THE experiences of Islanders living through the final days of the Occupation are being brought to life in a series of video diaries ahead of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day.
The videos are being released by Jersey Heritage in the run-up to 9 May.
Reading the 80-year-old diary entries was described as “more moving than anticipated” by the heritage organisation.
The project, Mémouaithe: a Liberation journal, has seen videos first published on the charity’s social media platforms, including one paying homage to the Red Cross’s SS Vega’s arrival on 30 December 1944.
Jersey Heritage head of programmes Vic Tanner Davy explained that each diary entry had been carefully selected to give a different perspective on what life was like as the end of the Occupation was in sight and the countdown to freedom began.
“These special diaries are a key part of our collections and help us to share the story of one of the most significant periods in the Island’s history,” he said.
“Reading the words of someone who lived and breathed the Occupation years is a powerful way to understand what they experienced and how they felt at the time. All our readers found the experience of playing a diarist more moving than they had anticipated.
“We chose Christmas Eve to begin our series as this was an especially difficult time for Islanders and only days before the Red Cross’s SS Vega arrived with its lifesaving cargo on 30 December 1944. Five months later, Islanders were liberated and we hope that everyone will engage with these daily videos to follow the diarists’ stories as we begin the build-up to Liberation 80.”
The authors behind the diaries include a former printer of the Jersey Evening Post, a nurse, farmer and a former Bailiff’s secretary.
There are also entries from a superior in the German Field Command and a woman deported to a German internment camp who wrote about her experiences there.
Mémouaithe: a Liberation journal is being sponsored by Insurance Corporation.
Michelle Steele, an executive at the firm, said: “Preserving and sharing our island’s unique heritage is vital to understanding who we are and ensuring future generations appreciate the resilience and spirit of our community. This partnership allows us to contribute to a meaningful project that not only highlights Jersey’s rich history but also encourages connection and engagement with audiences far and wide. At Insurance Corporation, we believe in investing in initiatives that strengthen our community and celebrate the stories that define us.”
