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Channel Islands Occupation Society (Jersey) Limited

    Latest News 2013-2009

    (for earlier news click here)

 

 

2013

Apr Trip to the Trinity Hill Cold war Bunker
Mar Postponed AGM took place on 20 MARCH 2013

At the AGM Michael Ginns MBE retired from the Committee after 40 years of continuous service - a monumental achievement. He is replaced as Vice President by Matthew Costard, who has retired as editor after 24 years! Paul Ronayne has taken up the mantle of editor - an extremely difficult and exacting role, vital to ensure our profile is maintained. Other Committee positions remain as last year, with Bob Le Sueur retiring as one of our auditors and being replaced by Graeme Delanoe.  

A financial report was made by David Letto and a copy of the summary accounts are here on our website.  

Membership fees remain at:  Single member £18 p.a., Couple £27.00, Junior (under 16) £13.50, Family £27.00 (plus £6.00 for each child), Overseas (not inc UK) Members EUR25/US$35/£23

 

Feb

Festung Guernsey publish their Tunnels book Jersey members will be able to order with next mailing in early March

Sign put up at Kernwerk - thanks for organising this Paul.

Jan Fabulous presentation by Colin Isherwood -  looking at all types of German Signage Part 2
2012
Nov An excellent presentation by Colin Isherwood -  looking at all types of German Signage. Part 2 in January 2013
Oct A visit from a Group of German Fortification enthusiasts - thanks to all who helped with arranging visits, guiding etc

Sept 10 A very informative talk on the fall of Singapore by Matthew Costard

August Group visit - Our president joins the Swiss Army visitors on a trip to Guernsey and around Jersey - thanks to all who helped.

 

August Cezembre - slides and pictures a talk by Jeremy Hamon with slides from Michael Ginns MBE

August The long awaited Jersey Tunnels Book due at the end of August

Military Themed Archives day - excellent numbers once again, thanks to all who helped.

 

July

Day Trip to France - a great day - but it did rain, thanks Noel (pictured) for organising trip.

More pictures here - thanks to Graeme Delanoe

 

Weekend trip to Lorient was a great success - thanks to Paul Burnal for organising.

Jersey War Walks published  by member Ian Ronayne to obtain a copy follow this link

July The paperback version of Festung Guernsey is being published in parts - but only if 100 subscribers can be sourced - this will be a cheaper version than the facsimile edition which was published a few years ago at £750 visit here to obtain details and how to subscribe.

6 June Blanche Banques - First World War prisoner of war (for German Prisoners) camp visit to remains led by Martin Walton and Colin Isherwood.

 

4 May An excellent dinner Thanks Noel- although attendance was not good at less than 25 (from a membership of over 450!).

 

11 April The fall of France - an informative talk by Ian Ronayne

 

10 March CIOS Review 2012 published by Guernsey

8 Feb  Some 8mm film from 1940 - cleaning and firing an 88 and more - Shown by Jeremy Hamon, it was interesting to see how the 88mm crew were during their move from one site to another.

 

11 Jan

"Feuerplan & Azimuth - The Remaining  Evidence"  - an illustrated talk by Neil Walker

Fabulous talk standing room only - Thank you Neil

 

2011
9 Nov

A fabulous talk by Bob Le Sueur - Normal life in abnormal times 1939-45

 

12 Oct

A fabulous selection of slides from Michael Ginns MBE

 

14 Sept A very interesting talk by Wendy Tipping entitled any day now looking at political prisoners and escapes from Jersey by her relatives.

 

14 Aug

A very successful archives day at Noirmont, 1000+ visitors and a very good report in the local paper, well done to all involved.

Thank you to Jersey Evening Post.

 

 

26 July Review No 39 Published.

23 July Visit to Pegasus and other parts of Normandy - Thank you Graeme for pictures. And Noel for organising a superb trip

 

13 July Visit to HO5 in St Aubin's thank you Colin for organising ........those steps at the end were challenging!

 

15 June A fabulous walk led by Colin Isherwood and Martin Walton to Batterie Metz, Mont Rossignol. Thanks also to Dean - a fantastic amount of work went into this walk. Nearly 50 members and no rain!

18 May

'Channel Island Surrender aboard HMS Bulldog, 8th/9th May, 1945'– a very detailied  illustrated talk by Mark Lamerton

 

7 May

A very enjoyable Annual Dinner at the Monterey Hotel - Thanks for Noel for organising and Bob Le Sueur

for speaking after the dinner.

 

13 April

Jersey  experiences in the First World War,  contrasting with that of the Second World  War and drawing

some links  between the two – an very interesting illustrated talk by local historian Ian Ronayne

12 March AGM and Book Sale - thanks to all who came and those who donated books we raised nearly £200 for the CIOS!

 

9 Feb Wow - a fantastic history of Switzerland, the geo political situation since BC and strategy and fortifications in WW2 and later - a superb talk by First-Lieutenant Jeffrey Giovannoni

 

12 Jan

Fabulous talk - Observation posts and similar structures - an illustrated talk by David Maindonald

The CIOS thanks David for his series of excellent talks these last 5 years - he is taking a year off in 2012!

2010
10 Nov

Flak and Rangefinding - The by Neil Walker

13 Oct

French Tanks - an overview of their development 1917-40, their use in Jersey  as runners and as fixed fortifications (turrets) - An illustrated talk by Jeremy Hamon

15 Sep

A very interesting talk on De Gaulle's short visit to Jersey en-route to London in 1940 by Robin Pallot.

 

Sep 2010

A Guide to the German Shoreline Defences of St Aubin's Bay Published, copies will be available

at the monthly meetings or can be ordered via email.

 

Other books available to members - contact the Secretary if you are interested in a copy.

5 Sept St Brelades Bay Soldatenheim Book donated to CIOS Read more here

 

08 Aug

Archives day Noirmont point - Hundreds of people came to see the various displays. A very successful day.

Thanks to all who helped, in particular Colin Isherwood, Neil Walker, Martin Walton and of Course Mr Noirmont (Paul Burnal).

A display of archive photographs and  Neil explains how the German optics and rangefinders work....

Damien helps on the book sales desk

Junior member Baodan eyes the periscope - after liking the limpet Stew!

Colin looks on as Mark samples the carrot tea............it got the thumbs up(ish)!

07 July

Fantastic ramble around Batterie Seydlitz, Thank you Colin for organising and to Oscar Chevalier for giving us access to his land and providing some fabulous insights into life during  the Occupation in this area.

19 June

Day trip to Guernsey. Thank you CIOS (Guermsey), Festung Guernsey and Richard Heaume.

June

During a visit by four members to Hanstholm in Denmark, Jens Andersen, the Museum Director presented four of his books on fortifications in Denmark to the CIOS Jersey Library. THANK YOU JENS. Jens is second from the left in the picture below.

 

June

A series of War films to be shown "old style" at the Jersey War Tunnels, organised by Blue Badge guide Remi Couillard. Tickets £10 from Tourism or Jersey War Tunnels. First Showing is "the Blockhouse" - filmed in Guernsey on Thursday 3rd June 2010.

19 May

Members were treated to a fascinating talk by Mark Lamerton - Liberation the first 12 Hours.

 

05 May

Annual review published by Guernsey.

14 Apr

A fascinating selection of slides and Talk by Michael Ginns MBE. We were further grateful to have the moving testimony of two people  who had visited HO2 at the time of the tragic deaths of the two boys in 1962.

14 Apr

EGM voted to make rules changes and Launch Guarantee Company. We anticipate the incorporation to be complete in early May.

Alderney at War by Brian Bonnard republished in larger format and available at WH Smith in Jersey, with quite  lot of pictures.

Mar

A visit from our French Bunker historians Marc Braeuer (curator of the S414 bunker in Saint-Nazaire) - Alain Durrieu (author of the book « Des Bunkers et des Hommes and Rodolphe Nagaele (Luftwaffe Specialist).

To coincide with Dr Gilly Carr's exhibition in Guernsey ( http://www.cont-ed.cam.ac.uk/who-we-are/institute-staff/133-gillian-carr) an excellent new book has been published and is available from La Société Jersiaise Bookshop.

The Jersey Tourism booklet for the Spring/Summer 2010 includes Tony Robinson who is quoted as saying...." The survival of these historic sites is down to a band of volunteers - the Channel Islands Occupation Society......." Thank you Tony, praise indeed.

Feb

101v at Noirmont opened for the first time since 1948 - Thanks for all who helped or came to support the entry.

 

Mural in the 101v

Whoever loves his nation, proves  it only through the sacrifices which he is willing (or ready) to give for it"

 

10 Feb

 

A fantastic visit to the cold war civil emergency headquarters - ex telephone repeater Bunker. Many thanks to Mark Lamerton for organising and to Michael Long for opening for us and giving an insight into the cold war.

                                

 

CIOS Jersey member Geraldine Hultkrantz publishes a fiction book set in Jersey in the Occupation entitled A Time to Tell (available at Waterstones), this is Geraldine's second book her first being a biography of her Father's exploits whilst in the 30th Assault Unit under ian Fleming (Available at the Maritime Museum).

13 Jan

An excellent talk on Telephone and Exchange Bunkers by David Maindonald

2009

26 Nov

 

Excavations at Noirmont 101v are complete - entry to the bunker itself likely to take place in early 2010.

11 Nov

An excellent talk on the banking crisis 1940-45 by Mrs Mary Gibb.

27 Oct

Michael Ginns MBE in conjunction with the Jersey War Tunnels publishes his long awaited definitive book on the occupation of Jersey. Entitled Jersey occupied 1940-45, the book runs to 540 pages and is only available from the Jersey War Tunnels - Michael will be signing copies 10-12am on Saturday 6th November.

We are looking at the best way to make these available to UK and overseas  members - without he postal costs being prohibitively expensive.

14 Oct

An excellent further slide selection and talk by Michael Ginns MBE

German Railways in Jersey

Early September

Works starts on the excavation at Noirmont - The 101v Bunker, help can be given on Sat or Sun pm over

the coming weeks.

 

9 Sept

Excellent talk by Neil Walker on German Optics

31 August

Visit by Sven Zimmer and Julia Remmel

Sven opens a B1.1 Bunker as part of the Westwallmuseen Saar-Mosel e V

www.westwallmuseen-saar-mosel.eu

24-26 July

French trip

Resistance Museum - St Marcel

Grand Blockhouse - Batz-Sur-Mer

FL242 V. Naval Flak Brigade Command Bunker at St. Marc-sur-Mer

   

Batterie

St Nazaire

16 July

Paul Burnal led a fantastic walk around Rozel Fort thanks to the kind permission of the owner.

It was interesting to see the Searchlight dolly wheels which he has uncovered.

The second group stragglers finished with a look at the second tank turret position on the pier,

now a water overflow tank.

July 2009

Britain at War July 2009 includes an article on members Damien Horn's museum.

11 June

Martin Walton walks members around Batterie Mackenson, showing photos from 1945 when the Guns were removed.

11 May

A great annual dinner was enjoyed by 30 members.

9 May

Engelbert Hoppe visits us once again to see his "old bunker" and "new friends".

  

6 May

2009 Review Published

 

6 May

Archives day at the Jersey War Tunnels - thanks to all helpers on the day this was well received and there was a significant increase in attendance over November!

 

9 Apr

Tony Robinson from Time team visits our Bunkers at Corbiere and Noirmont, he was in the island

undertaking some work for tourism.

Member and Blue Badge guide Tom Bunting with Tony at the M19

Tony looking down the barrel of our 10.5 K331(f)  Schneider gun at Corbiere

 

Malcolm, Jeremy, Paul B. and Kevin with Tony (Thanks also to Paul T. for opening casemate)

Paul B signs his book Batterie Lothringen for Tony

8 Apr

David Chapman gave a talk to a full audience entitled Methodism in the Occupation to tie in to the Launch

of his book:

  

24 Mar

New Book Launched: Guernsey under Occupation The Second World War Diaries of Violet Carey, which will be published by Phillimore & Co. Ltd see www.phillimore.co.uk for further details.

14 Mar

AGM - Welcome Bernie, Damian and Colin. Thank you to Malcolm, Kevin and Geoff. Book sale raised £132 for the CIOS, Thank you to all who participated or donated books.

 

11 Feb

Colin Isherwood made a welcome return as a presenter by talking to us about the German road system.

14 Jan

 

Alderney revisited - An excellent illustrated talk by David Maindonald, showing pictures taken in the late

1970's

The January Issue of the Armourer magazine includes an interesting local article: Forgotten History: Channel Islands in the Great War by Irene Moore, there is a piece on the German WW1 prisoner of war camp in St Ouen - and the German prisoner who returned in 1940!

2009

The January issue of British Archaeology includes an 5 page article by our good friend Dr Gilly Carr, looking at WW2 Relics in Guernsey (thanks mark for the tip off on this one)

For news 2005-2009 click here