The biggest impact on the Islands during the 20th century was when they became part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall during World War II. 

German forces had been sweeping through Europe towards the northern coast of France during the early part of 1940, and by mid June had reached Cherbourg. 

Islander’s fears were realised when the local newspaper headline on Wednesday 19th June, 1940 read ‘Evacuation of children’. This followed a meeting in London on Saturday 15th June, when military chiefs decided that the Channel Islands were of no strategic importance and would not be defended. 

Parents were given four hours to decide if they wanted their children evacuated and were faced with a...