Tag: Second World War

JANUARY 1942 – RAF AIR RAID ON ST PETER PORT AND A NEW YEAR TRAGEDY!

In this episode we talk about the attack on German shipping in the harbour.  It was a spectacular low-level attack by three Beauforts of 82 Squadron Coastal Command.

Listen to me talk about the raid and the death of a local man who was a crane driver. For some photographs of the raid taking place and the resultant damage take a look at the two articles below.

RAF Air Raid on St Peter Port 17th January 1942
RAF RAID ON ST PETER PORT – 17 JANUARY 1942 – PART 2.

We then look at the tragic case of George Fisher who was shot by a German on New Year’s Eve.

Entertainment in the theatres is highlighted with the formation of a new group, and we talk about Frank Stroobant who was involved in this as well as island sports. He also wrote an excellent book about the occupation.

Display at the German Occupation Museum

We talked about the censor Sonderfuehrer Kurt Goettmann

Sonderführer Kurt Goettmann the censor. Image © The Priaulx Library via Occupation Archive 

The press censor Sonderfuehrer Kurt Goettmann appointed on the 27th January 1941 at the age of 32. His previous experience included working in press offices in both Paris and London. The censor role was to ensure that anything published followed the stringent rules set out by the Germans.

We also talk more about food as that is an ever present problem.

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.

If you have questions or information to share you can contact me by email on Contact@Island-Fortress.Com.

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 Le Huray

PODCAST SPECIAL – USE OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE GUERNÉSIAIS, A FORM OF NORMAN FRENCH, DURING THE OCCUPATION.

Nick had a brainwave that it might be fun to explore the use of the local language, Guernésiais, Pronounced ‘JEHR-nehz-yay’, it is also known as ‘Guernsey French’ or ‘patois’.  It is a form of Norman French, which evolved from the Vulgar Latin spoken in the region when it was part of the Roman Empire.  

There was only one man for the job of coming in for a chat about this subject that man was Yan Marquis. A local tour guide and heavily involved in promoting the language. Nick has known

We chat about the Guernsey language #guernesiais and its use amongst the Guernsey occupied and evacuees during WWII. Challenges they faced included: incomprehension, suspicion, adaption, isolation & linguistic disconnect. Fascinating chat about how the language was a benefit to those occupied and also a problem for those evacuated, that returned unable to speak it.

We also talk about some stories that people have told Yan over the years about their time during the occupation.

For more information on the language go here.

For details of Yan’s tours go here.

You can also listen to Walter Brehaut who we mentioned in the podcast and Yan in conversation here. There is a translation!

If you want to hear more of the language following our podcast you can find it hear along with translations. https://soundcloud.com/user-348870745

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.

If you have questions or information to share you can contact me by email on Contact@Island-Fortress.Com.

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 Le Huray

DECEMBER 1941 PODCAST – AMERICANS SUFFER POST PEARL HARBOUR, MILITARY ACTIVITY HOTS UP, A HUGE GUN, UNWELCOME GUESTS, FOOD AND MORE!

It is the December 1941 episode and we look at what Christmas was like for different families and across the Channel Islands.

We talk about food and some of the crazy prices being paid for livestock, difficulties in obtaining some some essentials.

Military activity hots up and the barrels are delivered for the huge Mirus Battery. This unfortunately causes a tragic death of a 6 year old girl who was crushed. This happened at Le Ville au Roi. In the photograph below you can see the junction itself.

Below you can see photographs of the vehicles used to pull the gun barrel.

Read more about the big guns in the article below.

BATTERIE MIRUS – THE BIG GUNS

Pearl Harbour happens and the Germans take measures against the Americans resident in the Channel Islands.

We look at various different families and how their lives were impacted so far.

We also touch on the German Officer who as a boy scout had been awarded a medal by the King of England.

Listen on your favourite podcast app or click the player below.

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.

If you have questions or information to share you can contact me by email on Contact@Island-Fortress.Com.

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 Le Huray

NOVEMBER 1941 – FRITZ TODT VISITS, FRENCHMEN STRIKE, ESPIONAGE AND SPITFIRES.

It is November 1941 and there is a lot going on! Link to podcast in player and then details and photographs and more below.

Dr Fritz Todt visits the Channel Islands to assess what fortifications.

We talk about espionage and the arrest of William ‘Bill’ Symes who was arrested for smuggling information out of Guernsey about the German occupation and forces. He ended up in a concentration camp, but was remarkably released to an internment camp. You can read more of his story here.

French workers arrive and then protest before running amok in Town.

Thank you to Simon De La Rue who sent us some information and photographs relating to the tragic death of Ernest Brouard along with some photographs that are below.

Ernest Brouard top left and his wife Lily bottom right taken in 1905.
Obituary from the Guernsey Evening Press
Funeral Notice from the Guernsey Evening Press
A photo of two of Ernest’s grandchildren – Isabel and Richard De La Rue – photographed by a German soldier

I talked about a gentleman in Jersey who was complaining the RAF weren’t bombing Jersey enough and that Guernsey was getting all the attention! During a discussion about RAF activity in the area we gave a nod to one of Nick’s favourite podcasts Never Mind the Dambusters. Go check it out for all your Bomber Command related content.

Two Spitfires crash land in Alderney and we talk about what happened.

The Germans cause a potato crisis with far reaching implications and blame the potato growers!

The other podcast that may be of interest is Ham & Jam a WW2 Airborne Podcast.

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.

If you have questions or information to share you can contact me by email on Contact@Island-Fortress.Com.

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 Le Huray

OCTOBER 1941 PODCAST – KOMMANDANTS, REVERSE INVASION THREATS, NEUTRAL CITIZENS, AND A BIT OF DEVIATION!

Its October 1941 and the Germans are worried about a British attempt to retake the Channel Islands.

We had a couple of clarifications and corrections that we talked about. One being the American officer who was in fact Canadian. Learn more about Major Alan Chambers in the article below.

THE SURRENDER AND LIBERATION MAY 1945

We reference Operation Attaboy which was planned earlier in the year. If you want to read about that go to my article.

OPERATION ATTABOY – THE FIRST PLAN TO RETAKE ONE OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS – 1941

We talk about the Fortress Order and the French workers that arrive. Lists of men of military age drawn up. You can find out more here about the order.

ISLAND FORTIFICATION ORDERED BY HITLER 20TH OCTOBER 1941

We talk neutral citizens and their experience.

During the podcast we mentioned the Digimap ariel photo map. You can find it here. The gallery of WW2 reconnaissance photos is here.

A look ahead to Liberation 80 for next year, a couple of forthcoming walks.

Guernsey Walking Tours which is Keith’s walking tours can be found here.

We also mentioned another tour guide that I am friends with Jo May whose website is on the link in her name.

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.

If you have questions or information to share you can contact me by email on Contact@Island-Fortress.Com.

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 Le Huray

PODCAST SPECIAL- BOOKS WITH STEVE FOOTE!

In this episode Keith talks to Steve Foote of Blue Ormer Publishing and Chief Executive of the Priaulx Library.

They talk about the following books which you can buy.

Guernsey Occupation Diaries 1940-45 – Reverend Douglas Ord (edited John Nettles)
The Silent War -Frank Falla
Guernsey Under German Rule – Ralph Durand
Life in Occupied Guernsey – Ruth Ozanne Diary
The Battle of Newlands – The Wartime Diaries of Winifred Harvey
The People’s Messenger: The Occupation Diary of Louis Guillemette, Guernsey 1940-45
Gentle Violence: Diaries 1943-45 – Hans Max von Aufsess

An interesting note is that von Aufsess notes in his diaries, as Steve mentions, that an American ship with an American Officer on came to Guernsey to try and negotiate in September 1944.  The Germans were confused and reported the Canadian Allan Chambers as being American in all their official reports, he also arrived on a British vessel.  You can read the full account here.

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.

If you have questions or information to share you can contact me by email on Contact@Island-Fortress.Com.

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 Le Huray

SEPTEMBER 1941 – GERMANY’S GOT TALENT, AN ESCAPE FROM JERSEY AND MORE!

In the September 1941 edition of the Islands at War podcast we cover a number of aspects of events that month.

As requested by many people we have expanded the podcast to include regular Jersey content so each month going forward there will a more about Jersey.

We kick off this episode with the incredible escape of Denis Vibert from Jersey in a tiny boat. Moving on to some rumours of a tunnel being constructed from Jersey to France!

The Guernsey Press organised a charity swimming gala. Pictures and report below. See if you can spot any relatives! 2,000 people, a tenth of the population, attended.

One person didn’t do so well as he ended up in court!

The Germans hold a review where German artistes could perform. Wish I had thought of this before we recorded the episode but it is kind of “Germany’s Got Talent”.

We also talk about RAF activity in the area and shipping attacks.

You can find the podcast episode on all the major podcast apps or listen in the player below.

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.

If you have questions or information to share you can contact me by email on Contact@Island-Fortress.Com.

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 Le Huray

AUGUST 1941 PODCAST IS OUT! IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID! PLUS SOME STRANGE ORDERS, HORSES, A PATOIS SPEAKING GERMAN, AND MORE

August 1941 – In this episode Keith and Nick look at the German reliance on horses. Thanks to Nick’s friend Simon Edwards for helping resolve the conundrum of what to call this episode.

Then move on to how the Germans ruined the economy and left the Channel Islands virtually bankrupt.  British banks lent money to the Channel Islands governments. 

The unusual story of a German who was fluent in Guernésiais (Patois) and the mystery surrounding this.  If you want to find out about Guernésiais your can find more info here.

German morale and disorder along with a Diphtheria outbreak.

We wrap up with listeners emails and questions.

It really helps us if you share the podcast on social media and with your friends. Also ratings and reviews help.

Thanks for listening!

PODCAST SPECIAL – TIM OSBORNE TALKS A LANCASTER IN SARK, ALDERNEY & TYPHOON RAIDS

In this episode Nick chats to Tim Osborne about the Lancaster that landed in Sark, the RAF Typhoon raids on the radars at Fort George, what went at the camps in Alderney and the German railway in Guernsey.

Tim is a tour guide, historian and commercial pilot. You can find some of his videos here.

He tells the incredible story of the Lancaster that landed in a field in Sark.  

Other topics we covered were the railway that the Germans built, Typhoon raids on Fort George, Alderney and two Germans that were prosecuted.

We also talked about Zac Osborne, who at 6 years old, is probably the youngest historian in the Channel Islands.  You can find Zac’s short videos here.

Tim’s Guided Walks can be found on Facebook here.

You can find more about the Typhoon raid here.

Pictures below of the May 2024 visit to the Lancaster Field.

Standing in the 1,000 foot field
Current Seigneur Christopher Beaumont telling the tour about the Dame of Sark and the Lancaster.

Tim’s video of some of the railway track is here:

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.

If you have questions or information to share you can contact me by email on Contact@Island-Fortress.Com.

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 Le Huray

JULY 1941 V SIGN CAMPAIGN AND CONSEQUENCES! RAF RAIDS ON GUERNSEY AND LISTENERS QUESTIONS

It is July 1941, and the V sign campaign really takes hold in Guernsey. We talk in depth about what happened and the ramifications for the local population.  The German occupiers make themselves look a bit silly much to the amusement of the locals.

We also talk about RAF bombing raids that happened on the island that month and the damage they caused.  

We also answer questions from listeners at the end of the show.

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to occupied@gnetradio.com. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at send us a text (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.