Ron Perchard

Ron Perchard

DOB 22/09/38

"We lived at Bellozane. My dad knew farmers so we got the odd few spuds. We were outside the Grand Hotel when the landing craft drew up on the beach. The bow doors opened and these soldiers came out throwing sweets to us.

I remember after Liberation being called in for my tea. My mum placed it in front of me and as usual I slowly savoured every bit. When I finished and went to leave the table my mum said "don't you want anymore."

I told her I'd eaten my ration. She smiled, laughed and said you don't have to worry anymore you can have as much as you like.

"There was one day I'll never forget. On a Monday my mum would do the washing in the copper. This time instead of doing what she usually did she placed it to the other side of a chair. She had never done that before. Both feet went into scalding water. When she took my slippers off the skin came off with them. She covered my feet in flour. It was all she had. The pain was terrible."

Ron is still very involved in the Liberation Day celebrations as you can see, here on the left, re-enacting raising the flag from a window overlooking Liberation Square.