A Scots family have travelled to Guernsey to remember their hero grandad’s war efforts after their trip was originally postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sergeant-Major Robert Shaw, from Springburn, Glasgow, was the first British soldier to land on Guernsey soil after the liberation of the island from the German occupation.
Shaw arrived on the island as part of the Task Force 135 which was the British Military Contingent that liberated Guernsey during operation Nestegg at the end of the second world war on May 9, 1945.
Now to honour his memory, his three children and four grandchildren have travelled from Scotland to attend the postponed VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations today.
His son, retired Motor Retail Group Director Martin Shaw said: “My father was so proud of being part of such a historic moment in liberating the island of Guernsey after the war.
"He talked about this moment throughout his whole life and he was thrilled to be invited back in 1992 to receive an official commemorative medallion with 170 surviving veterans of Task Force 135."
The family were set to visit and attend the 75th anniversary celebrations in 2020 but were left gutted when this was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Shaw, also a trained motor mechanic, was on the first ship that came into L’Ancresse Bay to liberate the island.
He was the first to disembark, riding off on the landing craft on a motorcycle followed by a number of armoured vehicles.
He “met no opposition whatsoever except for the mobbing of the soldiers by the hilariously enthusiastic population”.
The first person he met was a local boy called John Rault who was cycling on the right hand side of the road.
Concerned for his safety, Shaw stopped the little boy and told him to “cycle on the British side of the road" on the left as he was worried the vehicles following behind might knock him over.
The pair ended up meeting and reconnecting when Shaw visited Guernsey 47 years later in 1992 to receive commemorative Liberation medallions with a number of other war veterans.
They stayed in touch until Shaw died at the age of 89 in 2005 and his family are hoping to reconnect with the family on their trip.
Martin added: "The fact he managed to reconnect with the very little boy he stopped all those years ago was just magical for him.
"Visiting Guernsey as a family in his memory this year will be such a special moment for us to be together and remember all those that fought with him in the war."
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