Destroying Betrayal: The Courage of the Postmen

During the war, not all letters carried love or hope. Some contained betrayal. A few islanders collaborated with the occupying forces, writing to denounce neighbours for offences ranging from illegal radios to sheltering escaped prisoners. These letters were addressed to the Feldkommandantur or the Gestapo. But brave postal workers quietly stepped in. Men like Billy Matson intercepted suspicious letters, steaming them open in secret. If they contained accusations that could endanger lives, they were destroyed never to reach their intended recipients.

Another postman, Harold “Peddler” Palmer (middle row 2nd on right), quietly held onto undelivered letters destined for the German authorities. After his death, his son found bundles of these hidden messages in his attic, written evidence of betrayals that never came to pass, thanks to his father’s quiet defiance.