smudger1960
PlanetFigure Supporter
Whenever I visit museums or battlefields in europe I'm always fascinated and saddned by the personal stories of individuals that suffered during these difficult times.
I've just returned from a holiday in Jersey,this was my 2nd visit to the island,my first being in 1968,during that first visit with my parents I got my first introduction as an 8yr old to the subject of WW2 and the German Underground Hospital in St Lawrence - Jersey,it seemed very strange going back again after 47 yrs and this time with my own family,having grown up with a military history interest I was able to take more of the visit in this time round.
It was during my recent visit to the now re-named Jersey War Tunnels that I was really fascinated by one individuals story of heroism,i am in no way singling out this person because of his bravery as there was an awful lot of heroes during the Nazi occupation of the channel islands,but this one story really captivated me.
It involved 21yr old Denis Vibert who in sept 1941 made a successful escape from jersey to England in his small boat 'Ragamuffin'.
Denis had previously tried to escape jersey in Nov 1940,he managed to get as far as Guernsey before 4x days of storms forced him to return to Jersey after catching influenza.
Having just completed the journey myself on a car ferry i find it increadible to think someone would attempt a crossing in such a small craft.
The story starts off in sept 1941 with denis and his small 2.6m boat called ragamuffin,his plan was to clear the island by rowing out about 4 miles and then to use his 2x outboard motors to reach Guernsey and finaly England.
However disaster struck almost imeadiatly as 2x german e-boats passed each other within 100yards of denis,although he wasn't seen the wash from the e-boats half filled his small boat ruining most of his food supplies.
However he continued the journey and by dawn was 24km west of Guernsey,it was at this point the weather conditions changed and the sea became more choppy and rough,during this part of the voyage water enveloped the outboard engine and completely disabled it,Denis then attempted to fix the 2nd outboard motor to the boat,but disaster struck, as he attempted to fix the motor it fell overboard and sunk.
He continued to row for 2x days until he was finaly picked up by a british destroyer HMS Brocklesby off Portland bill,his food and water supplies totally exhausted.
After being de-briefed my military intelligence denis re-claimed his boat and was charged 10 shillings import duty by HM customs.
Its just an increadible story of bravery and determination and one that really fascinated me.
Ragamuffin
Brian
I've just returned from a holiday in Jersey,this was my 2nd visit to the island,my first being in 1968,during that first visit with my parents I got my first introduction as an 8yr old to the subject of WW2 and the German Underground Hospital in St Lawrence - Jersey,it seemed very strange going back again after 47 yrs and this time with my own family,having grown up with a military history interest I was able to take more of the visit in this time round.
It was during my recent visit to the now re-named Jersey War Tunnels that I was really fascinated by one individuals story of heroism,i am in no way singling out this person because of his bravery as there was an awful lot of heroes during the Nazi occupation of the channel islands,but this one story really captivated me.
It involved 21yr old Denis Vibert who in sept 1941 made a successful escape from jersey to England in his small boat 'Ragamuffin'.
Denis had previously tried to escape jersey in Nov 1940,he managed to get as far as Guernsey before 4x days of storms forced him to return to Jersey after catching influenza.
Having just completed the journey myself on a car ferry i find it increadible to think someone would attempt a crossing in such a small craft.
The story starts off in sept 1941 with denis and his small 2.6m boat called ragamuffin,his plan was to clear the island by rowing out about 4 miles and then to use his 2x outboard motors to reach Guernsey and finaly England.
However disaster struck almost imeadiatly as 2x german e-boats passed each other within 100yards of denis,although he wasn't seen the wash from the e-boats half filled his small boat ruining most of his food supplies.
However he continued the journey and by dawn was 24km west of Guernsey,it was at this point the weather conditions changed and the sea became more choppy and rough,during this part of the voyage water enveloped the outboard engine and completely disabled it,Denis then attempted to fix the 2nd outboard motor to the boat,but disaster struck, as he attempted to fix the motor it fell overboard and sunk.
He continued to row for 2x days until he was finaly picked up by a british destroyer HMS Brocklesby off Portland bill,his food and water supplies totally exhausted.
After being de-briefed my military intelligence denis re-claimed his boat and was charged 10 shillings import duty by HM customs.
Its just an increadible story of bravery and determination and one that really fascinated me.
Ragamuffin
Brian
