Michael Dubras
Michael told us one of the more memorable liberation stories. We all sat in quiet reverence.
It was liberation day.
"There was an announcement at the school and we were sent home. The flags began appearing everywhere. Speakers were brought into Broad Street. Father brought out the hidden radios. The streets below us were full of people. Dad, wearing his Free French uniform, spotted two American prisoners of war being escorted by a German back to the internment camp. He raced down and asked them to join him upstairs. They duly followed. One of them was the Captain Dubois of the collier ship captured on a raid to Granville.
"There was an announcement at the school and we were sent home. The flags began appearing everywhere. Speakers were brought into Broad Street. Father brought out the hidden radios. The streets below us were full of people. Dad, wearing his Free French uniform, spotted two American prisoners of war being escorted by a German back to the internment camp. He raced down and asked them to join him upstairs. They duly followed. One of them was the Captain Dubois of the collier ship captured on a raid to Granville.
They sat in the lounge right beside the radio's, of which no mention was made. A Mrs Garnier had walked across the road waving, brandishing a bottle of champagne. Glasses were found and filled. Michael's dad raised his glass, everyone including the German followed and they toasted "to peace".
The Americans looked down from balcony at the gathering crowds below. Someone spotted them and it was like at Buckingham Place when royalty appear, everyone applauded. It was very emotional."
Michael's emotions spilled into the room and we were all caught in the moment.
There was no doubt Michael was a font of knowledge when it came to recalling the various aspects of island life during the occupation having experienced it so closely.
The Americans looked down from balcony at the gathering crowds below. Someone spotted them and it was like at Buckingham Place when royalty appear, everyone applauded. It was very emotional."
Michael's emotions spilled into the room and we were all caught in the moment.
There was no doubt Michael was a font of knowledge when it came to recalling the various aspects of island life during the occupation having experienced it so closely.
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