I am hoping to upload the Red Cross Telegrams up the end of 1942, there are several of them, and included is one from Jersey to England. It is quite different to the British template, the instructions are in German and it is smaller in size. It is from Aunty Emily to her brother and sister in law Bernard and Betty Mayne in England.
Emily Symmons (Nee Mayne)
Bernard and Betty Mayne, an extremely youthful
picture of my grandparents.
There are nine telegrams over the course of the year, and it seems there are too many to put on without boring everyone to death so I will just put on one side of each one and make notes on it .
Side 1
Florence ( Mum) was born on 13 Jan 1876 in St Helier, Jersey. Her reply and thanks for the best wishes is dated 10 April 1942 and reached the German Red Cross on 24 July 1942.
Side 1
Grandad acknowledges his mother's Christmas wishes on 4 March 1942. He was on leave from his merchant navy ship, which was HMHS (His Majesty's Hospital Ship) Dinard. It was a converted ferry, and was in Scotland being refitted between October 1941 and April 1942. She had seen service at Dunkirk and brought back injured soldiers. My mother used to tell me that when Grandad came home after Dunkirk he was so black with oil that neither of his daughters recognised him.
HMHS Dinard
Side 1
Side 1
This particular telegram is hard to read in the original because the red ink does not show up well, but it is more legible in the scanned version here.
Side 1
This is addressed to 6 Paynes Road, Freemantle, Southampton. My Grandparents had move in there on 18 Dec 1939, presumably because Bernard's ship was based in the docks there. It is the German Red Cross telegram format and not the British format.
Rent Book 6 Paynes Road, Southampton
They stayed there until bomb damage forced them to move. I have a letter about government compensation but that is later on. They move to 104 High Street, Lymington, in the next few months of 1943 and live there until about 1960.
Side 1
Side 1
These 2 telegrams arrived pinned together, one from 7 Nov 1942 and the other from 27 November 1942. If you look closely enough you can see the metal staple. Florence replies 'Glad all fine. O.K. here. Beautiful weather.' L.P Sinel in his book 'The German Occupation of Jersey' notes briefly ---- Batch of Red Cross letters arrived. ----- Overdue supply of meat, petrol and other goods arrived from France.'
Here is the first time that we have heard that Grandad has now written to his brother, interned in German with his family in September/October 1942. His mother replies that she hears often from Bob but not Elsie. Presumably letters between German occupied countries took less time to get to and fro.
Side 2
Florence replies on 29 May 1943 and it is received in England on 31 August 1943.
Dick's Card to Betty. 30 Jan 1943.
This is the first communication that I have from the deported islanders, sent from Germany to |England.
The text reads
Dear Aunt. Mommy has just given me a card and said I could write to you and next week I am going to write to Auntie Elsie if there is a card to spare. It is very hot here and people are all dressed up lightly and are sitting in the hot sun. I am writing a book about my experiences here to be able to show you when we return which we all hope will be soon. We have two dances a week in our camp one only for people over 14 to which I always go, for since I have been here I have learnt to dance a little. We have school here but the lessons are too easy. I'm terribly surprised with Betty and Bernice . - naught little 'girls' Give my love to uncle and all Bobby.
Diary Notes from The German Occupation of Jersey by L.P.Sinel
Jan 31 1942 'The Germans put up a terrific barrage at night when British planes pass over.' They did not hit anything.
Mar 19 1942 'Arrival of another batch of Red Cross letters.'
March 26 1942 'The Germans commence a series of night manoeuvres; there is no doubt that the Island is a proper training depot.'
May 31 1942 'We learn with satisfaction of the R.A.F's first big raid with 1,000 bombers over Cologne; as a consequence of this German troops --- have been forbidden to use their wireless sets.'
JULY 28 1942 'The E.P. (Evening Post) suspends publication owing to the exhaustion of the paper supply.'
Dec 15 and 16 1942 'The price of paraffin is now 8.1/2d per pint retail, a quart to be issued to householders ------ dependent on this ---- for lighting purposes.'
Dec 31 1942 'Diphtheria is on the increase, ---- Those who kept their wireless sets heard Big Ben strike at midnight.'
Jan 23 1943 The Jersey Internee Aid Committee issued a public statement, by sanction of the German authorities; parcels up to 15 kilos (about 32lb.) may be sent at fixed postal rates, declaration forms to be obtained at the British Post Office; ----- The parcels must contain 'only winter clothing, underwear and small articles of daily use; they must be handed in at the German Field Post Office.'
Diary Notes from Islanders Deported by Roger E Harris; on life in Germany.
Jan 8 1943 ' Doughty wrote in his diary ------ 'Snow fell again and it now looks like staying, it is bitterly cold, the windows being frozen on the inside despite the fact that they are double windows. We found out later that it was 19(degrees) below freezing point and that it could get colder still.'.'
That's all for this post, I have finally reached the letters from Germany which I will start to post next time.
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