A SPECIAL edition of St Mary’s parish magazine released this week will share the experiences of a number of Islanders under German Occupation during the Second World War.
Under the German Yoke: St Mary’s Occupation Memories collates 24 first hand accounts of life under German rule from parishioners, most of which have never been published before.
The stories range from Kathleen Richardson’s recollection of being deported alongside her family to spend years in German concentration camps to Jean Guthrie’s account of her father hiding his cars from German soldiers and Joan de Gruchy taking the family saucepans to bed to prevent them being stolen during the night.
The publication was produced to mark 80th anniversary of the Island’s Liberation last year and was edited by journalist and magazine editor Mike Fennell, drawing on interviews he carried out over a number of years.
“When I started writing, memories of the Occupation were still very much alive in the minds of dozens of parishioners who lived through those historic times,” he said.
“Sadly, a number of those eyewitnesses are no longer with us. I hope their accounts will be regarded as a legacy for future generations.”
Mr Fennell said the recollections reveal not only hardship and deprivation, but also the ways in which people coped.
“I think I remember all the good times rather than the bad ones,” he said. “We all had great parties, but it wasn’t a case of getting drunk – there was nothing to drink.” commented parishioner Clare Duval in the magazine.
St Mary’s Constable David Johnson said: “I am delighted that we are finally able to mark the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Liberation with this unique book about the Occupation, reflecting the experiences of parishioners in St Mary.
“I would like to thank everyone who was kind enough to allow their stories to be told, and I am very grateful to Mike Fennell for bringing those memories to life.”
Mr Johnson added that the project would not have been possible without the support of local businesses, including a major contribution from medical cannabis cultivator Northern Leaf, alongside La Mare Vineyards, Germbusters, Godel Architects and the Jersey Pistol Club.
A spokesperson for Northern Leaf said: “We were keen to support this project as a way of giving back to the parish and recognising the patience and goodwill shown to us as we established our business.”
“Under the German Yoke is a powerful and important record of local history, and we are proud to have played a small part in ensuring these stories are preserved for future generations.”
A copy will be distributed to all households in St Mary as a keepsake, and a limited number of additional copies will be available at St Mary Parish Hall for £10.
