大象传媒

A WAR TIME INCIDENT AS I REMEMBER IT.
At the beginning of June 1940, although the Second World War had begun almost a year previously, apart from volunteers leaving to join the Armed Forces, little had changed in the peaceful island of Guernsey. It was to have been an exciting year for me: twenty-first birthday, engagement and intended September church wedding for which arrangements were being made including the inevitable wedding dress fittings. Hitler had other plans. The Battlefield had moved swiftly across France - suddenly the Channel Islands were in danger.
My future husband Pierre ran a growing/export agency business and was busy shipping early potatoes and tomatoes to the mainland. When Dunkirk took place the United Kingdom commandeered every available boat or craft. The export of produce from the islands ceased, evacuation transport for school children was provided, and personnel of military age and skilled craftsmen were advised to leave. Evacuation plans went swiftly ahead, harrowing scenes ensued as labelled school children left families to join their schools, which were being sent to the mainland. There was a great demand for instant marriage licences. The Dean stopped issuing church licences because of the difficulty checking candidates' status. The Greffe office was besieged for Special Licences and one Saturday morning saw Pierre and I queuing outside The Greffe with twenty-seven other couples and witnesses. It took exactly ten minutes for each couple to be received, joined and despatched. We found it difficult to realise that we were actually married!

L A Mauger

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