Jon -absolutly right, the SS Vega, although it was the Canadian Red Cross which supplied the food parcels.
I Wonder whether it may have been a little too obscure. But obviosly not.
For those not aware of this part of the War, after D-Day and the fall of Normandy the the Channel Islands were cut-off from France and any food supplies from the Autumn of 1944 onwards which resulted in serious food shortages. Throughout the war some supplies were in short supply but the winter of 1944/45 saw serious shortages resuling is some cases of starvation. The SS Vega delivered Red Cross food parcels for the civilian population and saved many lives, without it I am pretty sure some of my family would not have survived.
It may come as a surprise but Churchill was opposed to the Red Cross doing this, fearful that the Germans would take the food parcels. In the event the Germans did not, they respected the Red Cross and that the food parcels were for civilians. Becasue of this, the German garrison also faced severe food shortages and where any troops did steal food, punishment was severe.
Not surprisingly, this ship holds a special place in Islanders hearts - hence the stamp.
Jon - I will forgive you for posting a Jersey stamp rather than a Guernsey one, and over to you...
Pete