The Battle of Newlands is the diary of Winifred Harvey MBE during the German Occupation of Guernsey, 1940-45. The title is inspired by her eviction by the occupying forces from her home, Newlands in Prince Albert Road, where she had lived since her father inherited the property in 1903. She reluctantly moved to a rented flat nearby and, remarkably, managed to negotiate continued access to her beloved gardens. This not only allowed her to grow her own food supplies, but also to keep an eye on the house’s German occupants. Her command of the German language enabled her to stand up to the German officers, and challenge their treatment of her house and possessions. What shines through this account is her resilience in the face of adversity; the mutual support of her wide circle of friends; and the strength of the ‘Guernsey grapevine’ in circulating news, despite with the German-controlled media.
