Alexander Coutanche
Born in 1892, Jersey's future wartime Bailiff was educated locally before studying law in France.
A heart condition kept him from active military service between 1914 and 1918. Instead Coutanche worked in the munitions industry and took an administrative role supporting the armed forces.
A period in legal practice followed and time as an elected States Deputy. After appointment as Solicitor General in 1925, he rose to become Bailiff in 1935.
From late June 1940, Coutanche led Jersey's occupation government, gaining plaudits for his conduct from all sides during these most challenging times. He received a knighthood in 1946 and later life peerage before passing away in 1973
Born in 1892, Jersey's future wartime Bailiff was educated locally before studying law in France.
A heart condition kept him from active military service between 1914 and 1918. Instead Coutanche worked in the munitions industry and took an administrative role supporting the armed forces.
A period in legal practice followed and time as an elected States Deputy. After appointment as Solicitor General in 1925, he rose to become Bailiff in 1935.
From late June 1940, Coutanche led Jersey's occupation government, gaining plaudits for his conduct from all sides during these most challenging times. He received a knighthood in 1946 and later life peerage before passing away in 1973
Louisa Gould
Liberation came too late for Jersey resident Louisa Gould, who tragically died in the gas chamber of Ravensbruck concentration camp.
Born in 1891, Mrs Gould raised two sons while running La Fontaine Stores at Millais, St Ouen. One, Ralph, lost his life in 1941 while serving in the Royal Navy. When asked to harbour an escaped slave worker, she agreed, commenting that he must have been 'another mother's son'.
Her generous act eventually came to German attention in 1944, Arrested and imprisoned, she was sent to Germany and her eventual death in 1945.
Liberation came too late for Jersey resident Louisa Gould, who tragically died in the gas chamber of Ravensbruck concentration camp.
Born in 1891, Mrs Gould raised two sons while running La Fontaine Stores at Millais, St Ouen. One, Ralph, lost his life in 1941 while serving in the Royal Navy. When asked to harbour an escaped slave worker, she agreed, commenting that he must have been 'another mother's son'.
Her generous act eventually came to German attention in 1944, Arrested and imprisoned, she was sent to Germany and her eventual death in 1945.
Vice Admiral Huffmeier
The Channel Island's final German commander was born in 1898. A career naval officer, he rose to captain Germany's powerful battlecruiser Scharnhorst in 1942.
Receiving command of German naval forces in the Channel Islands from July 1944, he impressed Hitler, who appointed Huffmeier as overall commander in late February 1945.
Despite threats to fight on, Huffmeier surrendered his command on 9 May 1945. He remained a POW in the UK until 1948, passing away in 1972.
Claude Cahun
Born Lucy Schwob in 1894, Claude Cahun had come to Jersey in 1937, settling with partner and fellow artist Marcel Moore in St Brelade's Bay. Already strongly against fascism, the pair produced anti-Nazi flyers, going as far as slipping them into pockets of unsuspecting Germans.
After arrest in 1944, both women received death sentences for attempting to incite rebellion. Commuted to imprisonment, they were among those only released upon liberation. Sadly, Claude Cahun's broken health led to her early death in 1954.
Born Lucy Schwob in 1894, Claude Cahun had come to Jersey in 1937, settling with partner and fellow artist Marcel Moore in St Brelade's Bay. Already strongly against fascism, the pair produced anti-Nazi flyers, going as far as slipping them into pockets of unsuspecting Germans.
After arrest in 1944, both women received death sentences for attempting to incite rebellion. Commuted to imprisonment, they were among those only released upon liberation. Sadly, Claude Cahun's broken health led to her early death in 1954.
Brigadier Alfred Snow
Force 135's commander was born in Bristol in 1898. Commissioned as an officer during the First World War, Snow remained in the army after 1918.
He returned to France in 1939, as a major in the Somerset Light Infantry. Rising to brigadier, Snow received command of Force 135 in 1944 with responsibility for liberating the Channel Islands, a task he performed admirably between May and August 1945.
Brigadier Alfred Snow died in Somerset in 1983
Force 135's commander was born in Bristol in 1898. Commissioned as an officer during the First World War, Snow remained in the army after 1918.
He returned to France in 1939, as a major in the Somerset Light Infantry. Rising to brigadier, Snow received command of Force 135 in 1944 with responsibility for liberating the Channel Islands, a task he performed admirably between May and August 1945.
Brigadier Alfred Snow died in Somerset in 1983
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