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| The Guernsey Jew who hid from the Nazis in plain sight | The Guernsey Jew who hid from the Nazis in plain sight |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Being Jewish in the German-occupied Channel Islands during World War Two meant a life of misery at best and, for three women, death. Now, after more than 70 years, the BBC can reveal one Jewish woman hid in plain sight from the Nazis in Guernsey. It seems likely she was protected by a senior member of the island's government who was possibly her lover. | Being Jewish in the German-occupied Channel Islands during World War Two meant a life of misery at best and, for three women, death. Now, after more than 70 years, the BBC can reveal one Jewish woman hid in plain sight from the Nazis in Guernsey. It seems likely she was protected by a senior member of the island's government who was possibly her lover. |
| Miriam Jay lived in Guernsey during the five-year occupation of the Channel Islands. | Miriam Jay lived in Guernsey during the five-year occupation of the Channel Islands. |
| Many Jews left ahead of the occupation, but Ms Jay stayed to maintain the house of her wealthy insurance broker employer. | |
| She lived in the St Peter Port property with a lawyer who was involved in writing the Nazis' anti-Semitic policies into law. Those who have studied her story now believe that man was her partner and protector. | She lived in the St Peter Port property with a lawyer who was involved in writing the Nazis' anti-Semitic policies into law. Those who have studied her story now believe that man was her partner and protector. |
| Advocate George Ridgway was Her Majesty's Solicitor General in Guernsey from 1935 until March 1942. | Advocate George Ridgway was Her Majesty's Solicitor General in Guernsey from 1935 until March 1942. |
| German identity card registration forms show he lived with Ms Jay at two separate addresses in St Peter Port before his death. | German identity card registration forms show he lived with Ms Jay at two separate addresses in St Peter Port before his death. |
| During the same period he was involved in registering four of the nine anti-Jewish laws implemented on the island. | During the same period he was involved in registering four of the nine anti-Jewish laws implemented on the island. |
| Guernsey Occupation Museum curator Richard Heaume believes Mr Ridgway was in a dilemma, knowing Ms Jay was Jewish. | |
| "It's extraordinary, quite extraordinary," he said. "He was living a very difficult life. | "It's extraordinary, quite extraordinary," he said. "He was living a very difficult life. |
| "He was living together with her for several years. It wasn't just a housekeeper-tenant relationship; it was a very close relationship." | "He was living together with her for several years. It wasn't just a housekeeper-tenant relationship; it was a very close relationship." |
| In October 1940 he presented the first law targeting the islands Jews, stating those did not make themselves known to the authorities would face a fine or imprisonment. | In October 1940 he presented the first law targeting the islands Jews, stating those did not make themselves known to the authorities would face a fine or imprisonment. |
| If Ms Jay had been found out, she would have risked deportation, internment and death. However, her secret remained safe. | If Ms Jay had been found out, she would have risked deportation, internment and death. However, her secret remained safe. |
| Risks of hiding | Risks of hiding |
| Hiding your Jewish religion in Guernsey was a dangerous game, as the wartime experiences of Marianne Grunfeld bear out. | Hiding your Jewish religion in Guernsey was a dangerous game, as the wartime experiences of Marianne Grunfeld bear out. |
| Like Ms Jay, the Polish farm worker failed to declare she was a Jew when required under the first registration order, which was passed in October 1940. | Like Ms Jay, the Polish farm worker failed to declare she was a Jew when required under the first registration order, which was passed in October 1940. |
| The German occupying forces were, however, made aware of her Jewish origins and deported her to France. | The German occupying forces were, however, made aware of her Jewish origins and deported her to France. |
| By the end of the war she was dead, perishing at Auschwitz along with fellow Guernsey deportees Therese Steiner and Auguste Spitz. | By the end of the war she was dead, perishing at Auschwitz along with fellow Guernsey deportees Therese Steiner and Auguste Spitz. |
| Stephen Regal, from the Channel Islands Jewish Community, said it was "astounding" that someone senior in Guernsey's government may have knowingly sheltered a Jew on the island. | Stephen Regal, from the Channel Islands Jewish Community, said it was "astounding" that someone senior in Guernsey's government may have knowingly sheltered a Jew on the island. |
| "I think that Advocate Ridgway definitely put himself at risk if he knowingly obscured her past, bearing in mind of course he couldn't even plead ignorance to the law because he was one of the officers tasked reluctantly to promulgate Nazi law within Guernsey." | "I think that Advocate Ridgway definitely put himself at risk if he knowingly obscured her past, bearing in mind of course he couldn't even plead ignorance to the law because he was one of the officers tasked reluctantly to promulgate Nazi law within Guernsey." |
| Following his death from illness in 1942, his funeral at St James' Church was a grand affair with senior islanders attending and, as the local paper reported, the mourners were led by his older brother and his "personal friend" Ms Jay. | Following his death from illness in 1942, his funeral at St James' Church was a grand affair with senior islanders attending and, as the local paper reported, the mourners were led by his older brother and his "personal friend" Ms Jay. |
| Had Mr Ridgway been protecting his partner? Mr Heaume believes it was "quite likely" they were a couple. | Had Mr Ridgway been protecting his partner? Mr Heaume believes it was "quite likely" they were a couple. |
| "George was single and I know before the war George Ridgway had a lady friend down at Petit Bot and when that lady evacuated to England he was at a loss for a partner so to speak," he said. | "George was single and I know before the war George Ridgway had a lady friend down at Petit Bot and when that lady evacuated to England he was at a loss for a partner so to speak," he said. |
| "Then in 1942 with the stress of doing both roles of Attorney General and Solicitor General he needed help and obviously, the comfort of Miriam Jay was a great blessing." | "Then in 1942 with the stress of doing both roles of Attorney General and Solicitor General he needed help and obviously, the comfort of Miriam Jay was a great blessing." |
| Guernsey anti-Jewish laws | Guernsey anti-Jewish laws |
| Ms Jay had been born in London and grew up in a Jewish family. | Ms Jay had been born in London and grew up in a Jewish family. |
| She moved to Guernsey in 1932 and changed her surname from the Jewish-sounding Jacobs in 1937 - at a time when anti-Semitism was on the rise. | She moved to Guernsey in 1932 and changed her surname from the Jewish-sounding Jacobs in 1937 - at a time when anti-Semitism was on the rise. |
| After her wartime experience, she returned in the 1960s to Essex where she spent the remainder of her life. | After her wartime experience, she returned in the 1960s to Essex where she spent the remainder of her life. |
| Her great-nephew Dennis Baum said he thought being in the occupied islands must have been "horrendous and frightening" for her. | Her great-nephew Dennis Baum said he thought being in the occupied islands must have been "horrendous and frightening" for her. |
| She "never spoke about her time in Guernsey to the family", he said, and he was "intrigued and mystified how she managed to survive". | She "never spoke about her time in Guernsey to the family", he said, and he was "intrigued and mystified how she managed to survive". |
| Mr Baum said he had conflicting emotions, feeling "pride and sadness - sadness that we'll never know the true story and pride that she was yet another survivor... of what was five years of hell". | Mr Baum said he had conflicting emotions, feeling "pride and sadness - sadness that we'll never know the true story and pride that she was yet another survivor... of what was five years of hell". |
| He described her as a generous and kind woman who gave her time and money to the Jewish Ex-Servicemen's Association, but was always reserved. | He described her as a generous and kind woman who gave her time and money to the Jewish Ex-Servicemen's Association, but was always reserved. |
| "She was very much more an English lady than the rest of the family, the rest of the family were much more Essex people." | "She was very much more an English lady than the rest of the family, the rest of the family were much more Essex people." |