Victoria College at Bedford: Island News in the Second World War
A number of boys had left in 1940 with the families in the evacuation to the UK.
In September 1940, about 40 boys with Mr. Grummitt, Mr. Hopewell and Miss Aubrey were accommodated at Bedford School. Shortly afterwards Mr. Grummitt left on his appointment as Principal of Belfast Royal Academical Institution, and Mr. S. M. Toyne consented to act as Headmaster of 'Victoria College at Bedford
Mr. Toyne had been for 20 years Headmaster of S. Peter's School, York, before coming to Bedford to give part-time help. Victoria College owes a great deal to him for the tremendous work which he did during the next five years.
The Victorians at Bedford took a full part in the activities of their foster-parent school and brought honour to themselves and to Bedford in both work and games, but they never lost their identity as Victorians. As an expression of their gratitude they and other friends of Victoria College presented an Oak Panel, and an oak seat which now stands in the Bedford School playing-fields
As part of their distinct identity as Victorians at Bedford, a newsletter was produced, containing both news gleaned of Victoria College in Jersey, and also of the plight of the Islanders in general.
In the next few weeks, I am posting some extracts from those newsletters:
No. 5: WINTER TERM, 1942
VICTORIA COLLEGE NEWS " Amat Victoria Curam "
Editorial
We must open with an apology and an explanation. This News-Letter was ready by November 20th, and ever since we have been battling with regulations and Ministries in an attempt to obtain the paper for its production. Even now we have only reached the eighth round, but our seconds are hopeful and we hope very shortly to deliver a knock-out blow.
The necessarily diminishing number of Victorians at Bedford means a diminishing amount of School news, but in this Letter we can record some really outstanding scholastic successes. We should like to call attention to the success of D. L. Benest, P. J. R. d'Authreau and D. Le Seelleur in the Higher School Certificate.
A number of boys had left in 1940 with the families in the evacuation to the UK.
In September 1940, about 40 boys with Mr. Grummitt, Mr. Hopewell and Miss Aubrey were accommodated at Bedford School. Shortly afterwards Mr. Grummitt left on his appointment as Principal of Belfast Royal Academical Institution, and Mr. S. M. Toyne consented to act as Headmaster of 'Victoria College at Bedford
Mr. Toyne had been for 20 years Headmaster of S. Peter's School, York, before coming to Bedford to give part-time help. Victoria College owes a great deal to him for the tremendous work which he did during the next five years.
The Victorians at Bedford took a full part in the activities of their foster-parent school and brought honour to themselves and to Bedford in both work and games, but they never lost their identity as Victorians. As an expression of their gratitude they and other friends of Victoria College presented an Oak Panel, and an oak seat which now stands in the Bedford School playing-fields
As part of their distinct identity as Victorians at Bedford, a newsletter was produced, containing both news gleaned of Victoria College in Jersey, and also of the plight of the Islanders in general.
In the next few weeks, I am posting some extracts from those newsletters:
No. 5: WINTER TERM, 1942
VICTORIA COLLEGE NEWS " Amat Victoria Curam "
Editorial
We must open with an apology and an explanation. This News-Letter was ready by November 20th, and ever since we have been battling with regulations and Ministries in an attempt to obtain the paper for its production. Even now we have only reached the eighth round, but our seconds are hopeful and we hope very shortly to deliver a knock-out blow.
The necessarily diminishing number of Victorians at Bedford means a diminishing amount of School news, but in this Letter we can record some really outstanding scholastic successes. We should like to call attention to the success of D. L. Benest, P. J. R. d'Authreau and D. Le Seelleur in the Higher School Certificate.
Not only did Benest gain distinctions in History and French, but he was also successful in winning a State Scholarship—the first ever awarded to a Victorian. He followed this up by winning an Open Scholarship in History and Modern Languages at New College in December. The double event is a real achievement.
At School the State Scholarship was particularly popular, because a half holiday was given to Bedford School in honour of this distinction on November 2nd, after our acting Head Master, Mr. S. M. Toyne, had delivered a lecture on the " Problems of the Pacific.-
News has been received that it is hoped to hold an examination in Jersey next July on the lines of the School Certificate. The paper on European History will need tactful handling by examiner and candidate.
It is with grave anxiety that news of the deportations are read through. Complete lists are unobtainable, nor is it easy to understand their purpose. as some at any rate cannot be for labour.
At School the State Scholarship was particularly popular, because a half holiday was given to Bedford School in honour of this distinction on November 2nd, after our acting Head Master, Mr. S. M. Toyne, had delivered a lecture on the " Problems of the Pacific.-
News has been received that it is hoped to hold an examination in Jersey next July on the lines of the School Certificate. The paper on European History will need tactful handling by examiner and candidate.
It is with grave anxiety that news of the deportations are read through. Complete lists are unobtainable, nor is it easy to understand their purpose. as some at any rate cannot be for labour.
At the time of writing, there appear to be six deported who were connected with Victoria College in some capacity or other : W. H. Kennett, R. M. Williams, his wife and three children, David Fisk, Peter Hook, Crumpton the porter and his wife, and the war time carpenter Parsfield. We offer our sympathies to them and their next-of-kin in England or Jersey.
THE CRITICAL DAYS
Here is an historical fragment, a brief out-line of events in Jersey in the days immediately preceding the enemy occupation. It will be of interest to Jersey people who were not in the island, and it may be of use when the full record comes to be written.
The Germans marched into Paris on Friday, June 14th, 1940. To anyone who .cared to think, it was at once clear that within a few days, perhaps hours, Jersey would be at their mercy. Saturday saw long queues of people booking passages ; all accommodation was already booked up for weeks ahead. Nobody knew if any attempt was to be made to defend the islands.
During the week-end large forces of aircraft, A.A. guns and their crews arrived. Apparently, however, these were not intended for permanent defence, but to man the island as a temporary base to cover the second evacuation from France which was then in progress. A word of explanation is necessary here. The " Nine Days' Wonder " of Dunkirk was from May 26th to June 3rd.
It was then still thought, or perhaps hoped, by the British Government that the French with our help might be able to establish a line somewhere in France, the Somme perhaps, or the Aisne ; and a second B.E.F. was created and des-patched within a few days. But it was too late. The new B.E.F. was at once faced with the difficult task of getting away again. Most of it succeeded, but much of its equipment and stores had to be destroyed, as the enemy was sweeping through the country at night-mare speed. Some got away from Cherbourg, some from St. Malo, the last remnants from as far west as Brest.
Jersey was called upon to supply small craft to help in this “sayve qui peut”, and on Sunday, June 1 6th, there was not a motor-boat, or yacht, or potato boat to be seen in the harbour. Early in the week the re-embarkation of guns and troops from Jersey began. On the Wednesday the decision to demilitarise the islands, taken by the British Government in consultation with the island authorities, was announced in the States of Jersey. The military evacuation was completed by the Thursday evening, the Lieutenant-Governor reluctantly following, in obedience to orders.
In the meantime the civil authorities were dealing with the difficult problem of civilian evacuation. Satisfactory communication with the Home Government by cable being impossible, a special aeroplane was requisitioned and a member of the States was sent over. He succeeded in making the necessary arrangements with the Home Office and the Ministry of Shipping, and flew back to the island on the Wednesday afternoon (June 19th), where he found the States in session, awaiting his arrival. Later in the afternoon the Evening Post published this carefully worded announcement:
"Shipping facilities are being provided by His Majesty's Govern-ment for the immediate voluntary evacuation to the United Kingdom of women and children. Similar facilities will also be avail-able for men between the ages of 20 and 23 who wish to join His Majesty's Forces, and, so far as accommodation permits, for other men."
Those days were pretty grim. As I walked home, on a calm sunny evening, through the pleasant Hougue Bie lanes, the gunfire at Cherbourg sounded as close and menacing as if it was in the next parish. One knew that an enemy air squadron could be in occupation literally at any minute. Each head of a house-hold had to make a fateful decision. It speaks much for the people of Jersey that, out of 50,000, only some 6,600 elected to leave their homes. In Guernsey the problem was dealt with differently ; 17,000 out of 42,000 came away. From Alderney the total population of 1,000 was removed.
Evacuation began on June 20th. As the advent of the enemy became more imminent, there were signs of incipient panic. If the authorities had not been overwhelmed with work, in the urgent and imperative necessity of taking numerous vital decisions and making emergency arrangements of all kinds, and had had time to formulate clearly their evacuation. policy, they would probably have made it known throughout the island that all who had the means of supporting themselves in England should go, while all whose work and means of livelihood lay in Jersey should remain.
This was in fact the official policy, which was eventually proclaimed in no uncertain terms. As the queues for embarkation lengthened, members of the States / walked down the lines and admonished the-' people not to "behave like rats " but to return quietly to their homes.
On Saturday, June 22nd, the Bailiff, speaking from a window in the Royal Square, urged the anxious and undecided crowd not to give way to panic. "I and my wife," he said, " are staying. All the Jurats and officials are staying.. We shall do all we can to protect You."
THE CRITICAL DAYS
Here is an historical fragment, a brief out-line of events in Jersey in the days immediately preceding the enemy occupation. It will be of interest to Jersey people who were not in the island, and it may be of use when the full record comes to be written.
The Germans marched into Paris on Friday, June 14th, 1940. To anyone who .cared to think, it was at once clear that within a few days, perhaps hours, Jersey would be at their mercy. Saturday saw long queues of people booking passages ; all accommodation was already booked up for weeks ahead. Nobody knew if any attempt was to be made to defend the islands.
During the week-end large forces of aircraft, A.A. guns and their crews arrived. Apparently, however, these were not intended for permanent defence, but to man the island as a temporary base to cover the second evacuation from France which was then in progress. A word of explanation is necessary here. The " Nine Days' Wonder " of Dunkirk was from May 26th to June 3rd.
It was then still thought, or perhaps hoped, by the British Government that the French with our help might be able to establish a line somewhere in France, the Somme perhaps, or the Aisne ; and a second B.E.F. was created and des-patched within a few days. But it was too late. The new B.E.F. was at once faced with the difficult task of getting away again. Most of it succeeded, but much of its equipment and stores had to be destroyed, as the enemy was sweeping through the country at night-mare speed. Some got away from Cherbourg, some from St. Malo, the last remnants from as far west as Brest.
Jersey was called upon to supply small craft to help in this “sayve qui peut”, and on Sunday, June 1 6th, there was not a motor-boat, or yacht, or potato boat to be seen in the harbour. Early in the week the re-embarkation of guns and troops from Jersey began. On the Wednesday the decision to demilitarise the islands, taken by the British Government in consultation with the island authorities, was announced in the States of Jersey. The military evacuation was completed by the Thursday evening, the Lieutenant-Governor reluctantly following, in obedience to orders.
In the meantime the civil authorities were dealing with the difficult problem of civilian evacuation. Satisfactory communication with the Home Government by cable being impossible, a special aeroplane was requisitioned and a member of the States was sent over. He succeeded in making the necessary arrangements with the Home Office and the Ministry of Shipping, and flew back to the island on the Wednesday afternoon (June 19th), where he found the States in session, awaiting his arrival. Later in the afternoon the Evening Post published this carefully worded announcement:
"Shipping facilities are being provided by His Majesty's Govern-ment for the immediate voluntary evacuation to the United Kingdom of women and children. Similar facilities will also be avail-able for men between the ages of 20 and 23 who wish to join His Majesty's Forces, and, so far as accommodation permits, for other men."
Those days were pretty grim. As I walked home, on a calm sunny evening, through the pleasant Hougue Bie lanes, the gunfire at Cherbourg sounded as close and menacing as if it was in the next parish. One knew that an enemy air squadron could be in occupation literally at any minute. Each head of a house-hold had to make a fateful decision. It speaks much for the people of Jersey that, out of 50,000, only some 6,600 elected to leave their homes. In Guernsey the problem was dealt with differently ; 17,000 out of 42,000 came away. From Alderney the total population of 1,000 was removed.
Evacuation began on June 20th. As the advent of the enemy became more imminent, there were signs of incipient panic. If the authorities had not been overwhelmed with work, in the urgent and imperative necessity of taking numerous vital decisions and making emergency arrangements of all kinds, and had had time to formulate clearly their evacuation. policy, they would probably have made it known throughout the island that all who had the means of supporting themselves in England should go, while all whose work and means of livelihood lay in Jersey should remain.
This was in fact the official policy, which was eventually proclaimed in no uncertain terms. As the queues for embarkation lengthened, members of the States / walked down the lines and admonished the-' people not to "behave like rats " but to return quietly to their homes.
On Saturday, June 22nd, the Bailiff, speaking from a window in the Royal Square, urged the anxious and undecided crowd not to give way to panic. "I and my wife," he said, " are staying. All the Jurats and officials are staying.. We shall do all we can to protect You."
All honour is due to the Bailiff and the whole of the civil administration throughout the island for faithfully accepting this courageous and patriotic policy. In such an unprecedented crisis some confusion and indecision were inevitable, but there can be no cavilling about the fine lead that was given by government to people.
To complete the story. A week followed in which steamers continued to go to and fro, postal and telegraphic communication was maintained, and some people even began to think that the Germans would not come at all.
To complete the story. A week followed in which steamers continued to go to and fro, postal and telegraphic communication was maintained, and some people even began to think that the Germans would not come at all.
Then suddenly, on Friday, June 28th, there was a bombing attack which caused damage and some loss of life. On the same day the last mail boat to leave the island was in-effectually bombed as she lay in the harbour at Guernsey. Subsequently German reconnaissance planes dropped instructions as to where white crosses were to be marked in token of surrender, and on July 1st the enemy occupied the island.
In the days that followed, and later, the British Government was bitterly denounced in Parliament and the Press, for abandoning the oldest possession of the Crown without a struggle. But this was unjustified. Any serious attempt at defence would have meant the destruction of St. Helier and would have served no useful purpose.
In the days that followed, and later, the British Government was bitterly denounced in Parliament and the Press, for abandoning the oldest possession of the Crown without a struggle. But this was unjustified. Any serious attempt at defence would have meant the destruction of St. Helier and would have served no useful purpose.
A. H. W.
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1 comment:
Interesting to see mention of my father, D. Le Seelleur, a wartime Victorian evacuee to Bedford School, eventually making it back to Jersey and now resting in peace in St Martins. Another piece in an Island history that began in 1463.
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