I had the great pleasure of talking to Andy Creber about his Grandfather Werner Rang. A well-known Sark resident post war.

This conversation delves into the remarkable life of Werner Rang, a German medical orderly conscripted during World War II, who served in the Channel Islands. 

His story is shared by his grandson, Andy, who recounts Werner's experiences from his idyllic childhood in Germany, through his conscription and medical duties during the occupation, to his post-war life in Sark.

 The discussion highlights the complexities of identity, duty, and personal connections formed during and after the war, as well as the importance of preserving family history through photographs and letters. 

Takeaways 

• Werner Rang was a German medical orderly conscripted during WWII. 
• He served in the Channel Islands during the German occupation. 
• Werner was awarded the British Empire Medal for his service as a paramedic. 
• He met his wife, Phyllis, while serving in Sark. Their relationship blossomed through letters during the war. 
• Werner was a POW after the war but continued to provide medical care.
• He became a respected member of the Sark community post-war. Werner's story reflects the complexities of wartime identity. 
• Family photographs and letters are vital for preserving history. The conversation emphasises the importance of sharing personal stories.

You can find photographs and more information here.

Send us a text

Follow us on Twitter here or Facebook here.

If you want to email in a question send it to [email protected]. Alternatively you can send us a text with the link at the bottom of these notes (only works with iPhones).

You can find out more about the occupation on Nick’s website Island Fortress here.

Thanks to Gnet Radio for recording the podcast and thanks to Jim Delbridge for the use of his song ‘5 to 7’ as our theme.