New and returning personnel to join the 2026 Liberation Day military parade

The three armed services will be represented in this year’s Liberation Day military parade, with some well-known faces returning alongside a new contingent visiting Guernsey for the first time. 

For the first time, the island will welcome members of the 16th Signal Regiment, a highly deployable communications unit, alongside the returning HMS Daring, the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment and 201 Squadron Royal Air Force, all of which hold affiliations with Guernsey. 

The popular Chelsea Pensioners and Gurkhas will also join the parade, which will march from the North Beach at 9.40am. 

Islanders are invited to watch the parade, which will see participants form up on the seafront for inspection by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Cripwell, and the Bailiff of Guernsey, Sir Richard McMahon, before proceeding via The Quay to Town Church.  

Following the Liberation Day Church service, at 12pm the parade will march up the High Street via Smith Street to fall out in the Pollet. 

Lieutenant Commander Tim Slann, Liberation Day Parade Commander, said: 

“The Liberation Day Parade holds special significance not only for the local community, but also for local cadets and veterans, who always turn out in force. To be joined by so many serving personnel from our affiliated military units is a real honour and will add greatly to this year’s parade.” 

In the week leading up to 9 May, visiting personnel will support community and charitable activity around the island, as well as visit schools and local youth organisations. Members of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment will volunteer with Festung Guernsey to dig out a Tobruk at Wn.Dohlenturm, L’Ancresse East and help with ongoing work at Rue Maingys. 

Local uniformed youth organisations, including the Island Cadet Guard, Elizabeth College Combined Cadet Force, and representatives from the Sea Cadets, Air Cadet Force, Army Cadet Force and RAF Air Cadets, will march alongside visiting military personnel in the parade. A contingent of local veterans representing all three services will also take part. 

His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant General Sir Richard Cripwell, said:  

“Remembrance carries a responsibility to learn the lessons of our past experiences and to ensure such things do not happen again. On Liberation Day, we see where we have come from, who we are, and where we are going, which is a very special opportunity. I look forward to participating again this year.” 

Locally born personnel Lieutenant Colonel Andy Carré, who took up the post of Commanding Officer of the 4th Battalion PWRR ahead of last year’s 80th anniversary commemorations, will also return alongside 16th Signals Regiment’s Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Ash Jeyes MBE. 

Lieutenant Colonel Ash Jeyes, Commanding Officer of the 16th Signals Regiment, said:  

“As a Guernsey local it is an enormous privilege to bring some of my Regiment to the island to share in the remembrance activities, but also to enjoy the Liberation Day celebrations. It also allows those of us serving to reconnect locally and share our thoughts on how rewarding and fulfilling a career in the British Army can be.”