This episode we have the stories of two Spitfire Pilots who having been shot down in the Channel Islands end up at Stalag Luft III and one of them takes part in the Great Escape.
One of the pilots Norman Amos can be found in the picture below.
A Lancaster crash lands in Sark and the crew survive only to be captured and become POWs.
The mystery of a German soldier called George Falla, yes you read that correctly a German soldier with a Guernsey name!
We talk about the hullabaloo caused when the Irish enquire if any Irish citizens have been deported and the Germans realise they made a mistake.
The Guernsey Deportees Podcast by Ollie Guillou is well worth a listen. You can find it here.
Find us on all the podcast platforms by clicking here.
It has been a long time coming, mostly because I just wanted to get it right, partly because I kept finding things that needed to to given the proper attention they deserved.
Aside from a few short articles over the years nobody has written about those that escaped from Guernsey or Alderney. There was a very short print run book about escapes from Jersey but other than that little is written about them.
I explore the whole dilemma of escaping and leaving friends and family behind, the changing attitudes of those in Government to these escapes, and the risks that people took.
These escapes were also very important for military intelligence in the England as well as those that were evacuated before the occupation and desperate for news of loved ones.
I also deal with some aspect of commando raids and espionage during the occupation.
I have had a lot of emails, comments on social media and WhatsApp messages asking if I knew about this two part documentary coming out from Minnow Films.
As it happens they contacted me for some input when they were pitching the idea back in early 2024 as they had been reading the blog and listened to early early episodes of the podcast ‘Islands at War’ that Keith and I produce.
I gave they them a steer and we had a long Zoom call about potential diarists that they could use and other contacts. This was followed by a lot of emails with guidance. As is the way with these things they go quiet for a long time and you never know what route they will take. I have had my fingers burned before!
Pleased to report that they have done a cracking job with episode one and it is entirely accurate, save for the stock footage of aircraft, no Stukas took part in the Bombing of the Channel Islands on the 28th June 1940. The only other slight blooper spotted by my friend Alasdair Davidson, a fairly niche spot, of an external shot of the outside of the Royal Court in Guernsey and then an internal shot of the Royal Court in Jersey! Can you tell he is acquainted with both on a professional level? Oh and apparently I missed some Matilda Tanks that he spotted! 🙂
So well done Minnow Films for an accurate representation of life under German Occupation seen through the eyes of those that lived through it.
If this has increased your appetite for more of the stories from these diarists and others that are unpublished then check out our podcast on your favourite podcast app by searching ‘Islands at War’ or by going here
This episode explores the impact of military operations, including commando raids and the strategic significance of locations like the Casquets and Alderney. The discussion also highlights the complexities of collaboration and resistance during the German occupation, as well as the challenges faced by local populations.
The conversation explores various aspects of life in Guernsey during the occupation, focusing on recruitment efforts, education initiatives, curfews, health concerns, food shortages, personal escape stories, and the impact of deportations. The speakers discuss how the community adapted to challenges, the importance of education, and the resilience of individuals during difficult times.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading the blog post.
I also co-host a podcast with Keith Pengelley in which we talk about the occupation of the Channel Islands month by month using first hand accounts, diaries and our research in the archives. You can find us on all the major podcast services. Just search “Islands at War” or visit our podcast page here.
You can also follow the blog on Twitter at @Fortress_Island where I share other information and photographs. If you prefer Facebook I also have a page there.
If you would like to receive email notifications of future blogs, you can sign up to the right of this blog post or here. Feel free to look around the website, where I have categorised posts to make them easier to find and other resources such as tours, places to visit and films that may be of interest.
You can also find articles, podcasts, TV appearances and other social media etc here.
I will be adding more as time permits. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you enjoyed it. Please share it on social media or add a comment if you did. Feedback is always appreciated.
Also happy to be contacted with questions about the war in the Channel Islands, media appearances, podcasts etc.
A few weeks it was great to welcome Paul Woodadge and Mag from WW2TV along with JD from History Underground to Guernsey.
They live streamed some videos as well as recording some other video for future use.
They had lots of activities organised for them by Visit Guernsey but on their afternoon off I showed them around a few places. The video below is talking about Operation Anger & Operation Ambassador and how Al Murray challenged the view that Ambassador was a disaster when Nick met him in September.
Woody then streamed from further around the cliffs.
I then took them to the German Cemetery at Fort George.
We then took a quick trip to the memorial for the Typhoon Pilot John Saville. After the video you can see a link to my article on this raid.
Woody has produced a great video giving a taster of their time here and his initial thoughts on their visit. Do take a look at it and subscribe to his YouTube Channel as there will be lots of more content coming out later on around the Channel Islands.
JD from History Underground filmed a lot of content which will be appearing on his channel in the future including some great drone footage so do go and subscribe to his channel ass well so that you don’t miss out.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading the blog post.
I also co-host a podcast with Keith Pengelley in which we talk about the occupation of the Channel Islands month by month using first hand accounts, diaries and our research in the archives. You can find us on all the major podcast services. Just search “Islands at War” or visit our podcast page here.
You can also follow the blog on Twitter at @Fortress_Island where I share other information and photographs. If you prefer Facebook I also have a page there.
If you would like to receive email notifications of future blogs, you can sign up to the right of this blog post or here. Feel free to look around the website, where I have categorised posts to make them easier to find and other resources such as tours, places to visit and films that may be of interest.
You can also find articles, podcasts, TV appearances and other social media etc here.
I will be adding more as time permits. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you enjoyed it. Please share it on social media or add a comment if you did. Feedback is always appreciated.
Also happy to be contacted with questions about the war in the Channel Islands, media appearances, podcasts etc.
In this episode, the hosts delve into the events of June 1942 in Jersey and Guernsey during the German occupation. They discuss various topics including the challenges of movement between the islands, a mysterious cobbler’s attempt to return to Jersey, a crime wave involving a young boy, the request for candles from Jersey, the second anniversary of the occupation, the significance of the Channel Island Monthly Review, and the restrictions on radios and photography.
The conversation highlights the local community’s resilience and the impact of the occupation on daily life. This conversation delves into the experiences and challenges faced during the German occupation of the Channel Islands in World War II. It highlights the medical concerns, resistance against German authority, the impact of deportation, military rumours, and personal anecdotes from the war. The discussion also touches on community engagement and reflections on historical events, emphasising the lasting effects of the occupation on local society.
A copy of the Channel Island Monthly Review from my collection.
Below is the Jersey Heritage post we mentioned about the diarist Le Sauteur.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading the blog post.
I also co-host a podcast with Keith Pengelley in which we talk about the occupation of the Channel Islands month by month using first hand accounts, diaries and our research in the archives. You can find us on all the major podcast services. Just search “Islands at War” or visit our podcast page here.
You can also follow the blog on Twitter at @Fortress_Island where I share other information and photographs. If you prefer Facebook I also have a page there.
If you would like to receive email notifications of future blogs, you can sign up to the right of this blog post or here. Feel free to look around the website, where I have categorised posts to make them easier to find and other resources such as tours, places to visit and films that may be of interest.
You can also find articles, podcasts, TV appearances and other social media etc here.
I will be adding more as time permits. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you enjoyed it. Please share it on social media or add a comment if you did. Feedback is always appreciated.
Also happy to be contacted with questions about the war in the Channel Islands, media appearances, podcasts etc.
This episode delves into the daily life and struggles of individuals living under German occupation in Guernsey during World War II.
It highlights the challenges of food shortages, the impact of malnutrition on health, and the complexities of justice as seen through a police scandal. Personal anecdotes and historical accounts provide a vivid picture of life during this tumultuous time, showcasing resilience and adaptation amidst adversity.
In this episode, the hosts discuss various historical topics related to Guernsey and Sark during World War II, including the murder of Dr. Goebel, the role of propaganda in the Guernsey press, and insights from the diary of Louis Guillemette. They also remember the Jewish ladies deported from Guernsey and explore the ongoing research into escape attempts from the islands. The conversation wraps up with a look ahead to future projects and events.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading the blog post.
I also co-host a podcast with Keith Pengelley in which we talk about the occupation of the Channel Islands month by month using first hand accounts, diaries and our research in the archives. You can find us on all the major podcast services. Just search “Islands at War” or visit our podcast page here.
You can also follow the blog on Twitter at @Fortress_Island where I share other information and photographs. If you prefer Facebook I also have a page there.
If you would like to receive email notifications of future blogs, you can sign up to the right of this blog post or here. Feel free to look around the website, where I have categorised posts to make them easier to find and other resources such as tours, places to visit and films that may be of interest.
You can also find articles, podcasts, TV appearances and other social media etc here.
I will be adding more as time permits. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you enjoyed it. Please share it on social media or add a comment if you did. Feedback is always appreciated.
Also happy to be contacted with questions about the war in the Channel Islands, media appearances, podcasts etc.
Nick spoke to Simon De La Rue of the Guernsey Press about his project 80 days to Liberation which started on 18 February and runs all the way to the 80th anniversary of Liberation on 9 May 2025.
Find out what the project involves, how he is going about it and how you can get involved.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading the blog post.
I also co-host a podcast with Keith Pengelley in which we talk about the occupation of the Channel Islands month by month using first hand accounts, diaries and our research in the archives. You can find us on all the major podcast services. Just search “Islands at War” or visit our podcast page here.
You can also follow the blog on Twitter at @Fortress_Island where I share other information and photographs. If you prefer Facebook I also have a page there.
If you would like to receive email notifications of future blogs, you can sign up to the right of this blog post or here. Feel free to look around the website, where I have categorised posts to make them easier to find and other resources such as tours, places to visit and films that may be of interest.
You can also find articles, podcasts, TV appearances and other social media etc here.
I will be adding more as time permits. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you enjoyed it. Please share it on social media or add a comment if you did. Feedback is always appreciated.
Also happy to be contacted with questions about the war in the Channel Islands, media appearances, podcasts etc.
February 1942 had some fairly depressing and difficult topics for us to discuss not least the eighth Jewish Order. They are important to discuss and particularly as this episode was recorded during the week of the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
We also talk about the impact of the occupation on the mental health of Channel Islanders.
We have a some lighter topics to discuss as well as a few book recommendations!
Our Jersey diarist is still complaining that Guernsey is still getting bombed more than Jersey by the RAF! Not an aspect of inter-island rivalry I would have had down on my bingo card but it gets mentioned a lot.
We mention Churchill’s Spaniards: Continuing the Fight in the British Army 1939-46- bySéan Scullion. This is an excellent book that Nick & Keith both recommend.
We also talk about a book that is out in April 2025 written by Jenny O’Brien which is a novel set during the occupation. You can find her social media and books here. Looking forward to reading this when it is out! Jenny is appearing at the Guernsey Literary Festival.
We talk about much more as well!
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