Organised by the St Helier-Bad Wurzach Partneschaft Committee the former internees, family and friends enjoyed afternoon tea and were entertained by the choirs of Grouville and St Mary primary schools who performed a medley of Christmas carols and festive songs.
Committee secretary Angela Francey said: ‘It was heart-warming to see so many former internees, their children and grandchildren supporting our annual event, which was probably the largest turnout we have had at our Christmas gathering.’
There was also a screening of a souvenir CD made by David English of this year’s visit to Bad Wurzach in April when the former internees, accompanied by the Bailiff, William Bailhache, Chief Minister Ian Gorst and the Constable of St Helier, Simon Crowcroft, returned to the southern German spa town to celebrate, 70 years to the day since they were set free by the French army.
There were two special guests who made the trip from Scotland to find out more about their grandparents, Albert and Ella Hempstead, who were among the 618 Islanders interned in Bad Wurzach from 1942 to 1945, and to meet people who were imprisoned with them, such as Gwen Bisson.
Sisters Jayne Maclennan and Gill Main also visited the Jersey Archive to research the history of their family in the Island.
Damien Horn of the Channel Islands Military Museum in St Ouen’s Bay, and Colin Isherwood of the Channel Islands Occupation Society, brought along a display of Occupation relics, some of which had not been seen in public before and a raffle was held to raise money for future activities.
