Herm, Guernsey

My family lived on the island . My uncle and aunt from June 1940 until spring 42. My parents moved to Herm at that time in 42 and stayed until September 45. They were sent over to look after 60 sheep which the States of Guernsey had accquired. My father knew what a sheep looked like but had never had anything to do with sheep farming. He was given a book of sheep illnesses but as there was no medecine available it was of no help. As I had to work in Guernsey I was only able to visit for holidays and had to obtain a permit from the Germans to travel the 3 miles to the island. It was a haven of peace. No Germans, no curfew,plenty of rabbits to eke out the weekly supply of rations. The fishermen who brought the rations were not allowed to step ashore. Carrageen moss was gathered from the sea shore and sent to Guernsey for a chemist to turn into a powder which he sold.
When the Germans finally surrendered a young German soldier who was on the island at the time helped my mother to put a small Union flag on the top of the harbour crane. My mother, whose opinion of the Germans was not very high, was speechless!

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