When the camp was liberated two and a half years later, many of the Channel Island internees promptly returned home or came back within a few years.
However, for Elizabeth, now Mrs Clothier, it has taken a little longer – seven decades to be precise.
Earlier this week, the 79-year-old touched down in the Island after making the long journey from her home in Iowa in America where she has lived for much of her adult life.
And in addition to her memories, Mrs Clothier brought dozens of treasured items documenting her life as a child internee.
Among the 100-piece collection, which she has since given to the Channel Islands Military Museum, are birthday cards, school reports, photographs, drawings and the family identification cards – all giving an insight into everyday life inside the camp.
Damien Horn, the vice-president of the Channel Islands Occupation Society, described the items as ‘exceptionally rare’.
‘When she got in contact over the internet and we met up, she asked if I was collecting internees’ paperwork and I was quite surprised. Elizabeth said that her family was not interested in the items and we could have them if we wanted.
‘The pieces are really quite amazing and we are very fortunate that she decided to gift us the collection.
‘It’s the first time she’s been back and it is such a long way to come, so it really is quite a special trip.
‘We took her to where she was born in the Island, but as it was such a long time ago and she was only very small, she didn’t remember it very well.’
And after speaking to Mrs Clothier, who was joined on the trip by her sister, Mr Horn said that he got the impression that she had a positive experience in the camp.
‘She certainly had quite a start to life, that’s for certain. Her father was headmaster at the camp school and her mother was a camp leader, so I think the family was well regarded for all that they did. She seemed to speak positively about her experiences and even her school report reflects on her happy attitude at the time.’
Mr Horn added that he intends to exhibit the collection at the Channel Islands Military Museum in St Ouen, which he runs, at some point in the future.
