Would it be possible to get a photograph of a plaque on the Lighthouse Memorial in memory of two Jerseymen please ?
John (Jack) Soyer and
Edward Peter Muels were both imprisoned by the Germans during the Occupation, but they met an early death in France. Here's the official story .... but I'm waiting for confirmation from the Red Cross that Edward was killed in a concentration camp in Germany !!
Edward Peter Muels fell foul of the occupying forces when he helped one of their number to desert
Born in St Helier on 2 July 1912, Mr Muels was living at Sea Breeze, La Rocque, when he was arrested. Although a resident of Grouville, he worked as a lorry driver for the parish of St Helier.
Early in 1944, German soldiers descended on La Rocque to search for deserter Gefreiter David Hoost, who had shot an officer, Alfred König.
Hoost had approached the licensee of the Seymour Inn for civilian clothes but had been refused. However, this did not prevent the publican incurring the wrath of the Germans for not reporting the matter.
Mr Muels was more charitable and helped the man. Mr Mičre believes that the German encountered him near St Peter de la Rocque chapel and persuaded him to help, because when Hoost was recaptured he was wearing a shirt and other clothes.
Tragically for the Jerseyman, these were traced to his home.
Mr Muels was arrested and imprisoned, eventually being sentenced by a military court to a prison term in a German concentration camp.
On 29 June 1944 he and 20 other prisoners were taken to the Harbour to board a German ship bound for St Malo. Imprisoned overnight in the Breton port, they were the following day put on a train to Germany.
The train never reached its destination. It was bombed by the RAF and Mr Muels was among the dead.
Hoost fared no better. Sentenced to death, he was executed by firing squad on 27 April 1944.
He was buried in the German section of the Strangers Cemetery at Westmount.
König was buried in the German military cemetery at St Brelade's Church.
I'd REALLY appreciate photos of the plaque and also the graves of the two German soldiers if possible
Thanking you in advance !
Annie
