We are a father and son team with a life long interest and extensive knowledge of the second World War. Principally this stems from the experiences shared by our family in Guernsey who were resident during the German occupation of the island and had a German officer billeted with them during this period.
In the sixties and seventies summer holidays were spent in the same house with what is believed to be a bullet hole in one of the walls. Apparently our family were told that although they could continue to live in the house it was in the firing line for one of the batteries and they may need to vacate at any time. We have never been able to find out if this was the case but it does make it sound very exciting for young children.
My Grandpa was a commercial grower and so food was probably that bit easier than for city folk but I remember my mother saying how constantly hungry they were and how my Grandpa had once given her his slice of bread at dinner because she had complained of hunger. She also recounted only the second time she saw her mother reduced to tears was when returning home one day they saw German soldiers literally dragging the family dog away to eat as they were also going hungry. In the early years my Grandpa would go rabbit hunting on Lithou Island but this was apparently later banned by the Germans.
After the war my Grandpa for a time rented space in one of the Mirus ammunition bunkers to keep his bulbs dark and cool and I think of visiting it with him every time I drive past it.
