The March meeting took place at the Penmere Manor Hotel where the chairman, Malcolm Wilding, introduced fellow committee member the Rev David Nash to talk about “Survival in the Occupied Channel Islands during the Second World War”.

David is a retired vicar born in London who served in the RAF during the Second World War. He took holy orders after the war and served as a parish priest mostly in Essex and then moved to Cornwall as vicar of Boscastle, retiring in 1990. During his career as a parish priest he served 23 years as an army chaplain and retired from this in 1995.

David’s theme was that to survive in the Channel Islands or anywhere else in Europe under German occupation required people to make very difficult compromises, very often for the general good.

The Channel Islands were occupied by Germany in 1940 so residents had the opportunity to escape between the outbreak of war in September 1939 and occupation in 1940. Many people chose to escape to England but most decided to stay, often out of what they saw as their patriotic duty. As the war progressed and the Germans sensed they were losing, the occupation became much harsher as it did in other parts of Europe.

By 1944 there was no food being imported for the residents so they had to improvise and compromise and to try to keep the infrastructure working for their survival. As conditions got harsher the Germans rounded up more and more people for deportation and the locals in charge had to make decisions to save as many as possible from certain death. These efforts were often very successful and thankfully saved many.

The Channel Islands were relieved by Britain in 1945 and the Germans surrendered. In the cold light of peace many people who had made compromises to save lives were labelled collaborators and punished, often unfairly. In the aftermath of war it does require the victors to investigate each case thoroughly and apply objectivity to their judgements taking into account the very difficult decisions that were made under duress.

In his vote of thanks Don Parker thanked David Nash for his most enlightening talk which gave everyone present serious food for thought.

The club welcomes new members and for more information contact Vincent Conran on 01326 212237.