Daring dairy: The World War II rescue of Alderney Island’s cows

Today’s American-bred Guernsey dairy cows trace their lineage to the small British Channel Island they’re named after. And just like their Jersey Island cousins, this breed has a long and storied past. Guernseys were legendary for their golden-hued, rich, and creamy milk, an ingredient still coveted by cheesemakers. But hidden in the margins of Channel Islands dairyhistory is a lesser-known chapter: the tale of the Alderney cow — a breed that escaped the Nazis,only to vanish for good not long after.

In the early days of dairying on the Channel Islands, “Alderney” was the catch-all group name for the archipelago’s cows. The name came from Alderney, the northernmost inhabited Channel Island. Over time, the Guernsey and Jersey emerged as distinct types and eventually dominated the island dairy scene. But the Alderney still had its champions, folks who insisted it was a breed unto its own, distinct from Guernsey and Jersey. 

That belief was strong enough to prompt a rescue of Alderney herds from their eponymous island after the World War II evacuation of the island. With the German Army close at hand, agroup of about thirty men decided “an effort should be made to rescue Alderney’s famous cattle,” according to the account one rescuer gave to the Rochdale Observer in 1941. With only three “small pleasure boats” among them, the men managed to take about 500 head to Guernsey. Afterward, they returned to Alderney and continued to salvage supplies from the now-deserted isle — until a harbor scout spotted German bombs splashing around their boats. 

But that heroic evacuation turned out to be the beginning of the end for the Alderney cattle; they were reportedly absorbed into the Guernsey Island’s herds. Still, Alderney residents were determined to revive their dairy darling by searching out any survivors. By now, islanders were used to skepticism about whether their cows constituted a unique breed; one told the Daily Telegraph in 1944, “We of Alderney are desperately keen about the matter.” But not everyone was convinced. A short piece The Guardian, cheekily titled “The non-existent cow,” dismissed the whole idea of a unique Alderney breed. “There never was such a creature,” it claimed. The truth may be lost to time, but for a moment, in the shadow of war, a small band of men believed it was worth saving. 

Guernseys, of course, continue to thrive in Great Britain and across the pond, including at Hoard’s Dairyman Farm, home to the oldest continually registered Guernsey herd in the country. Check out their line of exceptional cheeses and experience a piece of history.