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William Corbet was a sea-pilot and fisherman in Guernsey and was trapped on the Island along with his wife when the Germans invaded. He continued with his life as best he could and was allocated a job driving a lorry for the Germans. As time went on food became very scarce and reached a point where numerous cases of dysentery were occurring around the Island and a ¼lb of tea cost £8. Mr Corbet began to see his wife’s health deteriorate and took the decision to make an attempt to escape from the Island. Thanks to his driving job he was able to put aside a small amount of petrol from the ration allotted to him by the Germans until he had collected enough to fuel his fishing boat in which he intended to make his escape.
At about 3.30pm on Saturday 14th August 1943 William Corbet set off from St.Sampson’s Harbour in his 18ft fishing boat named Kate. He piloted her to La Vieille, near Bordeaux Harbour ( Guernsey ), where he had arranged to pick up a number of other people who had expressed a desire to risk making the crossing. Besides William Corbet, the boat was to carry Jack Hubert, Alf J. Bougourd, Mr Corbet’s first wife Gertrude, her mother — Grace Le Morellec and Mr and Mrs Herbert Le Page.
By the time they set off it was night but unfortunately there was a bright moon which put the boat and its’ passengers in very real danger of being spotted. Miraculously the people aboard the boat saw nothing until they reached mid-Channel. At one point the engine broke down and the boat drifted helplessly for a time whilst repairs were made. Shortly after starting up the engine and getting under way the escapees spotted 3 German E-boats at just under a mile astern of them — but luckily they did not see them. After some time the Guernsey boat reached Start Point and was stopped by a Royal Naval minesweeper which escorted the fishing boat into Dartmouth. Once there Mr Corbet and his fellow escapees were able to supply information to the RAF as well as tell the authorities about the living conditions in Guernsey under German rule.
Upon landing in England Mr Corbet made contact with Cecil Dorey — owner of the Guernsey shipping company ‘Onesimus Dorey and Sons’ who was, at that time, living in England. Mr Dorey advised William not to give his story to the Daily Mail as that might threaten the safety of relatives left behind in Guernsey. William was offered a commission by the British Admiralty but declined the offer.
As expected after the escape became apparent the Germans called a meeting with the Island’s civil leaders. The Reverend John Leale ( president of the States Controlling Committee ), Mr J.E. L. Martel ( Deputy Attorney-General ) and Louis Guillemette ( secretary to the president of the Controlling Committee ) attended the meeting and reminded the Germans that the behaviour of the population as a whole was impeccable. Major Kratser, however, decided that there would be a cessation of fishing for the time being and Islanders would be forbidden to venture onto beaches, except for the collection of seaweed — for which permits would be issued and carefully controlled. Mr Corbet’s parents, still on Guernsey, were arrested for questioning together with Mr Bougourd’s housekeeper. The Germans decided that the property of those who had escaped now belonged to the occupying forces and it was confiscated.
The Germans later sent out a form to fishermen requesting certain details after which permits for fishing were reissued — but only to those who had no relatives in England. Younger fishermen were not issued with permits.

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