page_title: Resistance in the German-occupied Channel Islands
section_title: Escapees
hierarchical_section_title: Resistance in the German-occupied Channel Islands / Escapees
caption_attribution_description: English: Captain Ed Clark, Lieutenant George Haas: On 8th January 1945 these two American officers escaped from their prisoner of war camp in St. Helier. Assisted by local residents and in particular Deputy W.J. Bertram BEM, of East Lynne, Fauvic, they successfully avoided recapture by the German forces. On the night of 19th January 1945 they removed a small boat from this harbour and 15 hours later after an arduous crossing in bad weather, landed near Carteret on the French Cotentin Peninsula. This tablet was unveiled on the 50th anniversary of this event on 20th January 1995 by Sir Peter Crill KBE, Bailiff of Jersey. Nrf: Jèrri
context_page_description: During the German occupation of the Channel Islands, there was limited resistance. The islands had a very high number of German soldiers compared to the civilian population, one soldier for every 2-3 civilians, which reduced options; this linked to the severe penalties imposed by the occupiers meant that only forms of non-lethal resistance were used by the population. Even so, over twenty civilians died for resistance against the occupiers.
context_section_description: A total of 225 islanders, such as Peter Crill, escaped from the islands to England or France: 150 from Jersey, and 75 from Guernsey. A high number of people drowned or failed to escape and were captured. Five boats left Guernsey the day after the occupation started. The number of escapes increased after D-Day, when conditions in the islands worsened as supply routes to the continent were cut off, the desire to join in the liberation of Europe increased and the route shortened.
  In May 1942, three youngsters, Peter Hassall, Maurice Gould, and Denis Audrain, attempted to escape from Jersey in a boat (Audrain drowned, Hassall and Gould were imprisoned in Germany, where Gould died). Following this escape attempt, restrictions on small boats and watercraft were introduced and after each attempt, further temporary bans and restrictions and penalties were imposed.
  Some escapees carried information on the Islands fortifications and the defending forces as well as messages. Successful escapees were debriefed to obtain as much information as possible on conditions in the Islands. One escapee was met by HM Customs and Excise who charged him 10/- import duty on his dinghy.
  Once the Cherbourg peninsula was in allied control, an "easier" escape route became possible. Amongst those heading to France were two American officers, Captain Ed Clark and Lieutenant George Haas, who escaped from the prisoner of war camp at St. Helier on 8 January 1945. Assisted by several residents, including Deputy W.J. Bertram of BEM East Lynne, Fauvic, they crossed to the Cotentin Peninsula in a small boat on the night of 19 January 1945. The penalty for anyone caught helping them was death.
caption: Plaque at Gorey: "Captain Ed Clark, Lieutenant George Haas escaped on 19 January 1945. This tablet was unveiled on the 50th anniversary of this event by Sir Peter Crill KBE, Bailiff of Jersey."
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