J’avons du têmouongnage dé rêsistance en Jèrri étout:
Here are some examples of resistance in Jersey too:
Caouain, Les Chroniques de Jersey 17/8/1940
– Si ch’est que vous voulez m’en craithe, acheteu l’pus nous pasle en vièrr patois l’mus ch’est pouor dithe chein qu’nou veur pon qui sait oui par d’autres que les vièrrs jerriais.
Duthant l’Otchupâtion, l’s Allemands décidîtent d’bâti un c’mîn d’fé l’travèrs dé l’île, et eune partie crouaîsit l’clios en d’vant d’not’ fèrme. Man péthe et ses anmîns avaient l’idée d’èrtèrgi l’travas un mio en èrmuant tchiques’eunes des dormiéthes du c’mîn d’fé la niet pour les faithe sèrvi comme bouais à feu.
Hitleur n’est rein qu’eune trouême
Et eune niêsance au publyi;
Mais lé v’là au but d’sa course –
Mais lé v’là au but d’sa course –
La quédole s’en va mouothi!
La quédole s’en va mouothi!
L’Histouèthe d’un P’tit Moussieu
Deux-trais minutes oprès en aver fait ches r’marques nous juge d’la grande surprinse d’notre grand homme et de son secrétaithe quant y virent tchais hors de chu baril un gentil p’tit moussieu… habillé d’souaie. Et nos gens l’happirent dans lus bras, mais tchi en faithe car nous n’pouvait l’garder dans l’motor viyant qu’avec touot son tintamarre y pouorrait s’faithe que tchique Fritz ou iun des siens de la gestapo voudraient en saver un p’tit pus long.
Nos radios futent confis’t’chis,
Mais y’en eu des chentaines de muchis,
Et quand les amins s’ent rencontraient
Ne f’chin t’chi qui s’ent disaient.
Un jour en m’en r’vénant d’ l’êcole
Un soudard m’adréchit la pathole.
Y’ avait li et san bouon amîn
Tch’avaient envie dé saver l’c’mîn.
Poussant un tchéthiot remplyi d’soupe,
Nouôrrituthe prîncipale des troupes,
Aller à Sorel ch’tait lus d’si,
Au fond du Mouothi j’les envyis.
The Story of “Occupation Theatre”, Evening Post 18/11/1953
…Many tales could be told by those who came in contact with the German censor. Exception was taken to most innocent remarks in some of the scripts, while obvious ones were passed unnoticed. It did not necessarily follow that what the Germans had cut would always remain so, and, according to the nature of the news at the time, many observations were quietly inserted to raise a smile. Very few Germans attended the shows and it was fairly easy to get away with it. A most glaring example was a play in Jersey-French given in one of the parish halls which was as patriotic as could possibly be, and though on this occasion a few Germans who were stationed nearby attended the performance the patois had them “fixed” and they could not understand a word!
A mistake, Morning News 18/11/1949
One day last week, the B.B.C. broadcast several items from the Guernsey Eisteddfod, including some Guernsey-French, and it was remarked (in the broadcast), that when the Germans were in occupation of the Channel Islands, the only language that baffled them was “Guernesiais.” This was a mistake.
The Germans had been in Jersey some time before they discovered “Les Chroniques,” but one day some of them appeared in the office and interviewed the Editor (M. de Laquaine). Presently they came across a proof of a weekly article in Jersey-French, and immediately they became suspicious.
It beat them all
It was no use telling them that the article was in the local dialect. They scrutinised it with the greatest care, suggesting that it might be some sort of secret code. Finally, they went off to College House, with the proof, having warned the Editor that he must on no account publish the article until he had received their sanction.
At College House, the experts couldn’t make head or tail of it, so the proof was sent to headquarters in Paris, and submitted to the most erudite Professors available. It was not a bit of good, and eventually the article returned to Jersey still untranslated and (to the Germans) untranslateable. The Editor was then allowed to publish it, but permission was ungraciously given, and it was clear to “Edmond” that his name had been placed on the list of suspected persons. Not that he cared!