Woman from Sark recalls moment childhood friend was 'blown up' during the Occupation

  • ITV Channel's Phil Wellbrook meets Betty Guille who lost her friend during the Occupation


A woman from Sark has been sharing her experience of the Occupation, including the moment she lost her friend as a child.

Betty Guille says every year Liberation Day gives her a chance to reflect and remember Nanette Hamon.

The two girls were just four years old and playing outside when Nanette unknowingly picked up a shell bomb and was killed.

Betty recalls: "Her mother said to her, 'Don't touch anything, go and call dad, he is digging the potatoes down', so we went and she saw a little thing shining in the field.

"She went under the bobwire and it turns out it was a live mine and she was blown up.

"I was sheltered by the hedge but she was a bit of a dare-devil and didn't listen."

Betty is one of those in Sark celebrating Liberation Day on 10 May - one day after Jersey and Guernsey marked the occasion as the island was liberated later.

Sark held a two-minute silence, starting and ending with an air raid siren.

Pupils also took part in a history lesson from the Seigneur, Christopher Beaumont.

  • Watch how Sark School students celebrated Liberation Day


Betty says it is important that children learn about the Occupation: "There aren't many of us left, I think about eight or nine which isn't a lot.

"I wouldn't like to see this day disappear completely.

"I think it's good that the children are included in it and know what's going on, otherwise it's going to die."


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