This image is the cover for the book Channel Islands in the Great War, Your Towns & Cities in the Great War

Channel Islands in the Great War, Your Towns & Cities in the Great War

Stories of the residents of Jersey, Guernsey, and other Channel Islands and their service and sacrifice during the First World War.

Before the outbreak of the First World War, the Channel Islands were scenic, sunny holiday destinations, where it was possible to briefly escape the hustle and bustle of life. But as soon as the fighting began, worries arose about the threat of a German invasion to the islands, which are much closer to the coast of France than the southern coast of Great Britain.

Both men and women alike played their part. Men joined one of the islands’ militia or enlisted in one of the numerous regiments of the British Army, including the ‘Jersey Pals’ and the Royal Irish Fusiliers, Royal Irish Rifles, and Royal Irish Regiment. This book looks at the commitment and achievements of the Channel Islands’ very own Royal Guernsey Light Infantry, formed in December 1916. The Islands’ women volunteered in droves to serve with the British Red Cross’ Voluntary Aid Detachments, not just throughout the Channel Islands, but in mainland Great Britain and further afield in Belgium, France, and beyond. Ultimately, German soldiers didn’t set foot on the islands—except for about two thousand held captive there as prisoners of war. This book tells the story of the people of the Channel Islands and what they did during the First World War—including those who paid the ultimate price.

Includes photos

Stephen Wynn

Stephen is a retired police officer having served with Essex Police as a constable for thirty years between 1983 and 2013. He is married to Tanya and has two sons, Luke and Ross, and a daughter, Aimee. His sons served five tours of Afghanistan between 2008 and 2013 and both were injured. This led to the publication of his first book, Two Sons in a Warzone – Afghanistan: The True Story of a Father’ s Conflict, published in October 2010. Both Stephen’ s grandfathers served in and survived the First World War, one with the Royal Irish Rifles, the other in the Mercantile Marine, whilst his father was a member of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps during the Second World War. When not writing Stephen can be found walking his three German Shepherd dogs with his wife Tanya, at some unearthly time of the morning, when most normal people are still fast asleep.

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