Jersey
under the Swastika!

Page 50 - Philip Frederick Le Sauteur

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (SECTION 2)

The end - Freedom

More troops came ashore, and were all surrounded by eager civilians, anxious to welcome them, to shake their hands and get their autographs. Huge crowds filled the roadway below the Pomme d'Or, which had been selected as the new Military R.Q., eagerly awaiting a sight of the welcome visitors, who threw chocolates and cigarettes to them. Every few yards a group of people surrounded a soldier, anxious for information as to conditions in England, and eager to thank the men for coming. Curfew and all other restrictions were completely forgotten. Meanwbile the Germans had almost entirely remained in tbeir billets or aboard their ships.

The following day was observed as a public holiday, and there were more signs of jubilation. The VEGA had come in over the previous week-end, and many people took the opportunity to visit her, and to thank the captain and crew for the services they had rendered to the Islands during their time of distress.

Lorry-loads of Russian prisoners-of-war sang heartily as they were brought into town, driven by German soldiers, whilst the American troops happily signed authographs for all and sundry on the steps of the Ommaroo Hotel to which they had been tranferred from the prison camp. The harbour area was again the main centre of attraction, one of the most welcome sights being the white crosses painted on the German ships and guns — a perfect antidote to the unhappy memory of white flags hung out of cottage windows five, years before. British troops tried to lead the surging mass of people below the verandah of the Pomme d'Or in community singing. But the singing felt flat until the old songs were sung, for crystal sets, whilst useful for getting the news, were not the easiest way of following the latest fashion in song hits.

Everywhere were groups of some fifty people, and in the centre of each group would be found a British sailor or soldier doing his best to answer eager questions, shake the many hands, kiss the many babies and sign the many books thrust at him. Occasionally there was the delirious happiness of an unexpected re-union, for amongst the Liberation forces were many local boys. Many of them, sun-tanned and broadened by army life, and five years older, were not easily recognisable, but they quickly spotted old friends. Trying to push a way through the dense crowds was an occasiona1 "scuttler" with a wheelbarrow loaded with ammunition which he was taking to the selected dumps. It is amazing that there were not more serious accidents, for there was an immense quantity of ammunition of all types lying around without any guards, and people were swarming everywhere.

No immediate attempt was made to take the Germans prisoners — indeed, it would have been impossible for so small a force of British troops to handle the 17, 000 Germans on the Island in that way, especially hampered by the happy seething mass of people. lnstead, they were first ordered clear of the harbour area, and later clear of the town. This herding went on for a few days, after which they were rounded up and the majority shipped away. Some, however, were put to work cleaning up the billets taken over by the new force, and later they were made to help in clearing the mine fields. The scant courtesy accorded them by the British troops quickly removed the self-satisfied smiles from their faces.

A few of the more prominent Germanites were severely man-handled by the excited crowds, whilst others sought police protection, until the general excitement had subsided. Some of these later had their premises badly smashed up. But all of them who were seen amongst the crowds heard very rude remarks, and must have been apprehensive of the future. It is fortunate indeed that drink was amongst the greatest of the "unobtainables". Most people celebrated the Liberation with dry bread, and very little of that, for some weeks had passed since the last issue of food parcel, and the rations for this week were almost non-existent — 5 lbs. bread, 7 ozs. oat flour, 2 pints milk, no potatoes and very little else in the way of vegetables obtainable. Fortunately the exciting events allayed people's appetites, and the short commons were hardly noticed.

The day was marked by an address in the Square by Colonel Robinson. A Guard of Honour of Tommies was headed by the band of the local Boys' Brigade, which bad been practising in secret for just this opportunity — they were amongst the bodies disbanded by order of the Germans. The parade of troops preceeding the speech was led by Colonel Robinson and Lieut-Colonel Taylor, in charge of civil affairs during the transitional period. A Jersey contingent of the Liberation forces was led by Captain Hugh Le Brocq, himself a Jerseyman.

Friday was nominally a working day, but very little work was done anywhere, for excitement still ran high, and another holiday was declared for the Saturday, in order that people might appreciate the veritable armada which arrived in St. Aubin's Bay.

Dukws were seen in action for the first time by the lslanders, and excited admiring comment as they poured ashore one after the other with their loads. Tank Landing Craft beached at West Park, and literally opened their hearts, pouring out requirements, food, clothing and other vitally needed supplies for the civilian population. Some 2,000 troops landed, and the speed with which the urgently-needed cargoes were dispached showed very fine organization.

Minesweeping operation had already begun, and judging by the frequent heavy explosions, were very necessary. Throughout these several days, squadrons of Mustangs and other planes had been enlivening the proceedings each day by some fine formation flying, probably as a reminder to any Germans inclined to be obstreperous of the power behind the operations. Wolfe and other members of the German Secret Police were already behind bars, after trying to fade away amongst the ordinary prisoners-of-war.

Preparations for the release of the Islands had been made in England for some ten months previouly, since which time the troops now in the Island bad been standing by, and had the war not ended so abrutly, the invasion of the Islands would probably have been carried out at about this time. With the Islands so strongly fortified, and under the command of a fanatic, there is no doubt that the operation would have taken a heavy toll of life, both amongst the attacking and defending troops, and the civil population. It is indeed fortunate that events turned out as they did, but Jersey, even in her occupation misfortunes, was always lucky.

Civilian affairs were rapidily restored to normal. The Islands were, of course, under Military control, with the States still functionning under their guidance, but it was already very apparent that the Military Authorities were out to speed up civil rehabilitation, and to help in any way possible. A skeleton bus service was running by the first week-end after the liberation, and most other essential service vehicules were back on the road. The postal and telegraph services to the mainland were restored without delay, bringing the inexpressible joy of direct communication with friends and relatives there with whom contact had only previously been possible at long intervals through the good officers of the Red Cross. There had been a certain amount of pilfering of German stores, and of the ex-civilian radio sets which the Germans had stored in the Mason Temple.