I was born and grew up in Jersey (where the Jersey cow originated) in the Channel Islands, located about 100 miles south of England and 14 miles off the coast of Normandy, France.
In June 1940, when I was 7 years old, Jersey and the other Channel Islands were invaded and occupied by Germany after first being bombed by the enemy planes--a number of islanders were killed. Large hotels and manor houses were taken over for German officers. All residents who had been born in England were sent to a detention camp in Germany. The Jews and, later, any locals caught harbouring escaped POWs were sent to the concentration camps. Mines were laid on all the beaches. Heavy fortifications were built all over the islands and a large German hospital, which we knew nothing about until after the war, was built underground in a hidden away valley. All this building work was done by Russian and Europoean POWs who were used as slave labour and suffered terrible conditions. American POWs were kept in a separate camp on the island. We wore clogs for shoes. Curfews were enforced.
After D-Day, the islands were cut off from any imported supplies and food shortage was so bad that we would have starved had it not been for the welcome food parcels delivered by the Red Cross ship S.S. Vega. German soldiers were eating seagulls and our dogs and cats! The German Commandant, a staunch Nazi, was not prepared to surrender. After five years under Hitler's regime, we were liberated on 9th May, 1945, a day which is still celebrated in the islands every year.
In 1952, two years National Service in the Military Police ended a possible football career, having been signed on as a centre forward by Portsmouth Football Club, at that time a top team. I was posted overseas to Hong Kong (Kowloon side) on the Chinese border. I noticed that the border fortifications on the British Hong Kong side were nothing like those built in Jersey by Germany. At that time, the Korean war was on and I was very lucky to not be posted there!
As a military policeman, my duties were mainly checking out-of-bounds areas for service personnel and keeping up general service standards of behaviour for the large garrison. I played centre forward for the British Army soccer team while out there.
On my return to England in 1954, I joined the Metropolitan Police, trained at Peel House, and served in 'A' Division in Central London. Most duties were spent at traffic points (memories of aching arms after 8 hours of directing traffic in icy conditions wearing a heavy great-coat), at No. 10 Downing Street (more memories of 8 hour duties standing in freezing winds and weather, wearing extra pairs of socks to try to keep warm!) and at Buckingham Palace.
I played football for the Met Police in the Sparton League. There wasn't much social life except the occasional dance at Hammersmith Palais.
From late 1940 to 1956, I also did a fair bit of boxing and many other sports.
Having seen an advertisement for the Bermuda Police while in Hong Kong, I applied in 1957. I arrived on 2nd January 1958, flying via Shannon Airport and Gander, Newfoundland. I believe Ken Goosey, Peter O'Brien and I were the first to fly to Bermuda, as recruits previously arrived by ship.
I could write a book, but won't, about those early St. George's days of comradeship and the fun we had off duty and will never forget the likes of Clarence Borden at Mount Area, Chick's Bar, The Casino, Wellington Rovers Xl, Grover Lamb, John 'Wakey' Wakefield, Trevor Nichols, Bill 'Spider' MacKenzie, Leslie 'Luke Maglook' Morgan, Crawford 'Crow' Rae, Peter Morgan, Dick Inchcup, Joe Burrows, 'Red' Smith, 'Charger' Reid, 'Jute Box', Dennis Wainwright, Ian 'Harpic' Davies (badly injured in BELCO riots)-----the list of unforgettable characters goes on and on.
Some of us made use of our contact with the US Airforce Military Police on Kindley who we cooperated with workwise concerning incidents involving personnel living off base. We also dated the female teachers employed at the large school on the base. There was also a military hospital. Jimmy Parsons and Bob Roberts married two of those teachers and left to live in the USA. (I escaped!).
In 1960, I was posted to Central CID under Chief Inspector Oliver Trott, a great boss, and we all worked together---'Happy' Duerden, 'Syke' Smith, Sinclair Bean, and my good friend Leon Bean, who taught me a lot.
Mike Kelly and I dealt with a very young 'Buck' Burrows who, at that time, was a break-in specialist of homes and warehouses and was a 'solo player'. Years later, to my amazement, I realized he was working at Police HQ on Day Release from Casemates.
I was promoted to sergeant in 1962 and was uniform sergeant in Hamilton. I then enjoyed two more spells in St. George's under Inspector Doug Hebberd and Chief Inspector Peter Stubbs.
Later, I spent a few years at traffic with another very efficient boss, Chief Inspector Ernie Moniz, along with Inspector Arthur Rose. I always felt my driving ability was not up to standard---Derek Jenkinson and many of the younger men were the specialists.
1979 took me to Police HQ Admin and I then rose to the dizzy height of Inspector and finished as Supreme Court Officer prior to retiring and returning to Jersey in August 1982.
During my service, my old friend and colleague Dudley Swan and I made a couple of arrests worthy of mention. One (VBS), a well known criminal, broke out of the prison farm and stole a car. We had a long wait in the night but he was jumped on by us as he got out of the car on his return. (A watered-down version of the story).
I am pleased to say that the Police team became the first fully integrated soccer XI in the BFC, which I believe helped in no small way towards a better community spirit in the island…. step forward Arthur Bean (a fine full back), 'Tango' Burgess, Hilton Wingood and others.
In 1962, I was fortunate enough to meet my wife, Carolyn 'Cam' Cameron, a Canadian nurse at KEMH. We'd seen each other a few times when I interviewed patients in the Emergency Department where she worked but first met at a party organized by Bill Black and George Hammond at Admiralty House Beach (where we were amazed by Robin Henagulph's palm tree climbing ability!).
We married in June 1963 so will celebrate our 50th anniversary this year.
Our son, Mark (b. 1968,) is a sergeant in the Jersey Police, is married to local girl Joanne and they have Leah 13 and George 11. Our daughter, Sally (b. 1970), is divorced, is a secondary school secretary and has daughters Megan 14, Lucy 12, and Aimee 9.
Since returning to Jersey, I was employed until age 70 in several positions: at an entertainment/sports complex; department store security; and airport security. We have been on short holidays to many countries over here and, of course, to Canada and Bermuda.
By sheer chance, on our trip to Canada in 1975, I met up with Ken Norman, Malcolm Bull (dog handler) and Colin McBurnie in Carolyn's home town of St. Thomas, Ontario and we enjoyed an evening out.
Another year, I went to see Dave Parsons and his wife in Elmira and also Peter Rose (deceased) and his wife, Gayle (Moore) --also a Canadian nurse in KEMH Emergency Department-- in Burlington, Ontario. I continued to play tennis until 2012 when age finally caught up with me. We enjoy dancing (quick step, slow fox trot, and a 'gentle' jive) several evenings a week and we still ride around on our pedal bikes!
Looking back over my time with the Bermuda police, I enjoyed my service but certainly not during the riots when our small force sustained many injuries and dangers. To leave a wife and young children at home when called out for another 12 hour shift, which left them in danger, was not a happy time. Carolyn still recalls the reassuring quiet 'thump' of a riot stick on the pavement as patrolling officers walked past the Police houses in Prospect. She also remembers the terrifying sound of hundreds of liquor bottles exploding at Gosling's warehouse in the back of Town as it was consumed by fire, knowing the men, including myself, were down there in the middle of it all - and yes, she could hear it all the way up on Alexandra Road!
Every Christmas, we put the red and white cap feathers of the Fusiliers near the top of our tree (a souvenir of the riots and a reminder of Bermuda). I used to put a booby trap or two in the back garden when I went on night duty during riots.
Many thanks to the young officers who had to put up with me as their sergeant---too many to mention by name but a great bunch of lads and we often remember you when looking at photos, reminiscing about our social get-togethers and the Bermuda Police days as we enjoy a couple of rum and cokes on a Saturday night!
Kind regards to everyone I served with and knew from 1958 to 1982.
Mike Burke
P.S. Is anyone up for CADUC exercises next week?
In January 2025 we published a fascinating article about Mike’s recollections of traumatic events when as a 7 year old he witnessed the time when Jersey, along with the other Channel Islands, were invaded by German troops at the height of the Second World War.
Mike was one of five islanders interviewed by ITV about what they could recall of those days, and the ITV prgramme was timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of a very special lifeswaving event for the Channel Islanders with the arrival in the summer of 1944 of the ship “SS Vega” carrying thousands of precious Red Cross food and supply parcels to the Islands where the population had been starving and had very litle to survive on.
Mike recalled, “We saw German planes coming towards us – I remember two German planes with swastikas on them flying over us.” He recounted how the planes “flew over the top of us and went over Mount Bingham and then bombed the harbour.”
During the interview Mike also described what it was like living under German occupation, how islanders were treated and how they were deprived of food and other basic commodities.
CLICK HERE to view the in-depth article about the occupation of the Channel Islands and the ITV documentary here on our ExPo website.
Mike and Cam Burke have always been very active since settling in Jersey after Mike ‘s retirement from the Police, and as Carolyn "Cam" says, “We've been very fortunate to have had such a long and happy life. Earlier this year Cam has advised us that Mike had been diagnosed in January 2024 with Alzheimers which was progressing fairly slowly. He was aware of what was happening to him and it made him upset at times as he was getting quite forgetful and would sometimes not be able to remember their grandchildren's names.
Young Bermuda Police Officers down EastKneeling - Robert “Bob” O’Shea, Brian Flook, “Marcus”, Jeff Sanders, and Bill “Spider” McKenzie.
In a positive vein, I sent this photo to Mike and Cam in July 2025 to see if Mike might be able to assist in identifying the young men in it – and maybe even the dog! I had a strong feeling that the photo had “an Eastern flavour” and was almost certain that the only person in the photo who is still with us, is probably Mike. I was delighted to quickly receive the following answer from Mike through Cam:-
“They were all St. George’s boys! A lot of my old barracks mates had been transferred to other areas, and this is the new lot of transfers who replaced them over the years. Mike Stevely (always immaculately dressd, “Spider” McKenzie and myself were the only ones left of this original group from 1958. Arthur Rose had been transferred to St. George’s a month or so before the photo was taken, and I was transferred to Hamilton CID about a month afterwards.
Marcus the dog lived in the barracks with us, and living quarters were on the top floor. There was a club in the lower part something like RAC? and a big new clubhouse was built behind the barracks and football field near the waterside road, which is where this picture was taken.”
Cam added that Mike doesn’t think the photo was taken for any special reason, but to show who was in the barracks at that time. She added that Mike still likes to talk about his time in Bermuda and all the men he worked with, but sometimes he can’t remember details and sometimes forgets names.
In early November I received sad news that Mike had been having dizzy spells and had a most unfortunate fall when he tried to close an upper window at their home, resulting in him sustaining head injuries. He was admitted to hospital and received wonderful treatment but after 2 weeks he was released and has had to be admitted to a nursing home because Cam can no longer look after him at home.
Cam also wrote to say, say, “Mike now says it's ok to write about him having Alzheimer's dementia. He's very aware of what is happening to him and is now accepting the fact that he won't be coming back home to live but is unhappy about it. When I saw him this afternoon he apologised for feeling unwell this morning (I'd had a phone call from him at 7.30 a.m.) about not being able to meet me at the airport to go up to England with me. He keeps thinking he is on a cruise. “
As editor of our ExPo website for the past 12 years I receive quite a few emails from our members about their family health issues, and I will sometimes mention them in general terms from time to time, but it’s always difficult to know whether to mention issues such as Alzheimers. and dementia.
I believe that what Cam is going through with Mike is similar to what other spouses are experiencing in similar circumstances. And with Cam’s permission I’m going to share some if “Mike’s Musings” which, despite the onset of Alzeiners clearly indicate that he still has fond and sometimes amusing memories of his life in Bermuda. So here we go with:_
Mike’s Latest Musings
Cam adds, “I asked him about a few of the stories he'd told me about some of 'the boys'. He always took a great interest in all of you (and maybe that's why he was nicknamed 'Mother'?). Two tales about Terry Allebone: he came to work one day with a large bunch of bananas and Mike was impressed when he just sat there and finished the lot of them while on duty. Another morning, he arrived with quite a hangover and when Mike remarked on the fact that he must be feeling bad, Terry replied 'Yes, Sarge, but I'm going to be feeling better as the day goes on and you're feeling good now but you'll be feeling worse as the day goes on.'
Mike can't remember (though he 'can see his face') which young policeman it was who was checking for speeders early one morning at the bottom of Collectors Hill (?) and was seen to go into the cafe there for a cup of coffee. Inspector (Derek) Taylor called him into the Traffic office and told him that he had been seen, and he wasn't allowed to drink coffee while on duty. The policeman cheekily replied, 'What's that on your desk, Sir?'.
Then there was the story about 'Ted Loon's' (he couldn't remember his full name) last night before leaving the police and flying home the next day. He was supposed to be on duty but didn't turn up and was found standing naked at the police club bar!
Editors note - We are not sure of the correct name of "Ted Loon"
Mike also mentioned that John Harvey used to do an excellent impression of Dave Parsons.
As for yourself, you were 'a good one and did everything straight from the book; everything done perfectly and no problem at all'.
Just a few smiles and memories for you.
November 2025