Grandparents

Grandma LeCras’ War

by Beverley Rannow

It all started in 1938. News out of Germany was concerning and my two boys, Clinton and Harold felt compelled to join the British military forces. Clinton joined the Royal Army. Harold joined the Royal Air Force. When they left Guernsey, I was fearful that war would breakout. It did on September 1, 1939. Little did I know, however, that I would not see them again until after the war ended.

On that fateful day of June 30th, 1940, my second husband, Arthur Le Cras was off at work as I was going about my daily chores when German planes were heard approaching the island. Panic filled my heart. Not more than a mile from my home, there was the horrifying sound of bombs falling on the harbor. Within 48 hours German troops began to land on Guernsey, but in the aftermath of the bombing about half of the islands residents including four out of five of the school children evacuated to the UK. Arthur and I made the difficult choice to stay, though in the coming years I wondered why. Perhaps it was because I wanted my boys to have a home to come back to, if they survived this terrible war.

Shortly after arriving in Guernsey, the officers began claiming the houses in St. Peter Port, the capitol, as their own. A group of German soldiers poured out of a vehicle and banged on my door. I was terrified. What did they want? What had I done? Were they going to kill us? The leader of the group informed Arthur and me that a German dentist was claiming our home and we were expected to cater to his every need. We were pushed out of our bedroom and had to make do with the smallest room. Another room was turned into his dental practice where he saw German soldiers with toothaches.

I spent the almost five years of German occupation cooking and cleaning for the German dentist in my own home! The best food was served to him and we had to make do with leftovers. In addition, I was forced to work in the hospital kitchens where injured German soldiers were brought from the fighting on mainland Europe to recover from their wounds. The hospital was built underground to hide it from the Allies. It was a dark, damp place hardly conducive to healing. Despite being hidden underground, its location was known to the Allies and they would bomb it from time to time. Today, you can tour this nasty place and see one of the allied bombs sticking through the cement ceiling. I stay away. Its memories are too painful.

Besides our homes and food, those of us left in Guernsey had our land and freedom taken away. There were restrictions on fishing, club meetings and singing of patriotic songs. We had to abide by many newly imposed laws for which the punishment was onerous. We received no communication from the outside world. Neither, mail nor radios were allowed. I had no idea if my boys were still alive or not. They had no idea if I was alive either.