Sherwill was the mayor of Guernsey at the outbreak of the Second World War.
After Nazi Germany conquered Western Europe in May and early June 1940, the United Kingdom demilitarised the Channel Islands. Sherwill delivered a speech to the islanders on the evening of Friday, 28 June intended to assure everyone that they would be safe. However, at the end of his speech, the Luftwaffe arrived and launched a destructive raid on the harbour which killed and injured many people.
On Sunday, 30 June, the Germans returned and Major Lanz took control of the island. (PROSE: Just War)