In these times of trouble when our liberties are curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic, also the 75th Anniversary year of Liberation, it is worth looking back at the privations suffered by Jersey people in December 1944, after four long years of German Occupation.
The main supply lines for food and essential supplies had been cut on the 18 August 1944 when the German armed forces in St. Malo had surrendered to the Americans. This was the last trading port for the Channel Islands, and now all trade links to France had been severed.
Parishioner David George Vincent (born in St. Aubin in 1938) remembers those desperate times.
“Claude [Vincent, his father] shared a crystal set in the village with friends who each had a different part in their homes so they could listen to the BBC news in the hope of an early Liberation. By this time in late 1944 the shortage of all food and medical supplies was very serious.”
“We were spending Christmas 1944 at Grandpa Vincent's – 4 adults – 3 children and one scrawny chicken when Claude found the chicken was not cooked and there was no fuel left, The Royal Yacht Club was occupied by the Germans and there was a flagpole outside the building, in the most terrible temper Claude chopped the flagpole down under the Germans noses for fuel, Grandpa Vincent was terrified that Claude would be shot but somehow he got away with it.”
“There was still fun to be had by the children and shows were put on at the Hamon Hall close to St. Aubin's Church on the Hill with singing and dancing on stage. Family games were tantamount to life at home as in order to keep warm everyone one was in one room usually by candlelight. Of course there was a curfew to be obeyed.”
But the signs of salvation were at hand. On Saturday 30 December, the SS Vega arrived in Jersey, berthing at the end of the Albert Pier in St. Helier Harbour at 5.45pm. Red Cross Food parcels would be distributed to grateful islanders, and total starvation was averted.
Parishioner David George Vincent (born in St. Aubin in 1938) remembers those desperate times.
“Claude [Vincent, his father] shared a crystal set in the village with friends who each had a different part in their homes so they could listen to the BBC news in the hope of an early Liberation. By this time in late 1944 the shortage of all food and medical supplies was very serious.”
“We were spending Christmas 1944 at Grandpa Vincent's – 4 adults – 3 children and one scrawny chicken when Claude found the chicken was not cooked and there was no fuel left, The Royal Yacht Club was occupied by the Germans and there was a flagpole outside the building, in the most terrible temper Claude chopped the flagpole down under the Germans noses for fuel, Grandpa Vincent was terrified that Claude would be shot but somehow he got away with it.”
“There was still fun to be had by the children and shows were put on at the Hamon Hall close to St. Aubin's Church on the Hill with singing and dancing on stage. Family games were tantamount to life at home as in order to keep warm everyone one was in one room usually by candlelight. Of course there was a curfew to be obeyed.”
But the signs of salvation were at hand. On Saturday 30 December, the SS Vega arrived in Jersey, berthing at the end of the Albert Pier in St. Helier Harbour at 5.45pm. Red Cross Food parcels would be distributed to grateful islanders, and total starvation was averted.
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My name is Michael Nicolle I was born on the 31st of December 1944 like so many, my mother Polly and my father John were struggling to find food, and wood to heat their house, my mum was carrying me and there were only days to go to the birth.
To add to their worries Doctor Darling had informed them that due to the position of the baby it would be a breach birth and even worse that either the baby or my mother could die giving birth, to this day I marvel at their courage. Under German occupation shortages in every thing from food, heating, clothes and shoes. I was born at the Maternity Hospital, when my mother went into labour there was virtually no electricity no drugs to ease the pain, thankfully we both survived, and my father was not allowed in the hospital and broke the curfew and hid in the garden all night to find out whether mum and I had survived, as a point of interest Dad was able to collect three parcels from the delivery by the Vega which had arrived the day before I was born, I thank God for my wonderful parents every day.
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