016

The children and grandchildren of those forced to work by the Germans during the Occupation will gather at Westmount on Liberation Day to remember their suffering.

Thousands of forced and slave workers were taken from homes across Europe by the Germans and brought to the Island during the Second World War.

The annual commemoration is being held in the grounds of the Crematorium at the memorial dedicated to all those who were imprisoned, ill treated and forced to build the fortifications, tunnels and sea defences that still stand today.

It will be led by the Lieutenant-Governor, General Sir John McColl. Wreaths will also be laid by the Bailiff, the Chief Minister, the Island’s religious communities, families of forced workers, the Island’s French, German and Belgian Consuls, the Parish of St Helier and many other organisations and individuals.

The First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus to the UK, Kiril Zemtsov. and the Naval Attaché to the Embassy of the Russian Federation to the UK, Commander Igor Elkin are coming to the Island for the ceremony that's being organised by Gary Font, the son of Spanish Republican forced worker Fransico Font who made Jersey his home after the war.

Mr Font said: “A simple ceremony has been held every Liberation Day to remember the slave and forced workers for more almost 55 years, and I and my fellow organisers are proud to carry on this very important Island tradition.

“We are honoured to be welcoming the officials from Russia and Belorus, as well as our many loyal local supporters and regular attendees from the UK.”

The ceremony starts at 3 pm.