Caring on the Home Front - Volunteer memories from World War Two

What did you do ?

“Every organisation had to hand theiruniforms over to the [German] headquarters.
Even St. John.

Dr. Hanna went up to see the Commander in Charge of the German forces at that time. Asked if we could go in a white band with a Red Cross. And he gave us permission. We could carry on training.

We were the only body, [in addition to] the police, allowed to wear uniforms. Provided we wore that Red Cross band.

And then [St. John] asked for more volunteers….But we couldn’t provide them with uniforms. They managed to get belts, water bottles, haversacks…and the Red Cross on the white badge. I suppose we finished up at the end with about 15 men.”

Any special memories?

“The first job that I can remember…and I’ll never forget this one:
It was in 1943, when they deported some of the English residents who’d come over before the war and settled down in Jersey. An order came through from Hitler that these people were to be brought into camps in Germany. So I went across with the first batch to St. Malo.
We were told by the St. John authorities Superintendent that we were going on our own free will. That if anything happened to us, St. John weren’t responsible.

I said, ‘I know that, but I’m still going on.’

It was a night I’ll never forget. ‘Cause we left under cover of darkness. Two boats from Jersey. Went out and met a couple a boats from Guernsey.
And as we were leaving they all started singing, ‘We’ll always be in England.’ It’s something I’ll never forget, the spirit of the English people. Didn’t get ‘em down. They didn’t know where they were going. And all they could take was a small suitcase…that’s what they could carry.

That was the first big duty that I personally did.”

Listen to Alfred Le Monnier’s story

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Facts

The emblem of a red cross on a white background was first legally recognised in 1864 in the original Geneva Convention. It is a sign of neutrality and protection for the sick and wounded in war, and for those officially authorised to care for them. It may only be displayed on vehicles, aircraft, ships, buildings and installations assigned to transport and shelter the wounded, or worn by the authorised personnel who assist them. Red Cross organisations, such as the British Red Cross, are allowed to use the emblem, together with their name, to identify their premises, vehicles, equipment and personnel. Since 1929 the red crescent emblem has also been officially recognised for these same humanitarian purposes. Find out more about German Occupation of the Channel Islands.

Facts

The JWO also ran an escort service where invalids or casualties arriving from overseas were accompanied to a hospital as near their home as possible. The service was originally for Army patients, but was soon extended to RAF patients, patients from naval hospitals, and shipwrecked, sick and wounded merchant seamen arriving at ports and airports.

Facts

In September 1942 it was announced that all British-born Islanders would be deported to Germany – nearly 1,200 men, women and children. In February 1943 a further 350 were deported. They found themselves in camps such as Biberach, Wurzach and Laufen in southern Germany.