chapter thirty-two

 

Guernsey 1941

 

By early 1941 Leo had settled into the new forced routine of working for the Controlling Committee while enjoying an occasional meal with his friends Clem and Alice Le Page. He was unable to reciprocate the hospitality, not wanting to burden Elsie with the extra work and missed what he thought of as the ‘old’ life he had shared with Teresa.

As the months dragged by, he began to wonder if the old Guernsey would ever re-surface. German signs proliferated island-wide, and wherever Leo went, there were sure to be German soldiers in evidence. More and more arrived and empty properties belonging to those who had evacuated were commandeered for billeting, while some families were forced to share their homes with officers; not only feeding them but responsible for their laundry. Leo was thankful he’d been spared so far, putting it down to being off the beaten track.

The one bright spot was the arrival of Red Cross messages and Leo eagerly read the first one he received from Teresa. On the standard issue postcard, to be read by censors, she wrote, ‘All well with Judith and me and we are enjoying good weather which will mean a good harvest. Judith is walking now and saying a few words. Please write soon. Love Teresa xx’.

Leo found his throat tighten as he read the meagre message. He had missed his daughter taking her first steps and saying her first words. He was both sad and angry, and for a moment a red mist descended, and he had to take deep breaths to calm down. This bloody war!

He looked at the date on the postcard. Two months ago. And his reply would likely take as long. Four months from sending to receiving a reply. Anything could happen in such a time, and neither of them would know. He sat down to write a reply, wanting to catch the next boat to France, from where the Red Cross would pass messages to England. He wrote, ‘I’m well, working for the new Controlling Committee. Have closed the shop. Had to stop driving, no fuel. Elsie looking after me. My love to Judith and your parents. Love Leo x’.

Not long after sending this message, Leo had unwelcome visitors to his house. It was early autumn, and the trees had started shedding their golden leaves. Leo was at home, suffering from a heavy cold and not able to face the bike ride into work when a heavy knock sounded on the front door. He dragged himself out of bed, pulled on a dressing gown and opened the door to be faced by two German officers, who brushed past him without a word and began moving from room to room as if sizing them up. Leo’s forehead was bathed in sweat, and he sat down, his legs giving way under him as he waited.

‘So, Herr Bichard, is it not? I believe you live here alone, is that so?’ The older officer, whose uniform declared him to be a major, stood with legs spread and hands behind his back as if he owned the place, Leo thought in disgust.

‘Yes, that is true, Major.’

‘You must leave, we need it for our troops. More of our men arrive today, and you have much unused space here.’

‘But where am I supposed to go? I have no family–’

‘That is no concern of mine, Herr Bichard. Please to make sure you have left by fifteen hundred hours.’ He turned to leave but stopped. ‘Ah, I saw a motor vehicle around the side. It is roadworthy, yes?’ His eyes gleamed in anticipation.

Leo’s heart sank. The Germans had ‘bought’ many vehicles since they arrived, paying well below the true value.

‘It is, yes.’

‘Good, we will require the keys, and you will receive a fair price for it later.’ He held out his hand, and Leo shuffled to his study and retrieved the keys from a desk drawer, his mind whirling with how he was to find somewhere to stay in less than two hours. The officer took the keys and, with a brief salute, left. Leo sank back into a chair, his body drenched with sweat. He knew he had been lucky to hang onto his home this long, but it didn’t make it any easier to bear. The only good thing was the lack of interest in him personally. As he was dwelling on his options, a voice called from the back door.

‘Master Leo! Can I come in?’

‘Of course.’ He heaved himself upright and took slow steps to the kitchen. He found Elsie placing a covered bowl of soup on the table, looking warily around the room.

‘Have they gone? I was about to bring the soup when I saw them arrive in a jeep and thought it best to stay away.’

He told her the reason for their visit and that he needed somewhere to live, and fast.

‘Why, that’s no problem! You must come and live with me and Bert. You know we have a spare room, and it means I can carry on cooking for you.’ Her face creased into a smile and she bustled about, cutting slices of bread to go with the soup. Leo knew it made sense to accept, in fact, he had no other option, but his heart sank at the thought of sharing the tiny cottage with them. He loved Elsie like the mother he never had, but Bert wasn’t a man he had any time for. And he’d be beholden to him. Stifling a groan, Leo thanked Elsie before forcing the soup down his throat. His appetite already poor, he could barely swallow thanks to the tightness of his throat.

‘While you’re eating your lunch, I’ll start packing your clothes. And Bert can come and help shift stuff to ours.’ She looked around the kitchen. ‘Is it all right if I take some of your best pans and china? Don’t want those Jerries spoiling Mrs Bichard’s lovely things, do we?’

‘Of course. Take as much as you want. And if Bert can help me pack a few boxes of our personal belongings, I’ll arrange for them to go in storage, so as not to clutter your cottage.’ Leo’s febrile mind was racing with what he wanted to save from the clutches of the soldiers. For his part, the most valuable possessions were safe, but Teresa would be upset if he didn’t manage to salvage as much as possible of her favourite items. Thinking of his wife made his stomach twist. He’d promised to defend their home and property and had failed miserably. But like everyone else in Guernsey, he had no choice but to obey. Gritting his teeth, he pushed back his chair and shuffled to the sitting room to telephone Clem with the news, and to ask about storing his goods.

The three of them had just carried the last items to Elsie’s cottage when two jeeps full of soldiers arrived at the house. Leo was swaying on his feet, and sweat poured down his face as he watched the Germans swagger, laughing, into his beautiful home.

‘Come on, Master Leo, best not to watch. Those devils will get their comeuppance one day, don’t you fear. Let’s get you to bed. Bert!’