大象传媒

In between All This
I remember the G.I's that we had staying next door. The army would billet one of each rank, maybe four or five men, in one house to ensure order. My favourite was Sal, a gangling tall boy from the deep South who was a half caste and therefore stayed 'at home' with us children more. It turned out, because he was so tall, he had been accepted for the army and he had still been only 15 when he joined and was 16 then. Families were asked to invite the G.I's into their homes for Sunday tea. They were obliged to go and be polite. I'm sure some enjoyed it and a lot of friendships were made but imagine raw recruits from various inner cities and the deep South taking Sunday afternoon tea with the staid old fashioned maiden ladies of Exeter Cathedral City, complete with silver teapots, best china and lace tablecloths and a maid (white). I don't think the two maiden ladies who lived next door and took Sunday school had ever had so much fun and liveliness in their lives once they got over the shock of the clash of cultures.
The preparation for D Day
We often listened to the sound of 'plane engines, day and night and felt certain we could tell by the sound of the engines which were German and which were "Ours". There were barrage balloons. Great big silver balloons flying low over the towns and cities in an attempt to foil incoming bombing raids. I'm not sure how successful they were as they could not be flown in very high winds etc. But, many a bride got married in a dress made from the silver silky stuff that an old barrage balloon was made of. There were Doodle Bugs and V bombs, the first unmanned bombs sent from the launch pads on the French coast. They were mainly dropped on London and surrounding cities and towns in the flight path to London and a few other cities which were within the maximum flying distance they could manage. They motored and then when the fuel ran out, the engine cut out and there was a dreadful silence as the bombs began to descend at random. They did an enormous amount of damage. They tried to shoot them down over the cliffs at Dover etc, but I think with very little success.
I remember lying in bed and hearing planes drone on overhead loaded with bombs and troops, hour after hour all night long. This must have been the heavy bombing of German cities and the invasion of Europe. I have since seen film of how they took off and quick formation and it was truly amazing accomplishment.
The Injured Troops
I remember after the first failed attempt to invade Normandy, the train loads of injured soldiers coming up from the coast. They were laid on the platforms awaiting transport to the hospitals.

The American troops were very open with their emotions and we realized they were very afraid when the invasion was approaching. The strain of preparing for danger and death and then return to safety for an unknown time proved a strain.

I half remember and have probably put together with information gathered after the war, of the arguments and fights that broke out when the returning Tommies home from the front on leave, clashed with the then non war experienced Yanks in the pubs and dances especially when the women seemed to prefer the glamour's G.I's to the local lads.
The End Of War
War did n't end on one day. There was and VE Day, the surrender of Europe on 9th May which was also the Island鈥檚 Liberation Day and the people went wild and then the end of the War in the Far East, Japan etc. Dancing in the streets. trestle tables and bunting laid out and street parties. Music and everyone dancing and kissing each other. The Americans asked if they could take us to a fair. Chewing gum was distributed freely. It was a time of great euphoria and I think the start of regular Red Cross letters which limited to just so many words and very brief. Men and some women from concentration and internment camps started to filter back. The Red cross letters said "All Well - Plenty of Everything" and we came home in a 'plane from Southampton. We came home too early. There was nothing in Guernsey. Our war time rations were huge compared with the amount of food available in the Island.
My father put the whole weeks' rations for four of us in one cake and that was it.
The occupation of Guernsey is another story. But between 1945 and 1951/2 there continued to be shortages of everything in the Island as the countries of Europe tried to re-build. We returned to flea ridden house, no furniture, no sheets or bedding (used for the St John's and hospital) No gas or electricity at first. Primus stoves were used. The fireplace was solid with black tar, the residue of horses and cow's heads, burnt for fuel. Few tennis rackets for a class of 32. I usually managed to get one. Somehow, I always had a hockey stick as well. School swimming lessons were in the outdoor swimming pools.
My father traveled to Exeter specially to thank our adopted Granpa and his family for all he had done for us..
And yet, we all look on the War Years as a great time in our lives. We were fortunate to have such plucky mothers who shielded us from the worse, demanded discipline but at the same time allowed us great freedom to grow up. Is n't it a shame that we always appreciate people when it is too late.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.