First-hand accounts of life during the German Occupation have been memorialised in a special edition of St Mary’s parish magazine.
‘Under the German Yoke’ brings together 24 accounts from parishioners who experienced the Occupation as children and young adults. Most of the stories have never previously been published.
The publication is a special edition of quarterly magazine St Mary Matters, which was produced to mark the 80th anniversary of Jersey’s Liberation last year.
It was edited by journalist and magazine editor Mike Fennell and draws on interviews he carried out over several 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 book highlighted parishioner’s recollections of “the restrictions, hardships and deprivations, but also the good times; the determination to overcome adversity, of somehow making the best of situations no matter how difficult, and of the camaraderie”.
In one of the accounts, Clare Duval recollects a “secret whistle signal which we used to warn each other if there were Germans about”.
John Huelin also remembers partaking in St Mary’s Concert Parties.
He recalled: “There was usually a Jersey French sketch, and we really got our audience in hysterics when we discussed our plans to exterminate the plague of ‘green fly’.
“It was the custom when we spoke about the Germans in the patois to refer to them as ‘les vèrtes moûques’, or green fly.”
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.”
Constable Johnson thanked local businesses Northern Leaf, La Mare Vineyards, Germbusters, Godel Architects and the Jersey Pistol Club for making the project possible.
A spokesperson for Northern Leaf, which sponsored the project, added: “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.”