Just starting with the Red Cross Telegram that inspired the title of the Blog.
Side 1
Granny writes 'concerned no news'.
Side 2
Florence writes ' Never fear at no news.' My mother would say 'Never fear no news' and the corruption seemed the ideal title.
The text reads
Dear Bern and Bett, So pleased to receive your welcome letter yesterday, we also had one from Elsie, glad to hear you are all in the pink, as we all are at present, relieved to hear also that you are getting our replies. We have not had an news from home for a few weeks now, held up for censoring I suppose. somewhere, as we received them pretty regularly before. The weather here is beautiful, we have football about 3 times a week, Bob plays goalie for his room, they're running a league between the different rooms, passes monotony away, they also run tennis table tournaments, Bob has won 2 of them, not bad for an old man is it? The kiddies are growing fine now, before we left Jersey had won scholarships for secondary schools, seemed a shame to leave it. They have lessons here mornings, they enjoy them too, Bobby's going to be 14 now, baby 5 in June. Thank goodness they were not younger. Of course your family are grown up now, don't seem possible does it. Well close now, hoping we will hear from you again soon, we pass your news on to mum, as we write about every week home. Give our love to Elsie and family, all the best, Doll, Bob kids.
My mum and Aunty Betty were 15 and 16 at this time. This letter is one of only 2 that are written in ink, all the rest are in pencil. Having only 24 hours notice to leave, I don't know if I would have concerned myself about a fountain pen. They would eventually have run out of ink.
Internee Letter 7.6.43
The text reads
Dear Bern and Bett, Many thanks for your letter, which I got today. So glad you are all keeping well as it finds us. Glad to hear that you have been on leave. Also to see Elsie. Yes I get letters from her Also I have had news from several old friends who are now in England. These cheered us up a bit As it made us realise we are in somebody's thoughts I have not had news from home for 7 weeks. But I don't worry as I suppose postal arrangements are not easy. Last news I had everyone was fine. You mention our requirements. Dolly has written Bett about them. I know you will try to oblige. No Bern I have not up-to-date received any fags that you mention Please make enquiries as I don't wish to waste your hard-earned money. Well Bern, space is drawing short so I must draw to a close. Hoping to hear from soon. Also to hear from home. Don't worry. It is just postal trouble. Love to you all. Bob. Doll. Kids.
Apparently my Grandad regularly sent fags out to his brother.
Internee letter 20.4.43 Reverse
Notice the 'Opened by Examiner 9675' and Crown symbol, showing that is was read by the British authorities. Probably one of a sample series, taken at random for security checking on post from Germany.
Side 1
Side 2
See the scraped out section, neatly excised by the German censor. The reverse has a little note pinned to it. It reads
'PC11 British Postal Censorship The British Examiner is not responsible for the mutilation of this
message 7491 RRR'
So we have examples of the censor from both sides.
Internee Card 7.7.43
It is now a month since Bob's last letter and still no fags.
Internee letter 15.7.43
The text reads
Dear Bern and Betty, Many thanks for your letter. Glad to know you are all o.k.as it leaves us at present. I have had news from home. They are all o.k. We sometimes get the E.P here so are able to keep up with the local news. Things seem to be very quiet there, also very tight but I suppose we cannot hope for much more. Emily says she often walks up to Bill's place, I suppose that is to keep her feet down. We have received Myra's next-of-kin parcel. It was a beautiful parcel. We are now hoping for ours as the shoe leather is our great problem. I hope you are not still sending me fags, I have not yet got one from you, so I am afraid it is waste of money. Please give our very best love to Elsie and John and the same for you and Bett. Well cheerio for now, Bob, Doll and Kids.
Side 1
Grandad writes 'Guard Mum's health. Stay at Billy's advised.' If Florence was not well, it would make sense to go to a relative? so as to pool heating and lighting rations. Emily replies 'Mum all well.'
Internee Letter 3.8.43
The text reads
Dear Bern and Bett Many thanks for your most welcome letters Glad to hear you are all O.K. as it leaves us at present. Last news from home all well. Raymond is improving a lot They often have him out. Young Dick is doing well. He has a weekend job so he is very bushed. Well Bern since I last wrote to you I have received 700 fags from you, 200 then 500. I need not tell you how grateful I am to you Such things as these make life under these conditions much brighter. So I again thank you very much. We have so far received 3 next-of-kin parcels for the kids from the C.I Society containing very useful clothes and shoes. They are doing some good work. We have good reason to bless for it. I had news from Elsie same da as I got yours Glad to hear John is O.K. again. It must have worried her. Tell Bett we hope her singing went off alright. Well Bern this is all for now, so cheerio for now Love to you all. Bob. Doll and Kids.
At last the fags seem to have arrived. Bob seems to have smoked a lot, Dolly mentions worrying that he is smoking too much.
Internee Letter 18.8.43
The text reads
Dear Bett and Bern, Receive your most welcome letters pretty regularly now, Had one last week, one form Elsie same day as well, Betty we want to thank you and Bern and Elsie, for all you are doing for us all, hope one day we shall be able to repay you, I never gave you my size for shoe, as honestly Betty I can carry on, I wouldn't mind if it were ever possible for you to get me one pair 4 1/2 size sandals, or something light. Have heavy ones but never worry about me, it was my kids and Bob that needed them so badly. The C.I Society has sent us some next-of-kin parcels, the clothing being very welcome. We had permission to visit a travelling circus staying in the village Sunday. The kiddies were thrilled quite a good show. Betty in our next letter try and include a snap or photo of yourself and Bern and kiddies, quite a lot arriving in letters from England now we never brought any with us and would love to have some. Bob has received 3 lots of fags up to date, making 900 in all, for which you have his grateful thanks. Well Betty must close for now, wishing you, Bern and children all the best, all at home O.K. Had letter written by mum herself last week, sends her very best to you and Bern, Love from all Doll-Bob-and Children.
Here again, Doll's request for help is addressed to Bett, woman to woman again.
Diary Notes
from 'The German Occupation of Jersey' by L.P.Sinel
Jan 28 1943 'Man persons who were recently exempted by the Germans after examination have attended again today for further medical examination; almost everyone got off.'
Feb 6 1943 'Sixty-three persons are warned to hold themselves ready to be deported to German on Tuesday next(the 9th); the majority of these are 'undesirables' from the German point of view.
May 15 1943 'Allied planes fly around the south and west coasts of the Island and a German patrol boat is sunk off St Brelade's, another being slightly damaged.
May 19 1943 'Attempted burglary at the States Treasury.'
June 6 1943 'The funeral of -- two R.A.F engineers took place,--- hundreds of people gathered, --at the cemetery German Air Force personnel acted as bearers and there was also a firing party. -- in the afternoon hundreds filed past the grave.'
July 8 1943 'The Gestapo seizes a lot of black-market goods which were hidden on one of the incoming barges.'
July 15 1943 'Ammunition is being unload from a German 'hospital Ship' which recently arrived.'
Aug 18 1943 'British planes over the Island practically all day.'
Wurzach Notes
from Islanders Deported by Roger Harris
April-May 1943 '--air-raid precaution duties were made compulsory for all men below the age of 60 years. --- On another occasion they (the internees) stopped helping to build a swimming pool when the found out that although they would have the use of it, the pool would belong to the Hitler Youth.
1943 One unpleasant Hitler Youth Unteroffizier from the (Hitler Youth) training camp, -- ordered the Hitler Youth to parade (during an air-raid by the Americans) about the camp, hoping to draw the bombers down to the internees in the Schloss.
More soon.
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