Book Review: Storming Hitler's British Fortress

Author: Simon Hamon & John Grehan Genre: Second World Ward | History Price: £22 (Hardback)

Published: May 2023 by Frontline, Pen and Sword Books Review by: Anthony Rothwell

Another timely and necessary book another timely and necessary book Simon Hamon; on this occasion written in partnership with John Grehan.

Following the swift collapse of France in the summer of 1940 and the consequent withdrawal of British forces from the Channel Islands, German forces quickly seized the opportunity to occupy the Channel Islands. Within days of the start of the occupation, Churchill was demanding a “plan” whereby information could be obtained from those newly occupied.

Accordingly, by mid-July the first locally born spies (albeit members of His Majesty’s armed forces) were landed on Guernsey, swiftly followed up by the first of a number of raids that continued across all the main Channel Islands up until D-Day in June 1944.

This first raid – code named Ambassador – was certainly disappointing. Regarded as a “silly fiasco” by Churchill and a “typical instance of British inefficiency” by a senior German Staff officer stationed on Guernsey. It was though, the first of more than a dozen raids or plans to raid the Channel Islands during the course of the war.

The first raids were indeed not universally popular with local politicians nor civilians. Ambrose Sherwill, one of Guernsey’s leading politicians sought to write to the British Home (via the German Foreign Office and a neutral) in order to prevent further raids, describing them as “senseless”. There is no evidence that this letter was ever delivered. Diarist Joyce Carey also made a caustic entry in her journal regarding the early arrivals.

The admirable book takes us through each raid and planned raid with meticulous detail and there a host of fascinating photographs both taken at the time and more recently so that those who may be interested can retrace the path taken by these brave men over eighty years ago.

I would judge that is will be the definitive account of the raids and attempts at information gathering for some time to come. Though, as Richard Heaume notes in his succinct forward, there is still the mystery of the two man raid in February 1944 to be explained. If it is...when it is…I am sure Simon Hamon and John Grehan will be at the heart of the matter.

A highly recommended read.