New book reveals reality of German soldiers buried here

Tuesday 14 November 2023

Retired Guernsey Police Officer Simon Hamon and German Army Officer Major Karsten Adrian have worked together on a new book detailing the lives of those people at rest in the military cemetery at Fort George.

‘Life Lives Beyond the Grave’ has been published by Blue Ormer, and it was launched for sale at an event at Government House last night, attended by both Mr Hamon and Major Adrian.

Many congratulations to all involved in the publication of 'Life Lives Beyond the Grave: The Story of the German Military Cemetery at Fort George and those buried there'. An invaluable record of the German servicemen who lived and died here in #Guernsey 1940-43 @Volksbund @CWGC pic.twitter.com/ZhakV7cFZe

— Gov House Guernsey (@GvHouseGuernsey) November 13, 2023

There were 269 German burials in Guernsey during the Occupation, out of a total of 574 across the Channel Islands with the new book cataloguing all 111 of the German graves at Fort George. 

The final burial there was carried out 80 years ago, with that anniversary coinciding with the culmination of Mr Hamon's research for ‘Life Lives Beyond the Grave’.

He had worked with Major Adrian, a Bundeswehr Officer then serving at the NATO Headquarters in Gloucestershire to confirm some of the information about those interred there with the new book including information such as the casualties’ units, their dates and places of birth and causes of death. Photographs and official documents are also included.

Mr Hamon said each of the men had a story which deserved to be told.

"The men buried here were far from home during a fascinating period in our history," he said.

"Why they ended up staying here has largely remained a mystery, which I wanted to solve by bringing together all available facts in one volume for future generations.

"Karsten and his wife Laura, who is also an Army Officer, were instrumental in uncovering missing pieces of the puzzle and together we have developed a much fuller and clearer picture."

Major Adrian had previously been to the island during an official trip as a UK-based German officer tasked with helping to maintain Fort George cemetery.

He and his wife were both in Guernsey for Armistice and Remembrance Day this weekend and stayed on for the book launch.

Guernsey’s Lieutenant-Governor, Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell, wrote the foreword for the book as well as hosting the book launch event.

"It is very helpful in furthering our understanding of the shared history between Germany and the Bailiwick and makes an important contribution to the great friendship between them," he said.

Pictured top: Picture from the @GvHouseGuernsey account on X.