Irene Camus Smith was born on the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands. When she was seven years old, World War II broke out, and the Germans took over and occupied the islands for five years. She grew up with her mother and two siblings there, separated from her father who was serving in the Merchant Navy.
Born on the serene island of Jersey, Irene Camus Smith’s life took an unexpected turn as the shadows of war descended upon her homeland. The Channel Islands, Britain’s oldest possessions, faced the threat of Hitler’s invasion during World War II. When the islands were demilitarized and left de...