Collecting Carrageen during the German Occupation of Guernsey

Mr Ray Caradeuc interviewed by Margaret Le Cras

Transcribers note : Transcription difficult at times because interviewer was nearer the microphone and her interjections sometimes upstage Mr Le Caradeuc, who is rather faint. Where the interviewer’s comments are relevant they have been transcribed in full.

Ray Caradeuc. We used to have [farmers] at the Vale, wanted us to get some seaweed, so to be able to get seaweed we had to have permits, I could show you a permit,
I………. I’ve seen the permits, yes, you would have had to go, to have a permit for the seashore, eh,
Ray Caradeuc. And he said, if we want to, we will fire over your heads. I said, “Well don’t fire too low”.
I………. No, that’s right, aim high, aim high.
Ray Caradeuc. So, we went, we gave this farmer six loads of seaweed,
I………. You say a load, but with a boxcart, like, ah yes, well that would have been good loads.
Ray Caradeuc. Ah yes, one horse. We only had one horse. And we suited him, anyway, he went off, with his lot, he was on for three days, and then Buster Carré said, to us, do you know, you can collect Carrajean Moss, white, crystal-like,
I………. Yes, and then it sets, eh?
Ray Caradeuc. [ ] said we’ll have a go at that, so we went dredging [ ] pack the stuff in, and it was heavy, because it was wet, mind you, we used to pack it down, and then he couldn’t move it! The tide was coming in!
I………. Poor blooming horse!
Ray Caradeuc. So we had to unhitch the horse, and we had to leave it!
I………. So you left the boxcart and everything there?
Ray Caradeuc. [ ] boxcart wouldn’t be there the next morning. We were lucky, because we had a calm night, it was still there, but it was empty,
I………. It was empty? I suppose the tide had taken it out, Oh, lala.
Ray Caradeuc. So we had to cut off another load, carrajean moss, it was quite hard work, so we had to have…
I………. So, which beach did you go to?
Ray Caradeuc. Ah, Douit de Moulin, we didn’t go anywhere else, [ ] so we had to stay in there. But washing it, you had to have a big…
I………. A lot of water
Ray Caradeuc. Basin. We used to have to put [ ] about that wide, about three feet wide, and eight to ten feet long, as long as you wanted,
I………. How long did you dry it for?
Ray Caradeuc. Well, if it was fine like today, it would dry probably twice. It was funny, because as you washed it, it came whiter and whiter and more crystal-like., and once it was crystal-dry, and white, it used to be very brittle.
I………. Yes, I remember it being very brittle.
Ray Caradeuc. You remember it?
I………. I remember it, and you used to make like a blancmange, eh, it used to set the milk, eh.
Ray Caradeuc. If you had anything, like [ ] or anything, or [ ]
I………. To flavour it, but if not you set it
Ray Caradeuc. A slight flavour of seaweed, fishy
I………. Yes, it did., but it was nice.
Ray Caradeuc. Oh yes. We made quite a bit, I don’t know, [ ] but it didn’t weigh much, eh.
I………. No. but you didn’t need much. Either. So you would have sold it on?
Ray Caradeuc. We sold it to Buster Carré, It was him…
I………. That gave you the idea. Yes, yes, yes.

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