‘Incredible spirit’ as evacuees returned to Alderney after war

When five-year-old Pete Gaudion’s family abandoned their home in Alderney in 1940 he cried at being forced to leave his new tricycle behind.

Mr Gaudion and his twin brother Nick were each given a new bike for their fifth birthday, but a week later they had to abandon their gifts as they fled the island with their parents and younger brother.

It is a memory which is stronger for Mr Gaudion than the boat journey that followed as they evacuated Alderney before the German forces occupied the island during World War Two.

Mr Gaudion has been reflecting on the events of 1940 as the island prepares to mark Homecoming Day on 15 December, 80 years since the first families returned to the island in 1945.

The Gaudion family were on the first boat bringing families back to the island on 15 December 1945, seven months after the island was liberated.

Pete’s younger brother Fiff, 86, said: “I remember the morning we left but didn’t really know much about Alderney, I didn’t really know what to expect.”

Their father ran a small farm before the war and farmers and tradesmen filled the first returning boat.

A Home Office letter set out the plan for their return but also warned that living conditions on Alderney would be “severe”.

It suggested older members of the community, or those with very young children, might want to wait to return.

Fiff said: “I think they referred to it as the farmer’s boat, I think probably the thought was to get tradesmen back to rebuild houses and farmers to work on the communal farm.”

Pete, 90, said: “The thing I can remember is the older people saying, ‘Oh Alderney, we’re home, we’re home, we’re home’!”

He remembers as they came alongside the jetty built during the Occupation there were troops lined up forming a guard of honour.

He also remembers the speech by the newly appointed governor: “We were told welcome back home, but the island was in a mess and it was going to be hard work.”

Mr Gaudion said they were also told they would have German prisoners helping them rebuild their homes but were warned not to fraternise with them as they were the enemy and had made a mess of the island.

The Gaudion family were back in their home for Christmas 1945.

Geoff Workman was on the third boat that returned to the island with his mother and little sister. His father had been killed in action during the war.

The family spent Christmas Day 1945 packing tea boxes before a lorry took them to the docks in Southampton, setting sail at midnight on 28 December.

Geoff said: “I can remember going up town and there was this rubble all over the pavements, there wasn’t a nice cobbled street like now.

“Gradually as the houses were repaired they moved the families into the houses.”

Between helping with repairs, Geoff said the island became a “bit of a playground” as there were trenches and bunkers to explore.

Pete added: “They must’ve used some kind of disinfectant on the concrete and if you’d spent a morning running in and out of these bunkers, the smell stuck to your clothes, and mum would say ‘you’ve got that German smell’.”

He said the atmosphere among those who had returned was incredible.

“It’s hard to explain the atmosphere really, everyone was in the same spirit, we’ve got to get on, we’ve got to make it work, we’ve got to make it better, and they did. I still admire them, because god knows how they did it,” he said.

While Pete, Fiff and Geoff said they were glad to be marking the 80th anniversary of Homecoming Day, they know it will be an emotional one.

Pete welled up as he said: “It’s always twinged with sadness and memories but I think this one will hit me hard.

“When they start the service your mind goes back to your parents and the people.”