The Channel Islands At War Read Online Free
civil defence and fortification measures were put into reverse, and the Island militias joined those of military age leaving the Islands. Lastly, on 21 June the two lieutenant-governors, who were also military commanders of Jersey and Guernsey, withdrew delegating their functions to the bailiffs.
There followed an administrative comedy of errors that turned to tragedy. Because the evacuation of troops from France was still going on, followed by that of Island civilians, it was decided by the Home Office that the press release prepared for 22 June to say the Islands were demilitarized should be delayed, and the War Office agreed saying the Germans probably knew anyway through intelligence sources. On 24 June a message from King George VI was received by the bailiffs, but as this referred to the withdrawal of the armed forces the Home Office stressed that care should be taken not to publish the message. In Guernsey the bailiff, Victor Carey, read it out two days later on a loudspeaker from the window of the Guernsey Evening Press in South Street, and few therefore knew the message had come. Four days after the civilian evacuation was completed, the BBC was allowed to mention the demilitarization on 28 June, but it was only on the day that the Germans started their occupation that the Foreign Office officially informed Germany about demilitarization.
Near as they were to France the Islands were not left long in doubt about events there. As early as 9 June clouds of smoke could be seen rising from French harbours, and soon fishing boats, with crucifixes nailed to the masts and pathetic bundles of possessions in their bottoms, arrived with the first refugees. Six boat loads reached St Peter Port and also brought over nearly a hundred French naval ratings. On Sunday 16 June Coutanche received a telegram from London which asked the Islands to help evacuate the remaining personnel from St Malo. Potato boats and small craft were commandeered that evening and put under the command of the yacht club commodore, William Le Masurier. A destroyer arrived in St Helier to take a native pilot on board for the trip to St Malo. Soon afterwards the first of 17 boats put out for France as a British task force
complete with NAAFI canteen arrived to cope with any rescued troops. The Island boats brought off the demolition party, wounded troops, civilians and a party of Belgian nuns, although the main bulk of the troops from St Malo were carried straight across the Channel.
By now alarm created by demilitarization and refugees, and the obvious collapse of France, was causing the bailiffs desperate concern because there was still no word from London about the fate of the Islanders. On 16 June the Home Office asked that Island representatives be sent to discussions, and it was decided that a Jersey jurat, Edgar Dorey, should represent both Islands. He flew to London next day to meet Alexander Maxwell and Charles Markbreiter, the officials responsible for the Channel Isles. It was agreed demilitarization should be announced, together with evacuation of certain groups of civilians. But when Dorey flew back to Guernsey and then on to Jersey on 19 June it was by no means clear who should be evacuated. Unlike Gibraltar, where the whole population was to be taken off, confusion marked events in the Channel Islands. Categories specified were vague and evacuation was to be voluntary, throwing the burden of decision on to individuals torn between accusations of cowardice, fear of the unknown, and fear of staying. In spite of experience gleaned in Britain no advice was given by the Home Office, although the Treasury insisted that the Islands foot the bill for any shipping involved.
It was the appearance of official notices on 19 June stating that 'those desirous of being evacuated must register their names and addresses with the Constable of their parish at the Parish Douzaine Room as soon as possible and at latest by 8 p.m. today' which really
There followed an administrative comedy of errors that turned to tragedy. Because the evacuation of troops from France was still going on, followed by that of Island civilians, it was decided by the Home Office that the press release prepared for 22 June to say the Islands were demilitarized should be delayed, and the War Office agreed saying the Germans probably knew anyway through intelligence sources. On 24 June a message from King George VI was received by the bailiffs, but as this referred to the withdrawal of the armed forces the Home Office stressed that care should be taken not to publish the message. In Guernsey the bailiff, Victor Carey, read it out two days later on a loudspeaker from the window of the Guernsey Evening Press in South Street, and few therefore knew the message had come. Four days after the civilian evacuation was completed, the BBC was allowed to mention the demilitarization on 28 June, but it was only on the day that the Germans started their occupation that the Foreign Office officially informed Germany about demilitarization.
Near as they were to France the Islands were not left long in doubt about events there. As early as 9 June clouds of smoke could be seen rising from French harbours, and soon fishing boats, with crucifixes nailed to the masts and pathetic bundles of possessions in their bottoms, arrived with the first refugees. Six boat loads reached St Peter Port and also brought over nearly a hundred French naval ratings. On Sunday 16 June Coutanche received a telegram from London which asked the Islands to help evacuate the remaining personnel from St Malo. Potato boats and small craft were commandeered that evening and put under the command of the yacht club commodore, William Le Masurier. A destroyer arrived in St Helier to take a native pilot on board for the trip to St Malo. Soon afterwards the first of 17 boats put out for France as a British task force
complete with NAAFI canteen arrived to cope with any rescued troops. The Island boats brought off the demolition party, wounded troops, civilians and a party of Belgian nuns, although the main bulk of the troops from St Malo were carried straight across the Channel.
By now alarm created by demilitarization and refugees, and the obvious collapse of France, was causing the bailiffs desperate concern because there was still no word from London about the fate of the Islanders. On 16 June the Home Office asked that Island representatives be sent to discussions, and it was decided that a Jersey jurat, Edgar Dorey, should represent both Islands. He flew to London next day to meet Alexander Maxwell and Charles Markbreiter, the officials responsible for the Channel Isles. It was agreed demilitarization should be announced, together with evacuation of certain groups of civilians. But when Dorey flew back to Guernsey and then on to Jersey on 19 June it was by no means clear who should be evacuated. Unlike Gibraltar, where the whole population was to be taken off, confusion marked events in the Channel Islands. Categories specified were vague and evacuation was to be voluntary, throwing the burden of decision on to individuals torn between accusations of cowardice, fear of the unknown, and fear of staying. In spite of experience gleaned in Britain no advice was given by the Home Office, although the Treasury insisted that the Islands foot the bill for any shipping involved.
It was the appearance of official notices on 19 June stating that 'those desirous of being evacuated must register their names and addresses with the Constable of their parish at the Parish Douzaine Room as soon as possible and at latest by 8 p.m. today' which really
Readers choose
Zoran Zivkovic, Mary Popović
Christine Brae
Kevin Battleson
Cheyenne Meadows
Scarlet Hyacinth
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Meli Raine
Lynn Raye Harris
Lorraine Kennedy
Patricia McLinn