Jersey
under the Swastika!

Page 17 - Philip Frederick Le Sauteur

CHAPTER SIX (SECTION 1)

Radio

The so-called "wireless" has become such a necessary adjunct to one's everyday life that he cannot visualise the world about it. Yet it is not so very long ago since such a device was brought into being for public use. One is accustomed now to hearing the world's news so many times a day, and as frequently, too, to seeing with one's own eyes events which are taking place miles and miles away and at the very moment of seeing them in his own home, that he finds it difficult believing that only a few years ago we were unable to do these very things. To have them suddenly withdrawn to-day would indeed be a terrible catastrophe to millions of people all over the world.

So that, when our Islands were occupied by the Germans in 1940, we had grave misgivings as to what they would do with our radio sets, for without these, we felt, we would never keep in touch with the outside world, and we should never learn the truth about the war position.

Imagine our great surprise, however, when, on July 15th, we were told that permission was officially granted to us to listen to any broadcast. By now, probably the majority of people had overcome their initial fears about the occupation generally, and, whilst taking suitable precautions, were at least listening to the B.B.C. news, finding this much more satisfactory than believing the many current rumours or the German news.

Just about this time a mail service was started between Jersey and Guernsey.

The following order was published on November 11th, (1940):

Cases of espionage in the Island of Guernsey make further measures necessary.

In virtue of an Order by the District Chef A, all wireless sets of the civil population are to be confiscated and taken into custody until further notice, The sets are to be delivered up by 21st November, 1940. The Bailiff of Jersey will give notice of the place and time that the delivery is to be made. The person making each delivery is to paste a label on each apparatus, giving the name and address of the owner. In the event of failure to comply with this order, penalties will be imposed in virtue of this order of 10th October, 1940, in conjunction with para I of the order 23rd August, 1940 (Official Journal of the Military Administration of France, pages 86 and 72), namely imprisonment not exceeding six weeks and a fine not exceeding 30,000 Reichmarks.

Thus, in a moment, our original jubilation was shattered!

Preliminary registration of the sets was taken, and then for a week or so no more was heard about the matter, excepting, of course, countless rumours. Rumour is always on the prowl and probably more so than ever in times such as these.

In printing the notice, the EVENING POST had also publicly drawn attention to the fact that the population of Jersey were to be punished for acts committed in Guernsey. On November 28th, a further notice was published announcing that, as special concession, dependent upon a suitable loyal attitude on the part of the Island population, the order  would not yet be executed.

A sense of relief stirred within us all at this change of front by the Military Authorities.

 Naturally, we were all eager to know something about the espionage case which had brought about this order to confiscate our radio sets, but this was not officially forthcoming until December 24th, when the details were published, as follows:

The findings of the Legal Investigations have proved conclusively:

I. a. During  the night from 3rd to 4th September, 2nd Lieut. Symes and 2nd Lieut. Nicolle having landed in Guernsey in civil clothing with a reconnaissance order are guilty of sabotage.

 b. Emile Nicolle, Else Nicolle, Frank Nicolle, Hilda Nicolle, Louis Symes, Rachel Symes, Wilfred Bird, Walter Bird, Elise Bird, William Allan and Jessie Mariette have given refuge and assistance to the two officers. They have therefore been guilty of high treason and having lent assistance to espionage.

c. Mr .Sherwill* has, before the publication of the notice, made declarations contrary to the best of his knowledge, and acted against appointed duty of information. He has therefore been guilty of favouring the above and acting disloyally towards the German Inselkommandant.
* Major  A. J. Sherwill, H.M. Procureur (Attorney-General), Guernsey. He received C.B.E. in Occupation Honours List, and in 1949, when he became Bailiff of Guernsey, he received a Knighthood.

d.  All parties concerned have attempted to mislead the German Authorities even after having reported themselves, in accordance with a notice of October 18th, 1940.

2. In accordance with German Military Law and in agreement with the Hague Convention, the penalties provided for are the following:

Espionage — Death Penalty.

High Treason — Death Penalty or Penal Services for Life.

Assistance to espionage — Penal Servitude up to 15 years.

Favouring — Penal Servitude up to 15 years.

3. In spite of the aggravating circumstances, the German Military Authorities have treated the above-mentioned cases I c. and d. with full consideration to the assurances given in the notice of October l8th, 1940. No martial law condemnation will take place. All the persons concerned will be exempted from punishment. After conclusion of the investigations proceeding, 2nd Lieut. Nicolle and 2nd Lieu. Cymes will be sent to a camp as prisoners-of-war. The other persons concerned will be brought back to the Island. The matter is therefore settled.

4. Mr Sherwill will be released from his office as further co-operation with the German Authorities is no longer possible.

5. The wireless receiving sets confiscated in the Island of Guernsey will  be returned to their owners for use until further notice.

6. All the above measures have been taken in the expectation and under the condition of a perfect loyalty on the part of the Island Authorities and population in the future. Any disloyal or illegal behaviour will result in immediate counter measures. The whole community would bear the consequences of individual misconduct.

 Schumakker,
Oberst Und Feldkommandant.