We had a visit from Hedley Hinault and Joyce De La Haye who had survived the occupation of Jersey. Hedley is nearly 93 years old and he talked about how he will never forget living under the enemy rule for 5 years. 

He then told us about the one thing that sticks out to him: getting a German soldier drunk. Hedley had left school at the age of fourteen (most children finished school at the age of fourteen), and the German's had came to occupy in July. Hedley was the son of a farmer; when he had finished school, his parents decided him to work on their farm as the herdsman for the cattle. The herd was around 20-25 cattle which in those days was a large herd. 

During the occupation, every farmer had to grow vergees (acres) of wheat for bread. This was controlled by the states and the Germans. The farmers then cut their wheat and make one large stack on Hedley's fathers farm. Heldey was only fourteen at the time so he was too young and too weak to lift the stacks of wheat. Instead, Hedley was sent to the cider press to fill up a joole which would fill up to two gallons, which he would then take back to the fields to give to all of the farmers. 

The Germans used to send a soldier to watch over the farmers whilst they did the threshing to ensure that they didn't steal any of the wheat for themselves. On one particular day, there was a young soldier in his young twenties who Hedley described as a nice man who kept smiling at him. Hedley described how the soldier had stared at the cider and how he clocked on that the soldier wanted cider. Hedley then gestured with his hands if the soldier would want a glass and he nodded. The soldier had drank the glass quickly, so Hedley offered another glass but told the soldier to drink it quickly, as Hedleys mission was to now get the soldier drunk. 

Hedley then carried on with his round to the farmers, cut across the vans, went back to the soldier, gave him another two glasses and completed his round. Hedley then went back to the soldier to find him very red faced and happy so Hedley gave the soldier another two glasses of cider. Hedley chatted to the farmers for fifteen minutes and then checked on the soldier to find him passed out on the floor. 

Hedley then told his father and the farmers about the soldier, which they then proceeded to steal a few bags of hay and covered them in straw. The Germans came to collect the soldier at five o'clock and the officers became very angry at the soldier. 

Hedley and his parents spoke Jersey French, as did many of the farmers.

Joyce went to school at the age of six and walked a mile and a quarter to school. Joyce lived at Greve de Lecq, and explained how the Pavillion Hotel, water mill and the beach were all fenced off. Also fisherman had to have a German soldier accompany them on the boats. Joyce also faintly recalled that a seaplane landed at Greve de Lecq, but didn't know what happened to it after it landed. The island was completely fortified and people were not allowed, nor dared to go on the beaches as they were all mined. 

On liberation day, Joyce wasn't able to go to St Helier to join in on the celebrations as it was just too far away. However, Hedley was informed about Liberation Day the day before as he had to ring the bells for his church. However, after 1 o'clock after his shift at the church, he wasn't able to properly celebrate in the Weighbridge as it was so busy they only made it to West Park. The main celebration was at the Pomme Dor hotel as that was where the German headquarters were, and Hedley remembers the Germans being shipped away.