Island at War— Eve of the War

Overview

Island at War is a British television series that tells the story of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands. It primarily focuses on three local families: the upper class Dorrs, the middle class Mahys and the working class Jonases, and four German officers. The fictional island of St. Gregory serves as a stand-in for the real-life islands Jersey and Guernsey, and the story is compiled from the events on both islands. Produced by Granada Television in Manchester, Island at War had an estimated budget of £9,000,000 and was filmed on location in the Isle of Man from August 2003 to October 2003. When the series was shown in the UK, it appeared in six 70-minute episodes.

Drama War & Politics

Current EpisodeSeason 1 • Episode 1Aired: 2004-07-1170 min

5.0

1. Eve of the War

James Dorr the Deputy Leader of Island Government and his wife Felicity are unhappily married. The imminent threat of German invasion gives Felicity the excuse she needs to leave the Island and return to England. The island policeman Wilf Jonas and his wife Kathleen, realising the Germans may soon invade send their 2 children to England. However their young son Colin manages to stay behind, leaving his sister to go ahead by herself. Cassie Mahy and her husband Urban run a successful grocery shop. They have 2 daughters Angelique (a government worker) and June (a singer). Urban is unable to find a boat to evacuate his daughters and instead organises to run a friends photo shop in his absence. Both Felicity and Urban are at the harbour when the Germans attack. Felicity is left with just a slight bump to the head. Urban is tragically shot and killed. Baron Von Rheingarten arrives and takes control of the island.