That Was Jersey |
Local history for everyone |
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
The Occupation of Jersey by the German forces lasted from 1 July 1940 until 9 May 1945. It was a pivotal period in the Island’s history. To keep alive the knowledge of the Occupation and the joy of the subsequent Liberation, it was decided to create a tapestry. The initial idea was for a single panel, but the idea grew and eventually twelve panels were designed, each 6 feet wide and almost 3 feet high, with each parish taking responsibility for one panel.
The designer was Wayne Audrain and the stitching was done by a team of workers in each parish. The story of the Occupation was divided into twelve parts, with over half a million stitches in each panel, giving a total of seven and a half million stitches for the whole tapestry.
It took seven years to create the tapestry, and in 1995, on Liberation Day, the fiftieth anniversary of that momentous occasion in 1945, the tapestry was presented to the public.
The images on which the design was based were mostly black and white photographs, and an early task was to research appropriate colours. The link between all the panels is the Family living through the realities of Occupation.
The British Prime Minister's speech, the flames of war come closer, queues of people are evacuated, the Germans prepare to invade, the Family watches and ponders evacuation.
The British and Jersey flags are replaced by the Swastika, Jersey surrenders, German troops enjoy being photographed by the Town Hall ("der Rathaus"), the Family watches soldiers marching.
Rationing, ID cards, censorship of the Evening Post, curfew and blackout, the Family risks severe penalties by listening to the wireless.
Petrol shortages led to horse-drawn vehicles and bicycles, requisitioned vehicles are sent to France, a van is powered by gas, the Family buys bread from a horse-drawn van.
Gathering firewood in the country, the black market, shortages affect the Hospital, clothes are patched, the Family gets hot food from the Communal Kitchens in town.
At school children learn German, low-water fishing is restricted, local labour is used to build the new North Road, the Family wear their coats in school because of the cold.
Cinema, theatre and concerts continue despite poor transport and the curfew, sports are an important leisure activity, churches become a social and community focus, the Family attends events to escape the boredom of the Occupation.
The Bailiff works with the German authorities to maintain the Island's administration, the Swastika flies outside the Town Hall, Jersey stamps are printed as British ones run out, the Family looks at V for Victory signs which annoy the Germans.
Some Islanders are deported for a variety of crimes, some try to escape and some succeed, a British commando raid results in the loss of the captain as he steps on a mine, the Family watch some of the deportees leave.
The sound of Allied planes flying over gives hope to the Islanders, most fly over but some attack enemy ships in the harbour area, the Family shelters beneath the kitchen table.
At last Red Cross parcels save the Islanders from starvation, the SS Vega is a welcome sight, the Family receive their precious parcels.
The British and Jersey flags fly again, Churchill broadcasts his famous speech, British soldiers arrive to great rejoicing, the Family gather outside the Pomme d'Or as the Island is liberated.