Latest news with #GermanOccupation
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Parsnip coffee and no heating - how I survived the German occupation'
It has been 85 years since the German occupation began in Jersey during World War Two, but 92-year-old David Isherwood still vividly remembers the anguish of those five years — from freezing winters, when it was too cold to go to school due to a lack of fuel, to being desperately hungry. But, Mr Isherwood said it was not all bad being a child during the tumultuous period. He enjoyed the adventure of watching soldiers training to shoot their guns, and along with his friends, he would "take the mick out" of the troops by imitating their goose-step march - perhaps unsurprisingly, the soldiers "really didn't like". Despite their irritation, if you kept your head down you were left you alone, Mr Isherwood said, adding: "It was an adventure in a way for children." He was seven when 1,750 German troops arrived in Jersey on 1 July 1940 - a force that would swell to 11,500 by the end of that year. He recalls soldiers smashing the window of the masonic temple on Oxford Road, in St Helier, during target practice. Mr Isherwood said the troops had taken over a garage opposite the Temple Bar pub on nearby Stopford Road. He said: "Outside of the garage they used to put two-pack guns, which were anti-tank guns and fire [them]. "Every six weeks they would close the street and fire at targets which they had fixed in Oxford Road. "As kids, it was where you would go to see pack guns firing off," he said. However, despite the youthful hi-jinks, many of his memories from the war were not happy ones. When the Germans arrived, they rapidly introduced strict regulations. The islands clocks were set to European time and there was a curfew between 23:00 and 05:00. Islanders were banned from using vehicles, except those with special permission such as doctors. Mr Isherwood remembers being "starving hungry" from about 1942 or 1943, as well as freezing cold because of a lack of fuel. His mother, along with other local women, would stand waiting with buckets and brooms when the coal boat arrived - hoping some lumps would fall off the trucks as they turned the corner onto Victoria Street. "That's how desperate it was," he said. He also remembers the winter of 1944 to 1945, when it was so cold his school had to close for seven weeks from January. The children used to sit in their coats in the classroom and parents were asked to knit hats and gloves for the children, he said. Despite the hardships, Mr Isherwood survived the occupation. He was one of the first children to collect a Red Cross parcel from the SS Vega - an event captured in a now-famous photo. Later he trained as a cabinet maker, meeting his future wife Yvonne during that time, and also spent 28 years working for the island's waterworks. Mr Isherwood spoke to King Charles III and Queen Camilla about the food shortages during the occupation whey they visited to the island in 2024. A British military blockade meant it was difficult for the Germans to receive food to the islands, leading to food shortages. A lot of islanders died from malnutrition, he said. The shortages led islanders to improvise substitute foods and drinks. He remembered his mother making parsnip coffee during the war, agreeing with a friend that: "It was awful then and it's awful now." More news stories for Jersey Listen to the latest news for Jersey Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to WW2 food parcel delivery 'immensely significant' Holocaust records available for islanders to view What happened in the Channel Islands during WW2? Channel Island Occupation Society Jersey Heritage
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Parsnip coffee and no heating - how I survived the German occupation'
It has been 85 years since the German occupation began in Jersey during World War Two, but 92-year-old David Isherwood still vividly remembers the anguish of those five years — from freezing winters, when it was too cold to go to school due to a lack of fuel, to being desperately hungry. But, Mr Isherwood said it was not all bad being a child during the tumultuous period. He enjoyed the adventure of watching soldiers training to shoot their guns, and along with his friends, he would "take the mick out" of the troops by imitating their goose-step march - perhaps unsurprisingly, the soldiers "really didn't like".Despite their irritation, if you kept your head down you were left you alone, Mr Isherwood said, adding: "It was an adventure in a way for children." He was seven when 1,750 German troops arrived in Jersey on 1 July 1940 - a force that would swell to 11,500 by the end of that recalls soldiers smashing the window of the masonic temple on Oxford Road, in St Helier, during target Isherwood said the troops had taken over a garage opposite the Temple Bar pub on nearby Stopford said: "Outside of the garage they used to put two-pack guns, which were anti-tank guns and fire [them]."Every six weeks they would close the street and fire at targets which they had fixed in Oxford Road."As kids, it was where you would go to see pack guns firing off," he said. Fuel shortages However, despite the youthful hi-jinks, many of his memories from the war were not happy the Germans arrived, they rapidly introduced strict islands clocks were set to European time and there was a curfew between 23:00 and 05: were banned from using vehicles, except those with special permission such as Isherwood remembers being "starving hungry" from about 1942 or 1943, as well as freezing cold because of a lack of mother, along with other local women, would stand waiting with buckets and brooms when the coal boat arrived - hoping some lumps would fall off the trucks as they turned the corner onto Victoria Street."That's how desperate it was," he also remembers the winter of 1944 to 1945, when it was so cold his school had to close for seven weeks from children used to sit in their coats in the classroom and parents were asked to knit hats and gloves for the children, he said. Despite the hardships, Mr Isherwood survived the was one of the first children to collect a Red Cross parcel from the SS Vega - an event captured in a now-famous he trained as a cabinet maker, meeting his future wife Yvonne during that time, and also spent 28 years working for the island's Isherwood spoke to King Charles III and Queen Camilla about the food shortages during the occupation whey they visited to the island in 2024.A British military blockade meant it was difficult for the Germans to receive food to the islands, leading to food shortages.A lot of islanders died from malnutrition, he shortages led islanders to improvise substitute foods and remembered his mother making parsnip coffee during the war, agreeing with a friend that: "It was awful then and it's awful now."
BBC News
30-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
WW2 tomato truck bombing 'blackest day' in Guernsey history
The World War Two bombing of tomato trucks in St Peter Port harbour has been described by a local historian as the "blackest day" in Guernsey history. Thirty-four people were killed and 33 were injured when German planes bombed the trucks after mistaking them for troop vehicles on 28 June air raid on St Peter Port heralded the beginning of the German occupation of the island, which lasted for five Simon Hamon said it was important to remember the "tragic day", and the impact it had on island families, 85 years after the event. "It really was Guernsey's blackest day in its history, and certainly that in the occupation," said Mr Hamon. "Everybody had their vehicles loaded high with tomatoes, and to keep the sun off them they used to cover them with tarpaulins."German planes had been coming over in the days in advance and had seen these trucks and mistakenly identified them as troop-carrying trucks that were unloading supplies and men, unaware of the tomato export at the time." 'Bullets whizzing through' A total of nine German Heinkel HE-111 bombers started bombing targets within the harbour area at about 18:45 BST."People decided to dive underneath the vehicles in a hope of saving themselves, but of course with bombs and bullets whizzing through it didn't really help them very much," said Mr Hamon."There were 33 people altogether that are classed as dying there."There were over 50 that had extensive critical injuries, which were treated, and managed to survive." 'Losing a father' Mr Hamon said the true number of people injured has not been recorded as people with minor injuries "treated themselves"."It was a tragic day really, with one family losing a father and two sons, and the youngest of the sons I think was 14," he said.A service was held at St Peter Port harbour on Saturday evening to remember the people who were lost in the bombing. "Although they weren't combatants, they weren't fighting anybody, they were probably the first islanders to have been killed in World War Two," said Mr Hamon."We should remember that, and we shouldn't lose sight of war and the effects of war on us and wider populations."The bombing occurred just two days before the occupation of the island by German forces."
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
The assassination that turned Paris' WW2 tide
An account of the first assassination of a member of the German occupation during WW2 in Paris which helped liberate the city to freedom. This video is from The Travel Show, the BBC's flagship travel programme.
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Scotsman
The island just 70-miles from the UK that offers Brits a better standard of living
Craving a simpler way of living? Easy access to incredible beaches, walking trails and highly acclaimed restaurants? A work-life balance? One island offers all of this and is welcoming new residents with open arms. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In recent years, Guernsey in the Channel Islands has seen an increase in high-net-worth individuals relocating from the UK and is doing their part to ensure new residents are supported. 'Our goal is to provide information, guidance and signposting to support individuals and businesses who are relocating to the island of Guernsey,' shared Jo Stoddart, Director of Locate Guernsey – an initiative that supports anyone with enquiries on finding on a home, insurance, residency, immigration and making the move. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We have seen a 52% surge in the number of enquiries about relocation to Guernsey in recent months. We're on hand to support with any enquiries on transitioning to life on the island.' Life on Guernsey The second largest of the Channel Islands, Guernsey is only a 50-minute flight or three-hour ferry ride from the UK, making it one of the easier overseas locations to move to. At just 25 square miles, the island is home to 27 beaches, meaning no matter where an individual is located, they are no more than 10-minutes from the sea and have easy access to Britain's cleanest beaches and incredible surfing locations. A diverse array of walking trails also allows locals to easily to embrace nature and being outdoors on the island and for keen golfers, the North of the island offers three golf courses, including the La Grande Mare which is currently going through a multimillion-pound redevelopment and set to include a country club. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Guernsey's focus on fresh and local seafood has led to award-winning and highly acclaimed restaurants being scattered across the island including hotel bistros, waterfront venues, sushi spots and steakhouses. The island also has an impressive lineup of food festivals, and in July will welcome Vraic – a new dining experience by Michelin-starred chef Nathan Davies. Life on Guernsey Plus, for those wondering what to do for work on the island, there is no shortage of high-income roles in the finance industry, blending the benefits of a seaside lifestyle with minimal commuting times with the opportunities of a 'financial city hub'. Populated for over 1,000 years the island also offers a public holiday each year on 9th May to celebrate its liberation from German Occupation in WWII. The island is home to many signifiers of this rich history, with Norman ancestral holds and WWII including bunkers and gun batteries dotted around the island. Guernsey is not just a beautiful destination to relocate to, it's an interesting one too. How to get there? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aurigny, Guernsey's airline, recently announced additional routes for the summer 2025 season, which includes daily flights to Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol. The airline also offers flights to and from London Gatwick, London City, Southampton, Leeds, Edinburgh and Exeter. The airline releases additional summer flights each year, along with Blue Islands airline, making it easier for individuals to travel between the UK and Guernsey.
