Maine Art Potter Denis Vibert's Incredible Story Escaping Nazi Occupied Territory
- Arcana Auctions
- 7 days ago
- 1 min read
Maine art Potter Denis Vibert has an incredible story. Vibert lived in Jersey, a part of the Channel Islands close to France. In 1940, after the Nazis occupied the Channel Islands, Vibert was determined to get to Britain to join the war effort. His first escape attempt failed: he rowed into rocks near Guernsey, got stranded for days in bad weather, fell ill, and eventually had to swim ashore after his boat was wrecked.
Undeterred, Vibert attempted a second escape. He secretly hid a tiny 8-foot dinghy called Raggamuffin, stole fuel from German vehicles, and set out again in 1941. German patrol boats nearly caught him , his engines failed, one motor was lost overboard, and he spent days rowing alone without food or water across the English Channel. Eventually, the British destroyer HMS Brocklesby rescued him near Weymouth.
After interrogation by M15 to ensure he was not a spy, Vibert joined RAF as a bomber pilot.
After the war he emigrated to North America, became a respected studio potter in Maine, and lived there until his death in 2004.
Denis Vibert Art Pottery Fish Plate
Discover works by Denis Vibert and more in our upcoming antique sale ending June 3, 2026.
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