8 May 1942 Part 5

8 May 1942 Part 5 Warning concerning the escape of 3 and 4 May

WARNING

On the night of Sunday to Monday, May 3rd/4th, three youths made the attempt to reach England in a motor-boat equipped for the purpose with compass, binoculars and provisions, in spite of the fact that it was to their knowledge that such an enterprise was strictly forbidden.

The result of this undertaking was that the boat capsized, that one of the youths was drowned and that the two others were captured and now are faced with severe punishment.

I solemnly warn the population once again against the repetition of similar cases, which can advantage no-one but which will entail severe measures, as a result of which the whole population will suffer.

The Military Commandant of the Island of Jersey.
Sgd. GRAF VON SCHMETTOW,
Major General.
8th May, 1942.

German text check: The English closely follows the German. The German additionally describes the motorboat as “small”. Its final warning is conditional: similar incidents “would entail severe measures” under which the whole population “would have to suffer”; the contemporary English uses “will”. The German title Befehlshaber, Jersey means “Commander, Jersey”, rendered in the English notice as “The Military Commandant of the Island of Jersey”. The English signature line is slightly blemished; the German clearly identifies GRAF VON SCHMETTOW. Both versions date the warning 8 May 1942, while the body dates the attempted escape to the night of 3–4 May 1942.

Editorial note: The statements about the escape, drowning and capture are transcribed as claims made in this German occupation notice. This notice and the separate Knackfuss warning are two accounts of the same incident, not evidence of two escape attempts.

Jersey Archive, B/A/W50/55. Supplied PDF page 4.