大象传媒

Explore the 大象传媒
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

15 October 2014
WW2 - People's War

大象传媒 Homepage
大象传媒 History
WW2 People's War Homepage Archive List Timeline About This Site

Contact Us

Deported from Guernsey to Germany(Biberach)

by David Williams

You are browsing in:

Archive List > Childhood and Evacuation

Contributed by听
David Williams
People in story:听
David Dilwyn Williams, Margaret Enid Williams, David Williams
Location of story:听
Guernsey/Germany
Background to story:听
Civilian
Article ID:听
A8497786
Contributed on:听
13 January 2006

My name is David Williams. The diary below headed 1942, was written in an old blue exercise book by my father. It covers mainly our deportation and journey to Biberach.

This is the story of the journey to Biberach as told by David Dilwyn Williams, a Welshman living on Guernsey and married to a Guernsey girl, Mag(Margaret) They had one son, David, who travelled with them. David was three years old at the time. Also in Biberach, were Mag鈥檚 sister, Nora and her husband, Les, who was also British. All British people resident in the Channel Islands were deported by the Germans in 1942. Not all were able to return after the end of the war and liberation of the Channel Islands.

1942

On the 28th September we left for Germany following the order which appears in the Guernsey paper to the effect that all English born between the ages of 16-70, together with their families, be evacuated to Germany.

For the last week we had been busy packing and taking some of our furniture up to Mag鈥檚 mother at 19 Allez St. The night before we left we slept at 19 Allez St. Little did we know then that we鈥檇 be so long before we鈥檇 sleep in a decent bed once more.

In the morning we said our final goodbyes to Mag鈥檚 mother who was a little upset and went back to 18 Mill St to collect our baggage. We were ordered to be at the Gaumont Palace Cinema at 12 noon. We started off from home at ten to twelve. Bert (Mag鈥檚 brother) and Brim (brother in-law) helped us with our baggage. We had two big suitcases, one smaller one, and a large kitbag. Tied to each case was a blanket. On Mag鈥檚 back and mine were two big haversacks. David looked funny with his little knapsack on his back and his little suitcase in his hand. He couldn鈥檛 make out what it was all about. We left all our heavy bags at Munro鈥檚 Store then we went in to the Gaumont after saying goodbye to Bert and Brim. We had to wait in the Gaumont from 12 o鈥檆lock until quarter to four, and then we collected our embarkation tickets. Coming out of the Gaumont we went to Munro鈥檚 Store to see to our baggage but found it had been taken down to the boat by Lorry. We then collected our last rations in Guernsey (chip basket each, loaf of bread, meat paste, sardines, butter, tobacco and cigs. Got into bus, very large crowd cheering and giving us a send off.

We had some soup before going on the boat. We were hungry as we had had nothing since morning. We then got on the boat, managing to find our bags somehow. We found a space on the deck and settled down. The St John Ambulance Brigade had been very busy during all this time helping wherever they could. At half past nine they all lined up the the quayside and saluted, wished us goodbye. We gave them three cheers and then they were gone.

It was getting dark. We ate some sandwiches then I laid some blankets down and made it as comfortable a possible. David was tired by this time so he went to sleep straight away. At about half past eleven we slipped quietly out of the harbour. There were five boats, two with civilians on, the rest carried German soldiers. The sea was like a mill pond and a full moon was shining. Guernsey soon went out of sight. It was an uneventful sea journey. David slept until we entered St Malo at about nine. We got off the boat. Train was only a short distance away - 6 persons in each carriage.
We had a carriage with another young couple and child. I then had to go back and carry baggage from boat to bags van. After, I settled myself in with Mag and David. David had been very good all this time. We waited in the train for five hours before it started. During that time two German soldiers came around with our rations. 戮 of a German loaf each and a sausage about 14鈥 long. Then they came around again with a bunch of French grapes and an apple each. This had to last us three days.

At 3.15 the train started moving. The railway runs alongside the main street in St Malo and as we steamed out the French people were giving us the 鈥榁鈥 sign with their fingers. The journey at first was interesting. Miles and miles of country. What struck us most was the enormous amount of apple trees - rows and rows as far as the eye could see. The further we got into France the more evidence was seen of where the Germans had advanced following the railway line. David enjoyed all this, going from window to window. Mag and I did not have much sleep that night. David was stretched out over half the seat and Mag and I just stayed sitting up. There were searchlights up everywhere. We were glad when morning came. There was a kitchen on the train and they supplied us with coffee and we ate some sausage and bread. One o鈥檆lock and we were given soup. During that day we passed through Belgium and Luxembourg. We were now getting browned off - at least I was. I felt blown out with eating and no exercise. My stomach wasn鈥檛 used to it after soup, soup and more soup for the last two days.

That night, the second, in the train passed the same as the other, hardly any sleep. We put the light out and put the blinds up and watched the searchlights. Spent anxious hour when we stopped at Cologne. Thought the boys would be over. Hundreds of searchlights. Must put up a terrible barrage when our fellows are about.

Morning came and we were told to get ready to leave the train at half past nine. We had a little to eat and by the time the time we had collected our things together the train came to a stop. I looked out and found out it was a place called Dorstun. A guard was coming along telling the people to get out. We got out and waited on the platform for a while German soldiers were rushing about. Eventually a bus and a lorry came. Women and children went in the bus, men in the lorry. They could only take so many at a time so we had to wait our turn. They seemed in a terrible hurry to get us from the platform across the road and into the bus. At last we got off. Mag and David in the bus, myself in the lorry. Couldn鈥檛 see much as it was closed in. About ten minutes ride we got out. Had lost sight of Mag and David by this time.

All the men had to line up where we were taken a few at a time to be searched. Then we had to fill a form in, date of birth, next of kin etc. Then they took our money off us. We were then taken to another place for medical exam by a German medical officer. We were given our number. Then I had to collect my blankets etc and we were taken over to our hut. When I saw the place it nearly turned me sick. I dumped the blankets on the bed and went out and saw Nora and Les who had arrived here two days ago. Mag had not come out yet from the same rigmarole that I had gone through. Plenty of guards about. Managed to see Mag through window. Went over to speak to her but was turned back. After a long time she and David came out and we had a cup of tea with Nora and Les.

Mag and David had a small room on their own but it was filthy. Flies and ladybirds crawling on the window. Men had to leave women at nine. I went back to my own hut feeling fed up and far from home but I slept well that night in spite of the hard beds. The next morning it was lovely and sunny. Had a drink of coffee and something to eat then went to see Mag and David. Had a look around the camp. It was about 200 yards square surrounded by a high double fence of barbed wire. Guards were patrolling up and down outside. There were about 1,200 of us in this small space. People were walking round and round. We had our meals outside for about a week then the weather changed.

On the Saturday following our arrival a crowd of people came from Jersey. Mag had to move out of her room and go in with Mrs Shipton and three children, one a baby of 3 months. Food was very scarce. Mag had a cold, David was ill with a bad cold, earache, toothache, coughing - went proper dozy. Took him and had the tooth drawn, swelling went down after. I think he was missing the Guernsey milk.

After three weeks people were very hungry. In our hut there were often rows about who was going to scrape the Dixie. Brian, the little baby in Mag鈥檚 room, dies. Can鈥檛 keep the milk down which is just like water. Spend some of my time with other people picking out the thickest potato peelings from the dump. Mag would scrub these and I鈥檇 boil them on the stove in my hut, good feed. Mag and I went to the funeral - about 30 of us, 4 guards.

I saw some raids on Essen and Cologne. Very good - cheered us up. No smokes since were been here, men very miserable. Rumours that we are going to be shifted to another camp
7th November. Definite news that we were going. Single men going to Laufen, married going to Biberach. Unattached left Dorston the 9th, we left on the 12th. On the morning of the 12th at 6 o鈥檆lock all bowls, knife, fork and spoon etc had to be handed in. We then had to wait until 9 o鈥檆lock. Some walked to the station. They only had one bus. As we had David we waited for the bus. Got in carriage with Nora, Les, Johnnie and Mrs Walker. In the train for 32 hours. No heating, no hot soup or rations. Very, very cold. Arrived at Biberach camp about 4 o鈥檆lock. Germans assembled us on the square. Men one side,

(at this point the narrative ends about this time at the camp but concludes as follows);

6th July 1944

We hear that British and American troops had landed between Cherbourg and Le Havre. Great excitement in camp.

7th July

News that Channel Islands had been occupied by Americans. All letters cancelled. I take David to have his teeth out under ether. Eight teeth out.

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

Archive List

This story has been placed in the following categories.

Childhood and Evacuation Category
icon for Story with photoStory with photo

Most of the content on this site is created by our users, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the 大象传媒. The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click here. For any other comments, please Contact Us.



About the 大象传媒 | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy