George Deighton wrote “Guernsey Dear” in 1911, after coming to Guernsey (a British Crown Dependency) to live, and asked Domencio Santangelo to set it to music. He soon composed the romantic waltz tune which was given the name “Sarnia Cherie”, and was first performed in November of that year, in the theatre Deighton managed.
Over the years the demand for Sarnia Cherie steadily grew, especially among local people who sent copies to friends and relatives settled overseas. Its popularity increased during and after the last years of World War II (during which Guernsey was occupied by the Germans) when the nostalgic tune stirred patriotic feelings and was adopted by expatriates as the Guernsey national anthem.
Special thanks to: Keith Terrett for the music file.