Sunday April 26th 2026
Ceremony of Liberation, Jersey War Tunnels
It was a perfect spring afternoon for our ceremony to commemorate and celebrate the Liberation of Wurzach internment camp. Held annually on the nearest Sunday to April 28th at Jersey War Tunnels, it is an occasion always keenly looked forward to. This is due in no small part to the welcome we always receive from the staff , who allow us to hold our ceremony on the terrace followed by afternoon tea in the café .
We were very lucky to have seven surviving deportees attending with their families and friends as well as the current Bailiff Mr Robert Macrae , two former Bailiffs Sir Philip and Sir William Bailhache and members of the Island’s clergy Canon Dominc Golding from the Roman Catholic church, and Father Nick Barry, vicar of St Luke’s Anglican church.
The afternoon began with a short ceremony introduced by Partnerschaft chairman Lola Garvin who welcomed everyone and began by reading from deportee Joan Coles nee Salmon’s diary recording events from April 28th 1945, written from a teenager’s perspective. Juliette White read from her mother Jean Tipping‘s diary, who called the day of liberation “That Great Day” and who met her future husband Valentine Plain in the camp. (They were married in June 1945).David Drage, deported as a baby, read from Gisela Rothenhausler’s book Reaching Across Barbed Wire and other readings were given by Gill James . Canon Golding and Fr Nick led us in prayers. The Bailiff spoke about the strong friendship that exists between Jersey and Bad Wurzach , how much he enjoyed his visit last year and how much he is looking forward to many more in the future. Names of those 13 people who did not return to Jersey were read followed by a minute’s silence .
Guests were then invited to tour the newly re organised memorial garden and lay a rose on one of named memorial stones. The garden has recently undergone a remarkable and sympathetic transformation, increasing accessability for those who have mobility issues . The memorial stones are now better laid out with level paths and benches for sitting . Shrubs have been planted along the paths and the whole site is now a very beautiful place to explore and sit in.
We then adjourned to the café where we were served tea, coffee and cakes, with complimentary Jersey Wonders (an Island speciality). It was in all, a lovely afternoon and gave us the opportunity to meet old friends, and make new ones.
We are very grateful to the excellent and efficient staff at Jersey War Tunnels, who always make us very welcome and who go out of their way to provide us with a memorable afternoon.
