An Early Liberation
Guest post by Peter Le Sueur
Every year, we celebrate the anniversary of the liberation of Jersey. But for some islanders, liberation came early. After the Normandy landings, a group of islanders decided to risk escaping from what was a heavily guarded ”Island Fortress”.
There are 71 islanders documented as escaping to France following D day. The escapees had to get past minefields along the sea shore, avoid detection by the frequent German patrols, and handle treacherous currents and often rough seas. 9 were drowned in the attempt, one was shot dead attempting to escape and 24 were captured and imprisoned.
My father, Max Edward Le Sueur, was one of those who managed, with two friends, to escape on 11th November 1944 - the same night as the former Bailiff, Sir Peter Crill escaped in another boat, and one night after my father’s cousin, Francis Le Sueur, escaped.
My father was Jersey born but working in England when World War 2 broke out. He married, in England, in March 1940, but in late June 1940 his mother died and he returned to Jersey for the funeral.
Unfortunately he missed the last boat leaving Jersey before the Germans arrived and it was not until April 1941 that my mother , through the Red Cross, managed to find out what had happened to him.
After four and a half years living under occupation he decided to escape and with two friends, William Rumball and Edward (Snipe) Le Masurier, they planned an escape using a 13ft boat which hidden away in storage. It had no engine, so they converted an Austin 7 car engine to turn the prop shaft.
Just prior to the escape my father received the good news that his cousin Francis Le Sueur, had successfully escaped the day before The main escape point from the island, for escapees after June 1944, was at Fauvic, Grouville, (the shortest distance to Normandy and with the least risk of running into German naval patrols).
My father with his two friends, aided by some other brave souls, waited until the changeover of the German patrols guarding the area then manhandled the boat across fields, down a 14ft sea wall, across a minefield, then into the water.
The first part of the journey from the waters edge was done using muffled oars, as starting the engine would have alerted the German patrols. It was not until they were a considerable distance from the shore that they were able to start the engine. It was a considerable relief to the 3 escapees when the engine fired, and it worked perfectly all the way across to France.
They made landfall at Granville they next day. It was probably quite a surprise for the American forces in the town to see the little boat, with its 3 civilian passengers appear out of the morning mist.
After de-briefing by the American and British forces my father was able to hitch a ride across the channel to England, and after four and a half long years was finally re-united with his wife.
Guest post by Peter Le Sueur
Every year, we celebrate the anniversary of the liberation of Jersey. But for some islanders, liberation came early. After the Normandy landings, a group of islanders decided to risk escaping from what was a heavily guarded ”Island Fortress”.
There are 71 islanders documented as escaping to France following D day. The escapees had to get past minefields along the sea shore, avoid detection by the frequent German patrols, and handle treacherous currents and often rough seas. 9 were drowned in the attempt, one was shot dead attempting to escape and 24 were captured and imprisoned.
My father, Max Edward Le Sueur, was one of those who managed, with two friends, to escape on 11th November 1944 - the same night as the former Bailiff, Sir Peter Crill escaped in another boat, and one night after my father’s cousin, Francis Le Sueur, escaped.
My father was Jersey born but working in England when World War 2 broke out. He married, in England, in March 1940, but in late June 1940 his mother died and he returned to Jersey for the funeral.
Unfortunately he missed the last boat leaving Jersey before the Germans arrived and it was not until April 1941 that my mother , through the Red Cross, managed to find out what had happened to him.
After four and a half years living under occupation he decided to escape and with two friends, William Rumball and Edward (Snipe) Le Masurier, they planned an escape using a 13ft boat which hidden away in storage. It had no engine, so they converted an Austin 7 car engine to turn the prop shaft.
Just prior to the escape my father received the good news that his cousin Francis Le Sueur, had successfully escaped the day before The main escape point from the island, for escapees after June 1944, was at Fauvic, Grouville, (the shortest distance to Normandy and with the least risk of running into German naval patrols).
My father with his two friends, aided by some other brave souls, waited until the changeover of the German patrols guarding the area then manhandled the boat across fields, down a 14ft sea wall, across a minefield, then into the water.
The first part of the journey from the waters edge was done using muffled oars, as starting the engine would have alerted the German patrols. It was not until they were a considerable distance from the shore that they were able to start the engine. It was a considerable relief to the 3 escapees when the engine fired, and it worked perfectly all the way across to France.
They made landfall at Granville they next day. It was probably quite a surprise for the American forces in the town to see the little boat, with its 3 civilian passengers appear out of the morning mist.
After de-briefing by the American and British forces my father was able to hitch a ride across the channel to England, and after four and a half long years was finally re-united with his wife.
Posts
1 comment:
I believe my late maternal grandfather, Rene Robert was amongst those who escaped. We had a photograph of him receiving a medal from Queen Mary after the war.
Post a Comment