Before the outbreak of the First World War, the Channel Islands were
viewed as they are today; scenic, sunny and relaxing holiday
destinations, where it was possible to briefly escape from the hustle
and bustle of everyday life. As soon as the fighting began, the
immediate worry was the threat of a German invasion to the Islands,
which are much closer to the coast line of France than they are to the
southern coast line of Great Britain.
Both men and women alike played their part. Men by either joining one of
the islands Militia or enlisting in one of the numerous regiments of the
British Army, including the 'Jersey Pals', and the men who served with
the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Rifles and the Royal Irish
Regiment. The book looks at the pride in the commitment and achievements
of the Channel Islands' very own Royal Guernsey Light Infantry, formed
in December 1916.
The Islands' women volunteered in their droves to serve with the British
Red Cross' Voluntary Aid Detachments, but not just throughout the
Channel Islands, but to mainland Great Britain, and further afield in
Belgium and France and other similar theatres of war.
As far as most people are aware, the first time German soldiers stepped
foot in the Channel Islands, was when their troops landed unopposed in
June 1940 during the Second World War. However, between 1915 and 1917,
some 2,000 German prisoners of war, were held captive at the Les
Blanches Banques camp.
The book closes by taking a look at the men from all of the Islands who
voluntarily went off to war, and ended up paying the ultimate price and
didn't make it back home to their loved ones.
