“NOT since the dark days of June 1940 when the whole of the population of Alderney left their island home to seek refuge in England from the advancing Nazis, has this three-square-mile Channel Island been the scene of such misfortune as has now befallen it through the foot-and-mouth epidemic.”
So opened the lead story on the front page of the Evening Post on 15 January 1958. It was the latest report in the paper about the ongoing spread of the disease which was proving to be devastating to the island’s farmers.
The day before, the EP had reported on how Alderney’s biggest herd of 50 head of cattle, owned by Mr E J Burland of Old Mill Farm, had had to be destroyed. Hard on this came news of yet another outbreak, this time at Le Brecque where eight cows owned by Edgar Allen were destroyed. The latest outbreak was the eighth in six days.
The question on 15 January was would all Alderney’s animals become victims?
Statistics showed that 334 animals had had to be slaughtered, 207 pigs and 127 cattle. The total cattle population of the island was 250.
There was only a slim hope that some of the cattle on the outskirts of the island might escape infection.
The President of the States of Alderney, Commander S P Herivel, promised that they would pay the full value of the milk that farmers would have supplied to the States Dairy up to the end of the month.
Half the value of the cattle was insured by Alderney’s States, with compensation up to £65 per animal. This rate had been set in 1952 but, as the EP later observed, £32 10s was not enough “for a first-class milch cow” when a farmer had to restock – and many of them were poor. In 1954, farmers had been urged to insure the other half, but they declined.
On 14 January, the Guernsey States Dairy flew to Alderney its first consignment of milk to help the people in their distress. Later in the day Alderney’s Town Crier announced that there was to be a 50% cut in the ration of milk to every household.
On 17 January, with the disease continuing to spread and the number of cattle slaughtered rising to 151, Jersey’s Finance Committee President was empowered to make enquiries on how the island could be helped financially. Only five farms were unaffected by that point and a huge pit had been dug for all the carcases which were then covered in quick-lime. The Alderney fire engine had been used to spray the island’s roads with disinfectant.
Yet another outbreak – the 13th – was confirmed that day affecting a further eight cattle, leaving only four farms untouched.
The Evening Post sent its agricultural reporter Brian Le Feuvre to the island to investigate the effects of the calamity. He likened the appearance of Alderney from the air to that of June 1940 when all the cattle were sent to the comparative safety of Guernsey to prevent their seizure by the German occupying forces who had already driven the islanders to seek refuge elsewhere.
“Today this windswept island is virtually without cattle,” he wrote. “Only 16 days ago its 1,400 inhabitants were happy and carefree. Then suddenly their happiness was shattered by the words foot-and-mouth disease.”
With nearly all Alderney’s 19 farmers relying solely upon their milk cheques from the States Dairy for their income, the hand of fate had dealt them “a bitter blow”.
A 15th outbreak was confirmed on 21 January. However, “with the farmers of stricken Alderney, one cannot help but admire their determination,” Mr Le Feuvre observed.
“They have already lost over 180 head of cattle and the few remaining animals, about 60 in all, are in danger of being wiped out.
“And yet the farmers can still smile and say, ‘We will start again’.”
