Ep 4: Life and Hope in Biberach

⚡ The Guernsey Deportees never lost their resilient spirits through all of the years of internment. Though they were isolated and imprisoned, they still found joy, excitement and happiness in Biberach. Life may have been hard, but they made do.

💡 In 1942, during World War 2, Hitler ordered the deportation of more than 1000 islanders from Guernsey. Jill Chubb was just 3 years old when she set sail, but her memories are vivid and clear. And in this special podcast series, her grandson, former BBC Guernsey presenter Ollie Guillou, charts her story - joined by three other deportees and two prominent historians.

🔎 This fourth episode explores the ways the Deportees entertained themselves, whether by testing the patience of German soldiers, or watching aircraft zoom through the sky. We hear how they still celebrated Christmases - in the only way they could. We discover what it was like to fall seriously ill in the camp. And we hear the story of Bill Balcombe of Everest, who made wonderful mugs for his fellow internees.

⚙️ With special thanks to:

Jill Chubb, Chair of the Guernsey Deportees Association

Ralph Godwin, Deportee

Janet de Santos, Deportee

Jill Oliver, Deportee

Alan Chubb, Secretary of the Guernsey Deportees Association

Dr Gilly Carr, University of Cambridge

Matthew Lucas, War historian

📍 Written and produced by ⁠Ollie Guillou⁠ and ⁠Phillippa Guillou⁠. This is a ⁠Channel Islands Podcasts⁠ production.

✉️ Share your messages and memories; email hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk