S11E8 The Guernsey Deportees: Ollie Guillou on a little-known story of wartime resilience

“One day I heard the news that the head of the Deportees Association had died. I knew I needed to tell the story before the stories disappeared for good.” ~Ollie Guillou

In 1942, on Hitler’s orders, more than a thousand islanders from Guernsey were deported to Germany, and sent to the internment camp known as Biberach. Theirs is a little-known story of fortitude and resilience - and the subject of a new award-winning podcast series.

Ollie Guillou is the creator of The Guernsey Deportees podcast, a 6 part series sharing the story of his Grandma, Jill Chubb, who was just 3 years old when she was sent to Biberach. It’s the most detailed look at her story yet, and features the voices of three other deportees and two historians.

Ollie has made many, many podcasts - and is in fact the editor for Behind The Spine. But this is the first time he’s got so personal, bearing the weight of responsibility of sharing an important family story.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why it’s crucial you ask your grandparents about their lives and stories
• The fulfilment that comes from telling a story that carries a personal weight
• Why you shouldn’t sit on an idea for too long - act now!

Find out more about Ollie here.

Here the Guernsey Deportees podcast here.

Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood.

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You can view the full transcript here.

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