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ESCAPING FROM THE GERMANS

My Father, Mother and I left Jersey on June 21st 1940 and it really was the longest day.

It all began when St Malo was blown up, the sky was red on the French coast. We were very near the Germans without any protection on the Island. We wondered what our fate was going to be.

I was working in an office in St Helier which had a view of St Aubins Bay. One afternoon we could see troop ships and men, tanks and guns come up the beach. The British were going to defend us, but within a matter of days all disappeared — we were not worth defending!

After this the Germans flew over dropping white papers in the Royal Square telling us to surrender and hang out white flags.

The States gave out a proclamation that voluntary evacuation would go on for forty-eight hours and advising the British people to leave, which meant us.

Those wanting to go had to register at the Town Hall which opened at six o’clock the next morning. My Father queued for fifteen hours. When he had not returned eight hours later I went into Town to find him in the queue. He had had nothing to eat but people from houses nearby brought out water. Most of the shops were closed or empty but I managed to find one roll for him. I then queued at the Bank where everyone was allowed to draw only £3.

The next morning we left for the Docks at 4.15am and were only allowed to take a change of clothing and enough food for twenty-four hours. It was a cattle boat we got on, sitting on the deck. There were five hundred of us, no lifebelts or jackets and only two small boats. It was now 6am and finally on our way wondering if we would ever make it to England ninety miles away.

Twice we were stopped by patrol boats and when given the signal to carry on everyone cheered. Another wait to be guided through the minefields, several half submerged boats around us and a dog fight overhead.

It was a lovely sight to see Weymouth and finally we landed at about five o’clock.

Leaving the boat we were all given a label with our name on it then marched to a Picture Palace where the Salvation Army gave us a cup of tea and jam sandwiches. After this a Doctor saw us and all the men of military age were sorted out.

The next march was to the Embarkation Officer. Having family and friends in Worthing, which was our home prior to moving to Jersey in 1934, my Father said we had somewhere to go, so finally we left the evacuation. By this time it was ten o’clock and we managed to find a bed for the night. The next morning we finished our journey by train to Worthing. At last we were safe and all together.

Life was not very easy for some while. Because we were English living in Jersey we could not claim any benefits and clothing was a problem as we were only allowed one hundred coupons for the three of us. I remember having a coat made from a grey blanket.

It was some while after the war everyone was allowed back to Jersey. Our house had been occupied by the Germans and they had helped themselves to our belongings. The furniture left consisted of the piano which had had a sledgehammer put through it, mattresses, which in those days were made of horse hair, had no covers, a hide three piece suite was slashed all over and a chair with three legs. Apparently furniture had been moved about and after the Germans were gone it was put into warehouses, but we did not find any of ours.

Having lost everything there was no point in going back to live on the Island, but I have had many holidays since with the friends who were Jersey born and survived through the war.

It is now sixty-five years ago but I shall never forget the longest day.

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