Letters telling of Occupation love placed in Island Archives

The letters tell the story of how Guernseyman Harry Marley and his wife Martha, nee Hinch, lived during their separation.

It comes at a time when the trials of those who lived in the island during the Occupation is being told to the world through the film, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, based on a book of letters.

It is the 73rd anniversary of Liberation next week,

‘It is particularly appropriate at this time that the Island Archives should receive this true-life Occupation story,’ said Dr Darryl Ogier, Island Archivist.

‘The letters tell their own romantic tale and, though inevitably not without their sad moments, tell that tale to its happy ending.

‘We really are very pleased that Susan and Gerald [family and friend of the couple] have placed the letters with us.

‘All who see the records will be grateful to Harry and Martha Marley for their legacy of such personal and touching correspondence.’

Harry, born in 1909, met American-born Martha Hinch while she was on holiday in Guernsey in the summer of 1933.

On her return, they wrote to each other and, in 1934, Harry visited Martha and her family in Virginia.

Following his visit, Harry proposed to Martha by letter and they married in 1935.

Martha moved to the island to live with Harry, but five years later she was evacuated to England as the Germans approached.

She returned to America once it became apparent that Harry, who had risen to assistant manager at the Guernsey Savings Bank, would not be able to follow.

The couple were separated for the duration of the Occupation, but stayed in contact through letters, made possible by the Red Cross message system.

When Harry died in 2006, Martha’s niece, Susan Williamson, discovered a trunk in his attic containing roughly 200 letters and 90 Red Cross messages, most dated just prior, during and just after the Occupation.

The collection includes some correspondence with Harry and Martha’s friends who had evacuated to England, and several letters from friends interned at Laufen.

Harry and Martha finally reunited in Virginia several months after the island was liberated. In 1946, Harry emigrated to Roanoke, Virginia, where he and Martha lived out their lives as a successful couple in the community.

Harry made many pilgrimages back to Guernsey, especially after Martha died in 1982, returning for the Liberation Day celebrations nearly every year.

His final visit was in 2005, at age 96, as the distinguished guest of his first cousin once removed, Geoffrey Rowland, to witness his installation as Bailiff.

‘The Occupation years were full of twists and turns, ups and downs,’ said Sir Geoffrey.

‘Harry and Martha, separated by 4,000 miles, shed tears and were praying for a successful outcome to the war and being reunited in happiness, wherever that might be.

‘A combination of hope and dreaming, coupled with a dash of reality, kept them going during those five long years of separation.’

Gerald Breen, a friend of Ms Williamson, has written a book about Harry and Martha’s lives using the letters, family photographs, and other documents.

Mr Breen and Ms Williamson have also transcribed the letters and created digital copies of the photographs, which are available to researchers to view at the Island Archives.

Mr Breen said he first saw the letters of Harry and Martha Marley in November 2014.

‘Over the weeks I read through them, including many written during the war to Martha by friends and family who had evacuated to England,’ he said.

‘That small project became a three-and-a-half-year year obsession that included transcribing, rereading, research about Guernsey, looking at maps and photographs and watching innumerable videos.

‘I even made the acquaintance of Guernsey relatives of Harry’s and other characters in the story. The mission ended in 2018 – resulting in a book, All My Love ... Always.’

After that he turned his attention to locating the best home for the letters.

‘At the beginning, I wanted Susan to keep the Marley collection at a university near Roanoke.

‘By the time I had finished the project, it had become clear that the story of Martha and Harry is unique to Guernsey and that the Island Archives is where the collection belongs.’