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The rural community of Saint John is one of twelve parishes of the Channel Island of Jersey. It is located in the northern part of the island, bordering St. Mary to the west, Trinity to the east, and Saint Lawrence and Saint Helier to the south. For administrative purposes, the parish is divided into three vingtaines: La Vingtaine du Nord, La Vingtaine de Hérupe, and La Vingtaine du Douet.

The cliffs on the coast of Saint John are panoramic and are said to be some of the best views in Jersey. This might have to do with the fact that the parish’s Mont Mad, an old granite quarry on the coast, is the second highest point in Jersey.

The mostly rural town of Saint John is where one will find La Route du Nord. Translated into English, this means “The Northern Route,” and it was built during the Nazi occupation during World War II, presumably as a way to keep the Germans’ prisoners of war work to do. After the war, it was decided that a memorial to all of the men and women on the island who were affected adversely by the war. There is a large stone at the end of that road in Saint John which is engraved with this inscription: “This road is dedicated to the men and women of Jersey who suffered in the World War 1939-1945.”

Near the parish church and opposite the parish school is another war memorial, this one an obelisk made of Jersey granite which is dedicated to eighteen men who died in World War I and five who died in World War II, and one killed in Northern Ireland.

The inscription says, "Saint Jean a la Gloire du Dieu et en Memoire des Paroissiens Morts Pour leur Roi et Patrie." Roughly translated, that means, "St John to the glory of God and in memory of the parishioners who died for King and Country."

 

 

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