Barbara Chiang’s Story

Barbara was a young girl during the occupation. Her father was a fireman. On Liberation Day morning, he advised her to head for the harbour, rather than follow the crowds to the waterfront by the harbour offices.

It meant that she got a perfect view of the official motor boat, bearing the swastika, heading out to the allied ships for the surrender to be signed – and the returning flying the Union Jack. It also signalled the end of the war for the young German soldier nearby....

Image: Barbara Chiang as a child in 1942, and now